MEMBERSHIP in Soroptimist International Clubs 1

IS YOUR CLUB’S FOCUS ON MEMBERSHIP BALANCED? 2

CONSIDER THE THIRD COMPONENT TO A BALANCED FOCUS 3

A BALANCED APPROACH TO CLUB MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES EQUAL FOCUS AND ATTENTION TO THREE COMPONENTS  RECRUITMENT OF NEW MEMBERS  ENSURING A REWARDING AND POSITIVE CLUB EXPERIENCE FOR ALL MEMBERS  RETENTION OF CURRENT MEMBERS 4

RECRUITMENT OF NEW MEMBERS - Does your club promote the benefits of Soroptimist club membership? -- SAR Website Examples: Opportunities for Fulfillment, Friendship Diversity, Networking, Leadership, Mentoring Organized Programs and Professionally Developed Resources Club Health Check: Do your club members experience the advertised benefits? com/member-resources/join-become-a-member/member-benefits/ 5

RECRUITMENT OF NEW MEMBERS Some ideas discussed at SAR Retreat: - “Every One Bring Just One” -- Plan one meeting where EACH member commits to bring ONE prospective new member - Designate a “Membership Month” -- Set a goal for new members -- Recognize current member achievements Resources on the SIA website: - Tips for Welcoming New Members - New Member Certificate - Sample New Member Survey - Capacity (Skills) Inventory Share some ways your club attracts and recruits members 6

THE CLUB EXPERIENCE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A NEW MEMBER JOINS YOUR CLULB? - Are they assigned a mentor? - Are they given an orientation training session(s)? - Are they given a new member welcome packet containing pertinent club information such as the club by-laws and a membership directory? - Are new members given paid registration to attend their first Fall Meeting or Spring Conference? - Are they invited to attend a Board Meeting or otherwise introduced to the club officers? 7

THE CLUB EXPERIENCE REMEMBER: IN A SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATION, RETENTION EFFORTS WILL BEGIN ON A NEW MEMBER’S FIRST DAY “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou 8

THE CLUB EXPERIENCE WHY DO MEMBERS STAY FOR 5, 10, 20, 30 OR MORE YEARS? Some of the Answers Received at SAR Retreat: A strong belief in the mission of Soroptimist Desire to help other women and girls Friendships WHAT MAKES A MEMBER WANT TO STAY IN YOUR CLUB? 9

MEMBER RETENTION IF MEMBERSHIP IS REWARDING, WHY DO MEMBERS LEAVE? REASONS FOR LEAVINGSOME CLUB RESPONSES / SOLUTION(S) DEATH, AGE, HEALTH ISSUES, SERIOUS ILLNESSMaintain contact, offer transportation, be understanding, see if there is some other way to participate MOVE OUT OF AREASend her cards and notes including her in club info, ask her if she’d like to join the virtual club, if there is a club in the new area – let the new area club know, be sure new club keeps them in the loop NOT ENOUGH HANDS-ON PROJECTSNot enough hands, discuss Dream It Be It as a future hands on program, TOO MANY COMMITMENTS; DEMANDS ON TIMEAsk local community to help out, ask other clubs to help out, tap into statewide organization of volunteers, take committee meetings and make it one of the meeting nights instead of a separate night, remind them they don’t have to do everything, but they need to do something BORING MEETINGS / REPETITIONAsk them what they want and listen to them, if you are leading meetings be enthusiastic and have a sense of humor, ask them to change their role in the club, remind them of why they have joined Soroptimist DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THE ORGANIZATIONSOLT, coming to meetings, making sure they have a mentor, discuss the new programs FINANCIAL REASONSSome members who help other members with dues, reignite their passion for what we do and then have the discussion, take a look at the dues in the last 20 years – the cost of inflation has not been taken into account (16 at-large awards given) NEGATIVE CLUB EXPERIENCES SUCH AS: - FEELS EFFORTS ARE NOT APPRECIATED Member of the month award – award good behavior, give a carnation to club members on their anniversary, spotlighting members in monthly newsletter, make sure people are reaching out to club members who haven’t been in a while. - FEELS LEFT OUT - DISREPECTFUL BEHAVIORS - A FEW MEMBERS DO ALL THE WORK 10

