PRINCE HALL GRAND CHAPTER
ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR, RITE OF
ADOPTION
HAWAII AND IT’S JURISDICTION INC.
ATTRACTING AND RETAINING MEMBERS
Presented by
Ernestine Pratt
Grand Worthy Matron
PURPOSE
To provide guidance and
information that will assist you with
successfully
attracting and retaining members.
OBJECTIVES

How to Attract Members

How to Retain Members
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The GRAPE Principle

106 Ideas for Retaining Members
ATTRACTING NEW MEMBERS
How do we entice visitors along to our projects and
meetings and not only get them to come back again, but
convert them into committed and dedicated team
members?
WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO ATTRACT?
Are you seeking to attract:
• Young people
• Professional people
• Family orientated people
Take a look at your current membership - how would you
define your current members?
BE RELEVANT
An area where a lot of organizations fall down is in
remaining relevant to their community.
Potential members are not going to be
attracted to an organization that performs projects
that are completely irrelevant or unimportant to them.
The question then is how do you determine what is relevant
to them?
BE ACCESSIBLE
Methods of Delivery newsletters and a website.
This website should contain the answers to the questions they are most
likely to ask. At a minimum it should provide information on:
What your organization is about - What is your mission statement? What
future goals are you aiming for? What past achievements are you proud
of?
Where your organization is located.
BE ACCESSIBLE cont.
• Your organization's membership requirements - Are there any restrictions
on who can join? What is expected of a member? Are there attendance
requirements? What does it cost to be a member?
• Organization project details - What projects are coming up on your
organization's calendar? What is involved in these projects?
• Organization meeting details - When and where does your organization
meet? How long do meetings run for? What can a member expect at an
organization meeting?
• Organization contact details - Who should a potential member contact to
become a member or get involved in a project
BE PROFESSIONAL
First impressions ALWAYS count. It's important that a potential
member's first impression of your organization is a good one.
Being professional – has a lot to do with how the organization
conducts itself.
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Member's appearance
Member's conduct
Website and newsletter content
Project management
Organization communication
BE ENGAGING
Once you've managed to entice a potential member along to an
Organization event it's very important to make them feel welcome and part
of the team.
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Acknowledge their presence
Extend a friendly welcome
Assign a "buddy“
It's important to keep service projects interesting as well. Make sure your
organization offers a diverse range of activities for members to get involved
with and try not to get too repetitive with your projects.
BE WELL NETWORKED
Networking is one of the most important things for a person
or organization to do.
• Maintain contact with your organization's past members.
• Build working relationships with other community groups
in your area.
• Build partnerships
• Become affiliated with community bodies and local
councils
RETAINING MEMBERS
Members are the lifeblood of any organization and are
needed to keep the organization functioning.
Successful retention of members depends on making them
feel like they are a part of the group and involving them in
the organization.
RETAINING MEMBERS
Tips on making members feel a part of the organization
include:
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Involve them in decision making
Listen to their ideas
Give them responsibility
Encourage cohesion!
Send them letters and minutes
RETAINING MEMBERS
Your ability to keep membership also depends on your
Ability to:
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Find out what motivates each person
Meet at least one reason the person joined
Be consistent and directed
Provide legitimate procedures for change
Delegate to new members
Have fun with meetings and activities
RETAINING MEMBERS
This can be done by:
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Successful programming activities
Delegation of responsibility and decision-making powers
Planned social gatherings
Consecutive challenges (building opportunities for increased
responsibility and growth)
Retaining members is directly related to the strength of your
organization and leadership — strengthening one will improve the
other.
RETAINING MEMBERS
It goes without saying...
• A member is the most important person in any organization.
• Our members are not dependent upon us. We are dependent upon
them.
• Our members are a part of our organization, not outsiders.
• Our members are not just money in our bank account. They are
human beings with feelings and needs, like our own.
RETAINING MEMBERS cont.
• Our members are people who share with us their needs and wants.
It is our job to fulfill them.
• Our members deserve the most courteous attention we can give
them. They are the lifeblood of this and every association.
• Our members need to feel that they are making a difference.
• Our members need to feel like they are a part of the group.
• Our members are the reason we exist, and without them we couldn’t
survive.
CONCLUSION
• Members stay with organizations that are organized, dynamic and
meet their personal goals for membership.
• Prospective members want to know that the organization is moving
forward and successful in meeting the organization’s goals.
• Identify the needs of the individual members is the key to having a
strong organization with enthusiastic members.
• To remember why people join organizations and what helps retain
them, just think of the GRAPE Principle along with 106 ways to retain
members, which is located in your packet.
PRINCE HALL GRAND CHAPTER ORDER OF THE EASTERN
STAR (O.E.S) HAWAII AND ITS JURISDICTION INC.
Please visit our web site
You can find this presentation along with other training material at:
http://www.hawaiiphaeasternstar.org/index.html
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
QUESTIONS