Membership Development

Recruiting and Retaining New Members

Campus groups always need new members to contribute new ideas, enthusiasm, replace outgoing seniors, and take over leadership positions. A good club organization must not only think of how to get new members but how to keep them involved and motivated.

Recruitment

Get everyone involved in the recruitment process
Participate in the annual Student Activities Fair
Place advertisements or informative story in The Pioneer to solicit members and to advertise open meetings
Plan events that encourage face-to-face connections
Use current members to recruit friends, roommates, and classmates
Send targeted e-mail messages to lists or organizations with similar or compatible interests
Create links on your website to enable interested people to inquire about joining
Keep your organization's contact information up to date (See Clubs and Organizations Directory)
Promote your organization at your events
Set up information tables in the Reid Campus Center during lunch, or in other locations with permission.
Make sure every member understands, supports, and can articulate the group's purpose
Register your organization's events on the Campus Calendar.

Retention

Schedule a special welcoming meeting or ceremony
Spend time getting to know your new membership and let them get to know you
Allow your new members to get involved and feel comfortable
Create a new members orientation
Make sure every member understands, supports, and can articulate the groups purpose
Create a mentor system with upperclassmen and underclassmen
Assign roles to everyone in the group when planning a program or event (avoid using the same group of people that volunteer so they will not burn out or become frustrated)
Make sure new members are being assigned meaningful tasks that will help them feel invested in the group or an event the group is organizing
Allow everyone voice their opinions and give suggestions
Learn everyone's talents and use them effectively
Take advantage of team building exercises or group exercises on a regular basis
Be positive - the group will model the behavior the the group leaders
Praise members and say thank you
Spend extra time with new members