Talkin' Retention in Anderson County

One of the main problems that seem to be facing all of our clubs is keeping up membership numbers.  Not only do clubs seem to be having trouble attracting new members, but also in retaining existing members.  What does your club do to try to keep members?

You have to keep members interested and make them feel like they matter.  Make new members feel as if they are not just valued as a “membership number” bas as an important member of a team.  Be inclusive to all members and try to not rely on just a handful of members for all ideas and opinions.

One way that the Anderson County club has tried to make all members feel like they are a part of the team is to ask members to volunteer to chair the four main committees.  Members are also asked by the incoming president for their preference in placement on these committees.  These placements are on a first-come-first-serve basis, and once a committee is full, the member will be asked to choose again.  Volunteers are also asked to participate on the annual Scholarship Committee which is responsible for sending out and then screening scholarship applications to choose the recipients of the club’s annual scholarships.

All new members (members who have not yet celebrated their one-year anniversary) are invited to be on the Make a Difference Day Committee.  This committee, which is co-chaired by the current president and immediate past president, is tasked with developing and implementing the club’s annual literacy based Make a Difference Day project.  It was a new member whose idea for a book collection drive and day of reading to children that formed the basis for the 2012 MADD project which turned into a three month collection drive to gather children’s books and stuffed animals which were then passed out to children at a local festival on Make a Difference Day.  The children had to sit and listen to a portion of a children’s book before they each received a book and stuffed animal to take home with them.  Not only did this project benefit the children and Altrusans, it also involved a local youth organization that needed service hours.  The youth group was invited to dress up in costumes and come out and help read to the children.  Many of the youth group members participated, which added entertainment to the children being read to, while earning the youth group members valuable service experience and credit.

The 2013 MADD project is already under development and was the brain child of a member who was only initiated last month!  This project promises to involve at least one other community organization as well as involving students from all seven county high schools.  All of this while creating a work of art that can be enjoyed by everyone in the community for many years to come.  More details about this project will be shared at a later date as the project is more completely developed.

Laure Bruner

Altrusa International, Inc. of Anderson County