1. Membership Presentation For UK Regions – 2011-2012
Retention of Members
By Denise Staplehurst
Federation Director of Membership

2. Why are you a Soroptimist now?
Enjoyment and friendship
Good PA – to make a difference to women & girls
Opportunity for service to others local, national and international
Working with friendship links – visits overseas
Attendance at other clubs, region, conference, international conventions
Opportunity to develop/use skills

3. Why did you join? Make friends – new to area
To be part of women’s organisation dealing with women’s issues
Passionate about issues – PA – want to make a difference
International aspect – voice on UN
Network for work – meet people different profession and ages
Time available – life changes, keeps you busy

4. Why are you still a member?
Friendship and social opportunities
Opportunity to help women and girls
Taken on role – want to complete and support others in their roles
Ability to use or develop new skills, challenges
Involved in project want to complete
Enjoy idea of international opportunities

5. What makes a good club? Enthusiastic committed members
Uses the skills available in the club
Succession planning and mentorship
An inclusive atmosphere
Cooperative learning through programme action
Keeps in touch with members who have missed a meeting

6. Actions you can take
Discuss at club what is wrong – time of reflection – may have already identified
Pick most important – inform Region
Decide on Action to change by next meeting
Review at next Regional meeting – outcome
On-going another action by next meeting
DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION

7. Does this sound like your club?
If not what should you do about it?
How can Region support you?
a. Region officers visit your club
b. Club members visit another club to see good practice
Federation support – website, visits, contacts
Case studies – look at typical examples

8. Case studies – 5 key areas
Running of club meetings, communication
Behaviour of members at meetings
Diversity in programme
Venue
Costs
Idea: If you get your club in order, with good PA, you will retain members and then new members will want to join you.

9. Case study 1
Club A have fortnightly meetings. On week 2 of the month this is a business meeting. The meeting starts with the reading of the minutes and matters arising. One pro-active member speaks to most items and the club executive dominate the meeting using acronyms and refer to Regional and Federation Officers without post and title. Club members sit in the same place and talk throughout much of the meeting.

10. Case study 2
Club B meet at the golf club, with limited parking. There is a bar for drinks but members buy their own drink and sit in the same places and fill up the tables sitting with their back to the bar and the door. When members arrive they don’t feel welcome.

11. Case study 2 continued
At the meeting members are critical of others who have not completed tasks or have an unsuccessful event or don’t do things the ‘club way’ and question why they have taken on the post. All committees meet once a month and report back to the main meeting repeating content regularly.

12. Case study 3
Club C has a very enthusiastic president who has set her own programme without consultation with the exec and club members. Speakers are focussed around her own interests. Attendance has dwindled. Last year the committees met at lunchtime and not all members could attend so committees decided they would not hold meetings this year

13. Case study 3 continued
Arguments regularly break out at meetings due to dominance of some members. Many negative comments by the majority of the club about events, speakers and officers. The Club has long breaks over summer and Christmas.

14. Case study 4
Club D meet once a month at a run-down church hall in a fringe area of the town and it takes some members over 45 minutes to drive to the venue. There is limited public transport with no local train station. The meeting runs from to as they need to cover business and insist on having a speaker at each meeting to keep club members interested. Club communicate by so all the information sent out by the secretary and not filtered so there is too much information

15. Case study 4 continued
Some members are not on so the secretary has the additional task of posting info to some members. There is no provision for food and there is limited tea and coffee making facilities. Most members don’t commit to the full meeting - some arrive late and others leave early.

16. Case study 5
Club meet at expensive hotel once a month and must have meal to get free venue and tea and coffee. Cost of annual membership is £140 to be paid in a lump sum. Programme includes annual Christmas lunch and President’s dinner fund raising dinners etc with the expectation to attend other clubs annual dinners.

17. Case study 5 continued
Programme Action largely focussed on members having to contribute financially e.g. providing goods for coffee mornings, auctions and buying items back later. Monetary contributions asked for World Water Day, Monthly raffle at meetings for PA funds with small prizes donated by club members.

18. Easy Stages Guides
Case Study 1: Content of Club Meetings, Managing Club Meetings, Role of Exec.
Case Study 2: Mentoring New Members, Succession Planning, Role of Exec.
Case Study 3: as 1 and 2 plus, Writing a Development Plan, Planning a Club Programme, Club Time of Reflection.
Case Study 4: as 1 plus Development Plan.
Case Study 5: Setting a Club Budget, Content of Club Meetings, Role of Exec, Reflection.