1. GROWING YOUR CHAPTER’S MEMBERSHIP Dennis Perz Williamson County Chapter Member Chapter Liaison Committee July 21, 2012

2. D.A. Perz2 OBJECTIVES Provide chapter membership ideas Show “tool” examples

3. D.A. Perz3 MEMBERSHIP MODEL StrangerBelongingOwning

4. D.A. Perz4 MEMBERSHIP MODEL StrangerBelongingOwning Get Them to Come Get them to Keep Coming Get Them to Take Responsibility

5. D.A. Perz5 GETTING THEM TO COME Why do they come?  Personal Education –New to gardening –Drought, water restrictions, dead plants –Just moved here from Chicago Why do they come?  Advocacy –HOA rules –Invasives, local ordinances –Development versus habitat conservation –Educating our children

6. D.A. Perz6 “GETTING THEM TO COME” MEANS GETTING THE WORD OUT Make yourself known –Newspaper stories, letters, columns –Related activities: Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists Social media –Don’t be bashful! Announce your activities –Media, Websites, Newsletter –Tool example

7. D.A. Perz7 EVENT COMMUNICATIONS

8. D.A. Perz8 “GETTING THEM TO KEEP COMING” MEANS MAKING THEM FEEL THEY BELONG Be Welcoming –Greeters –Name badges –Provide information packet –Collect contact info and follow up –Introduce newcomers at first meeting –Don’t be bashful!

9. D.A. Perz9 “GETTING THEM TO KEEP COMING” MEANS MAKING THEM FEEL THEY BELONG Make your meetings fun –Keep your business meeting short Financial results Coming events Call for volunteers – a big deal! –Have a raffle (free plants) –Plant exchange –Seed Exchange

10. D.A. Perz10 Seed Exchange

11. D.A. Perz11 “GETTING THEM TO KEEP COMING” MEANS MAKING THEM FEEL THEY BELONG Learn their needs and interests –Encourage event participation –Annual brainstorming –Programs –Field trips –Training classes –Other –Brainstorming tool

12. D.A. Perz12 Brainstorming Purpose: Collect a complete set of ideas from a group addressing a specific problem. One idea spontaneously suggests another. Ground rules: One idea at a time Ideas compiled on charts; charts go up on the wall No limit on number of ideas Hold discussion until later No side conversations Discuss/clarify/prioritize after ideas gathered Not all ideas will be acted on

13. D.A. Perz13 “GETTING THEM TO OWNING” MEANS TAKING ON RESPONSIBILITY Someone has to be in charge Someone has to do the work Leader turnover is important –Diversity drives sustainability –Avoids burnout Bigger size  bigger challenge

14. D.A. Perz14 A MODEL OF YOU AND ME Current comfort zone “Low risk” learning plus experience Potential comfort zone

15. D.A. Perz15 FINDING AND RECRUITING OWNERS Match skills to the job (or vice versa) –Get to know your people Work backgrounds and experience Personal interests Hold a social event –Have written job duties (another tool?)

16. D.A. Perz16 FINDING AND RECRUITING OWNERS – IDENTIFY/OVERCOME BARRIERS Learn why people won’t take a job –Job too big? Build Teams Mountains  little hills (tool example) Set priorities  which hill first? –Where to start? Hold transition meetings –Need help? Recognize mentoring/learning needs –Not a leader? –Etc.

17. D.A. Perz17 CHAPTER EVENT COMMUNICATIONS - TEMPLATE

18. D.A. Perz18 SOME FINAL THOUGHTS Know your people –Reasons for joining NPSOT –Member needs and interests –Personal knowledge, experience, limitations Be welcoming; be friendly! Promote participation –Start with smaller commitments –Understand the barriers –Develop strategies to overcome the barriers Adapt the “tools” to fit your needs Suggest “tools” still needed