MEMBER RETENTION IF MEMBERSHIP IS REWARDING, WHY DO MEMBERS LEAVE? REASONS FOR LEAVINGSOME CLUB RESPONSES / SOLUTION(S) DEATH, AGE, HEALTH ISSUES, SERIOUS ILLNESSClub Accepts Graciously; Acknowledges Member’s Service MOVE OUT OF AREAOffer to Contact Club in New Location for Member NOT ENOUGH HANDS-ON PROJECTSEnsure Club Plan Includes Programs / Projects Members Enjoy TOO MANY COMMITMENTS; DEMANDS ON TIMERealistic Expectations of Members; Atmosphere of Cooperation; Flexibility BORING MEETINGS / REPETITIONUse Membership Minutes YouTube Video Tips; Interesting Speakers; Vary Routine DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THE ORGANIZATIONNew Member Mentoring; Orientation; Training; Encourage SAR /SIA / SI Meeting Attendance FINANCIAL REASONSCreatively manage expenses such as dinner dues; NEGATIVE CLUB EXPERIENCES SUCH AS: - FEELS EFFORTS ARE NOT APPRECIATED 5 Year Anniversary Recognition for Each Member; Member of the Month Featured in Newsletter; Recognition and Thank You After Events; Match Skills with Abilities and Talents Within the Club; - FEELS LEFT OUT - DISREPECTFUL BEHAVIORS - A FEW MEMBERS DO ALL THE WORK 11

MEMBER RETENTION IF MEMBERSHIP IS REWARDING, WHY DO MEMBERS LEAVE? REASONS FOR LEAVINGSOME CLUB RESPONSES / SOLUTION(S) DEATH, AGE, HEALTH ISSUES, SERIOUS ILLNESSSend cards, make phone calls Find things they can do for the club – be on computer/internet Provide transportation so they can attend MOVE OUT OF AREAMake contact with Soro club in new area – make sure they have found contact Continue to send club minutes/newsletter – keep them in the loop NOT ENOUGH HANDS-ON PROJECTSGet input from member on what projects are Do annual survey of project that could be participated in Ask them to spearhead a new project TOO MANY COMMITMENTS; DEMANDS ON TIMEFind way to have the member participate – that may not require too much time or when they do have time. You don’t have to leave the club – and just take a step back BORING MEETINGS / REPETITIONImplement new member ideas – give new ideas a chance Have ice breakers at club meetings – to start things off Have fun events – outside of regular meetings to mix things up Reflection period – a time to discuss items in a small group – free form discussion on a topic DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THE ORGANIZATIONMentor Get your website up to date Take a new member to lunch/get together in a small group Stipend for members who have been a member for more than a year to go to meetings FINANCIAL REASONSMonthly payment program NEGATIVE CLUB EXPERIENCES SUCH AS: - FEELS EFFORTS ARE NOT APPRECIATED - FEELS LEFT OUT - DISREPECTFUL BEHAVIORS - A FEW MEMBERS DO ALL THE WORK 12

MEMBER RETENTION MEMBERS SHOULD BE ENGAGED AND SATISFIED - RETENTION EFFORTS SHOULD BE PROACTIVE AND ONGOING RESOURCES ON THE SIA WEBSITE: Retention Manual Sample Club Assessment Form Years of Service Membership Certificate-writeable Sample Letter to Former Members Sample Resigning Member Questionnaire A HEALTHY CLUB TAKES EFFORT BUT RETAINS ITS MEMBERS 13

NEW MEMBER RECRUITMENT TOOLS AND STRATEGIES MEMBERSHIP TOOLS ON THE SIA WEBSITE INCLULDE “MEMBERSHIP MOMENTS” VIDEOS: Problem Solving Keeping the Peace Team Building Orientation Communicating Among Generations CEO: Corporate Engagement Opportunity Change: The Only Thing We Can Count On Help Wanted: Club Leaders Confronting Conflict Using the "soroptimist.net" Club Address Adding Fun To Club Meetings Attracting New Members Engaging Members Using the Club Assessment Following Up 14

SUMMARY Take a Balanced Approach to Your Club’s Membership Focus  RECRUITMENT OF NEW MEMBERS  ENSURING A REWARDING AND POSITIVE CLUB EXPERIENCE  RETENTION OF CURRENT MEMBERS Utilize the SIA Website Resources – They Are One of the Benefits of Membership 15