More Thoughts on Retention

Some thoughts on member retention:  Most clubs have (or should have) a process to determine why members fail to renew, but does yours have a process to evaluate why people remain members? Do you do a survey of your members every year to evaluate how your club is doing in the member’s eyes? To evaluate projects? To suggest new projects? Clubs are only as strong as their members. To keep your club strong you need to understand why it is strong, and if it’s not a strong as you’d like do you know why it’s not?

Members remain Altrusans because Altrusa fills a need (often many needs) in the member’s mind and heart.  Some of these reasons are a sense of belonging to something worthwhile, having a feeling of accomplishment and having other women to relate to and rely on…a sisterhood. Building that feeling of sisterhood can strengthen your club. And while doing service together certainly can accomplish that to a certain extent, having a chance to know your members as friends can add a different dimension to the relationships among members.

So how do you encourage that feeling of sisterhood? How about having activities that you do together just because you like each other and want to be together? How about arranging a quarterly lunch (or dinner) that is available to whoever is available to come.? How about a book club? How about a shopping trip? Or visiting a museum or concert together? Or whatever else you and your Altrusa sisters like to do! Maybe even look at forming a “committee” just to plan those fun things for your club to do, which gives you a chance to get to know your Altrusa sisters as people, without the pressure of having to perform some service. This is a wonderful accomplishment in itself.

I look forward to sharing ideas with you about what your club does or could do to build another dimension of your Altrusa bond. Contact me at bobbiklein@gmail.com.

Altrusa Hugs,

Bobbi Klein
Membership Development Committee Co-Chair (Retention)

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

Membership Spotlight: Crisis of Faith

You’ve all heard the expression “crisis of faith”, right?  Although this idea typically refers to religious ideals or strongly felt preconceptions or beliefs, sometimes it becomes part of our more normal, everyday life.

The other day I had a “crisis of faith” with my dedication to Altrusa.  There’s no need to go into details, let’s just say enough things had not gone the way I hoped and I felt frustrated, disappointed, angry, and just about ready to give up.  I wondered why I was continuing to share my time, my money, and my life on projects that made me feel like I was spinning my wheels.  It was not good.  

I would guess you’ve all had times and feelings like this.  The question is, how to handle this.  I knew I had to figure this out as it would be terribly unproductive to go on the way I was feeling.  My first step was to think of my life without Altrusa.  I have made wonderful friends within our organization, women I would not have met otherwise.  These women are very important to me and I can’t imagine my little word without them.  Once I reminded myself of my Altrusa friendships, I opened myself up to remembering all the other things I love about Altrusa. I thought about how I feel when I know we’ve made a difference, how I feel when we’ve successfully raised money that we know will go to help, or how I feel when we support members of our club during tough times. On any scale, these positives far far outweigh the occasional frustration.

If you’ve had a rough period where your Altrusa faith and dedication are tested try to remember the feelings will pass.  The work we do together is so gratifying and important.  We make a difference, sometimes not exactly the way we plan, but we make a difference nonetheless.  Try to remember how important each of us is to our community and to one another and your dedication will return, I promise.

--Deborah Hecht, 2013-2015 Membership Development Co-Chair

Please let your voice be heard. Write your ideas, and send them to Governor Beth for publishing on “Thoughts From the Mighty Ninth.”

New-Member Initiation of the Month

Here is a new-member initiation ceremony you can use during a Club meeting at any time. We’ll publish one each month. Send us your favorite to share!

[[New member]], It is with great pride that I officially welcome you into Altrusa. To be invited to become an Altrusan is a high honor indeed—and one that should be cherished. Remember that you do not join Altrusa, you become an Altrusan.

Confucius said: “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”

Most women want to look beautiful and often use makeup to enhance their natural beauty. Tonight, let’s think of this makeup bag as a representation of Altrusa International Inc. of [[Your Club Name]]. The items placed inside will represent the opportunity you will have to make our Club and our community more beautiful.

Let’s start with:

A Good Foundation. Foundation is an important component in adding beauty, as it creates the canvas to which color will be added. In Altrusa, the foundation is attending meetings, participating in service projects, and adopting the ideals of Altrusa. Much information you will need to become acquainted with Altrusa is in the Bylaws and Policies and the Altrusa Encyclopedia. These items, coupled with your attendance and participation, get you off to a good start. New-member orientation will help you to understand many facets about the Club and its operation.

Blush or Rouge. Blush is used not only to brighten up your face and add some color, but can be used to contour features to enhance them. In Altrusa, there are many opportunities for you to enhance who you are by utilizing your talents in programs, service, and fundraising for the betterment of the club and the community. Your colors will shine brightly as you find yourself taking on tasks and learning new skills. Because Altrusa is a builder of women, you have much opportunity for personal growth as a life enhancement.

Eye Shadow. The varied colors of eye shadow represent the multitude of service opportunities and friendships that await you in Altrusa. The interests in this Club are varied, as are the personalities and even the ages of the members. Community needs come and go, and Altrusa strives to meet the needs of this community. Just as you would not want to wear every color of shadow on your eyelids, you might not want to participate in every project done by the club. Mix and blend the choices well and you won’t be overwhelmed. But you might want to try a new color every now and then.

Mascara. Mascara is the product that really makes your eyes pop, bringing your lashes into view, and often helps lashes to grow. In Altrusa, we need to grow as well, and you are encouraged to grow in knowledge of Altrusa, to grow in friendship with the other members by working together and getting to know each other, and to help bring in other new members so that our club will also grow.

Lipstick. Now that we have the foundation, the blush, eye shadow, and mascara, it is time for lipstick to add that finishing touch. Lipstick represents your dedication to Altrusa. Just as your lipstick will fade with wearing, so can your dedication to Altrusa fade if it does not become an important addition to your life. So, I encourage you to pay attention to your commitment to Altrusa just as you do to keeping lipstick on your lips. A way to do this is by attending District Conference each year. International Convention is held on odd-number years. Both will help you to maintain your enthusiasm for Altrusa and its service, so attendance is encouraged.

The last item to go into the bag is a mirror. The mirror provides opportunity for you to see the reflection of who you become through membership in Altrusa. I trust that you will find it a beautiful sight!

Now, if you are still ready to become a member of Altrusa International Inc. of [[Your Club Name]] and follow the ideals of Altrusa, please say “I do.”

Sponsor, will you please present her pin? The pin is to be worn proudly over your heart. Wear it to meetings, of course, but wear it daily so that it will be noticed and you will have opportunity to share Altrusa with others.

Madam president, I am happy to introduce our newest member, [[name]], whose membership is sure to add beauty to this Club.

Brenda Tucker
Altrusa International Inc. of Pampa, Texas, and Past Governor of District Nine

Please let your voice be heard. Write your ideas, and send them to Governor Beth for publishing on “Thoughts From the Mighty Ninth.”