Engaging New Members

The first step in engaging new members is to know why you are engaging them!

The purposefulness of the group can be communicated through a few shared ideas, making up your organization's Vision and Mission, as well as Goals/Values, and which functions the student group will perform, will allow potential members the ability to see what they are joining before they come to a meeting.

Vision

A vision is the internal idea that the student group has about itself and how it wishes to function as a group. The vision should be a long term picture of where the group should focus its efforts, who it should serve, and what is its importance within the University community.

Mission

A mission is slightly different, in that it is typically an external view of what the group considers its priorities or goals. The mission is extremely important in communicating the importance and the services of the group. The mission may be used in marketing strategies to give detail about what your group holds to be its strongest values.

Goals/Values

Before you can engage members, your group needs to have a set of goals and values for which it stands in order to keep the members interested in joining. Coming up with both long and short term plans helps to keep the group centered and prepared for the entrance of new members. Getting your new members on board by showing them a list of the goals/values of the group will increase your retention efforts, as well.

Functions

Your group does many things, but how does the rest of the world know what they are? You need to come up with a list of your main functions and objectives to communicate to the rest of the University, as well as to all of your potential members.

Marketing

Marketing is another key component to finding new members. Often, we only look at marketing as the recruitment, but while it is of the utmost importance in getting your name out, it is not the only aspect. Remember that marketing can only catch the eye, that the internal goals of the group will keep them interested. When marketing for your group, finding a common theme, logo, or slogan that is used on all materials will help with name recognition. In finding a logo, be sure to do your research. If another group is using something similar, you may be mistaken for them or them for you. Also, be sure to utilize your mission, vision, values, and functions in determining the logo. Being consistent is probably the most important part of your marketing strategy.

Offering leadership opportunities is another great way to keep members coming. Offering students the chance to get experience as officers, through internships, or by being active within their chosen field of study will increase the number perspective students. Giving people what they are looking for will give your group more credibility, as well as more attention from students looking for involvement opportunities.

Once We Get Them, How Do We Keep them?

1. Organization within the group is the first part of keeping members interested. Once a person joins a group, they will want some sort of structure to work within: for example, keeping a president, vice president, and officers is a good start; having those officers keep good records, know what's going on within the group, and keeping projects and events organized will help eliminate frustration from the membership. Know who is doing what and when. Utilize your membership for completing projects or tasks (don't just have them come to a meeting and listen to what the officers are doing this week).
2. Creating Friendliness/Feeling of Welcome for your new members is key in getting them interested and keeping them coming. If a new member does not feel needed by the group or welcome in the group, they will not come back. The key is to get them involved from the get-go. Include them in on social opportunities, event planning, and invite them to help out with some of the important aspects of the group. Do not overwhelm, but be aware of their need to be a part of the group.
3. A Shared Vision can make or break a group. If the people within the group believe in the same thing, foresee the possible outcomes/future of the group, and are all working toward that common goal, your membership will buy-in. They will become more actively involved with the group and help to accomplish your goals. If no one can see what you are focused on, where you would like to end up, no one will strive to do better.
4. Offer Resources to your membership. People join groups because they are looking for an opportunity to gain something from their membership. Become a resource yourself, by being active within the campus community with a variety of departments and faculty and staff. Provide resources, such as officer binders or manuals, access to the group's files to create a sense of history, and access to your advisor. Also, offer them the opportunity to become an officer, a key player within the group in order for them to gain leadership experience and skills.

Engaging new members consists mainly of being visible, through marketing; having a solid purpose, through a vision, mission, and goals; welcoming new members, through inclusiveness; and offering new member resources that are unique to your group. If a group can meet the needs of its members, it should be able to recruit and retain a strong membership that is active within the University community.