Membership: Keeping Members Active and Involved

Keeping Members Active and Involved

Many organizations lose members as fast as they recruit them. There are common challenges organizations face to keep members involved and active, including:

• The organization’s meetings are long and boring.
• Members do little other than listen to leaders talk.
• A small group of people has all the power and does not encourage others to get involved.
• Members are not valued and are never thanked or praised for the work they do.
• Members feel useless or frustrated.
• The organization has no projects that members can be involved in.
• Members feel that they are getting nothing out of the organization.

People usually join an organization because they want to do something good for others. However, they also want to know how being a member benefits them. Find out what motivates members and manage their expectations so they stay motivated and involved. Members are often motivated by:

• Feeling they are valued by the organization and making a contribution.
• Opportunities to learn new skills or receive education about issues that interest them.
• Working on issues that will improve their lives or the lives of their families and communities.
• Feeling part of a team.
• Activities that entertain them or add to their social life.
• Rewards in terms of status, personal development or access to employment opportunities.

Invite | Include | Invest

Here are some things to do to keep members motivated and involved:

• Host an introductory workshop for all new members so they understand the organization and its work.
• Welcome and introduce all new members at the beginning of each meeting.
• Run regular education and development sessions for all members – either as part of regular meetings or in special workshops.
• Encourage members to get involved in projects and campaigns.
• Give people responsibilities and tasks; team them up with experienced members – they will feel useful and valued.
• Thank people and praise them in meetings for the work they’ve done.
• Structure meetings so they are exciting and everyone gets a chance to participate.
• Organize social events for members such as picnics, parties and outings.
• Leaders should spend time talking with members and getting to know them.

IMAGINE

“It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we’re in it together.”

We need members to continue our mission of honoring our veterans and their families. We need members to get the word out about patriotism. We need members to be here for future generations of veterans. We need to continue to grow. We need our current members to mentor. We need to invite NEW members to reinvigorate our Auxiliaries. New ideas, or old ideas presented in a new way, include more hands to help and volunteer. Membership is the key to being here for many years to come, our investment.