Retention of Members
The following Membership Retention Ideas were originally published in your retention efforts.
KEEP 'EM IDEAS
K--Know your fellow Lions
E --Evaluate their capabilities
E--Encourage their participation
P--Pamper them a little bit
E --Emphasize teamwork
M--Maintain fellowship among members
WAYS TO RETAIN MEMBERS
Meaningful induction, orientation and involvement.
Programs--good, timely and "on time" when scheduled.
Keep members active and members-at-large informed.
Publicize clubs activities in local media.
Break up cliques. Place cards for meetings--change them each meeting so that the same group does not always sit together.
Sponsors responsibilities should be stressed.
Lion of the Month--special recognition award; announce in club bulletin that he or she won't have, to pay the tail twisters fines for a month.
Find out why a member wishes to resign--membership committee should meet with member to discuss the problems or reasons.
Recognize members accomplishments both as a Lion and as a member of the community.
Keep meetings open for discussion for all members.
Attendance board on display at all meetings.
Luncheon/guest night for members spouses.
Keep costs--meals, dues, etc.--reasonable.
Encourage attendance at district and international meetings and conventions.
KEEP 'EM IDEAS
Our secretary sends flowers and a letter of congratulations to the new members spouses and invites them to meet other members spouses at one of the Family Nights.
We offer a patch to the new members and their spouses after the following requirements are met:
1. Attend every meeting for six months.
2. Visit another club.
3. Attend a district function.
4. Be involved in club projects.
Our induction ceremony stresses 100 percent attendance. After Lions introduce themselves and shake hands with the new members, they are appointed to committees by the club president.
We give the new members a red badge. When they are fully involved and have maintained 100 percent perfect attendance for six months, they receive the regular badge.
Our club members visit prospective members at their homes. We explain what we expect of them and let them know they are welcome.
We pay the new members dinner for five months.
Our program chairman sends birthday cards.
Our members with 100 percent attendance head the attendance committee.
The attendance committee uses cartoon cards telling the absent members they were missed at the meetings.
CONTROLLING THE "DROPS"
Thousands of members are dropped every year for "non-attendance." Many times its done to "get rid of deadwood."
Think about what affect it might have:
The member leaves with a bad feeling.
A potential member may be adversely influenced.
We lose members who give the organization clout.
On the other hand, if we try to keep them:
The members may be "re-turned on" by Lionism to make a substantial contribution.
If we maintain a good image of Lionism in the mind of the non-attendees, family and friends may convince them to become active again.
Lets see it we can better control the "drops" and bring the 'deadwood" back to life.
Most resignations of Lions Club members happen in the first two years of membership. Obviously, it is important to make the new member feel he has a valued and useful role in the Club during that period.
Before You Drop Another Lion, Try This:
Draw up a list of members in arrears--both in dues and attendance.
ASSIGN these names to a Membership Committee composed of two of YOUR BEST Lions salesmen--along with the listed members SPONSOR.
Have Committee AS A GROUP call on EACH member on the list IN PERSON to find out where the CLUB has failed and ACT TO CORRECT the problem for EACH member.
For those who have moved--find out WHERE--write a letter to this member and to the nearest Club. A TRANSFER is far better than a DROP, as a Lion is SAVED.
Use Membership-at-Large classification where necessary.
As these members come back (and they will), INVOLVE them--see that meetings and programs are worthwhile-- projects are interesting, and they are part of them.
IT'S SIMPLE AND IT WORKS!
WAYS TO KEEP THEM
Get new members involved immediately.
Don't let them sit by themselves.
Mix up seating at meetings, eliminate cliques.
Have new members act as greeter for three meetings.
Get a written commitment from new member and his/her ideas for programs.
Instead of just the sponsor, assign another member as a friend.
Encourage all members to wear pins and/or other Lions identification not only at meetings but at work and play.
Have regular Family Nights with special invitation to new members spouses.
At first three meetings, the new members names should be used constantly--sponsors responsibilities.
Personally invite the new member to the first social function.
Make sure the new member attends a board meeting, district convention and/or forum.
Get new members spouses involved and keep them informed.
Buddy system. Call when a member misses a meeting and call before the meeting.
Instill in the new member a desire to participate in community service and help him/her understand how Lionism accomplishes it.
Have 3-minute presentations (orientation) for new members.
Make sure to provide a New Member Kit to the new member at induction.
Have new members spouse do the pinning.
Include new members in after-meeting games and activities.
Recognize new members achievements and offer credit in front of entire club.
Ask each chairman of committees to which the new members are assigned to report specifically on their involvement at a meeting on a monthly basis.
Ensure that the sponsors tell the new members in detail what their total financial obligations will be.
Get biography from new member and print it in the club bulletin.
Have new members greeted by not only the Lion Tamer but use past presidents to make them feel an important part of the club.
Encourage new members to join others in club visitations.
The sponsor should follow up on the new member to ensure that he or she doesn't feel neglected.
Send flowers to the new members spouse.
Send a different Lion to pick up the new members on each of the first three meetings.
Give new members a red badge to wear during the first four meetings. All old members must greet them having tail twister monitoring.
Award the new members an attendance prize (plaque or certificate) for the first 13 weeks of perfect attendance.
If meeting is missed due to illness, send a card or visit them.
"Rookie of the Year" award. Assign points for visitation, projects, committee meetings, etc. Contest runs from July 1 through June 30; pro-rate for the period covered.
Keep new members informed on programs, projects and what is happening at district, multiple district and international level.
Every club has older members who have never held a club office, and newer members who are just itching to be put to work. Lets go home and resolve to put these Lions to work. Many times that quiet Lion who just comes to meetings and goes home is eager to be asked to do a job in which he or she can take pride.
The meeting at which you have your initiation ceremony for new members should be one in which the new member is instilled with the zeal and spirit of Lionism. Don't just give him/her the new member kit and pin and say, "You are now a Lion."
Maybe a Family Night is in order, but make it important because it should be an important step in any
man's or woman's life. Some of your older members could really make this evening memorable. Ask them.
Maybe you think that most Lions who drop their membership are "burned out" because they have been overworked. Nothing could be further from the truth. Lions drop out because they are under-worked and few people recognize what they can truly contribute.
TEN WAYS TO RETAIN MEMBERS
1. Every Lion needs to feel wanted, needed and important..
2. The club president needs to be sure they have a dedicated Lion as chairman of their attendance committee..
3. After a member misses the second meeting, contact him/her and ask if there is a reason, problem, etc.
4. President and committee chairmen--be sure each Lion has a responsibility and let them know you'll expect them to complete it and if called upon, give a report.
5. Keep the club busy with projects and activities.
6. Explore new ideas; start new projects; create new activities.
7. Periodically, have a session on the Lions Objects, Code of Ethics and discuss what Lionism is: (history, organization structure, dues, etc.)
8. Urge Lions to attend district training seminars and state and international conventions.
9. Organize visits to facilities which Lions sponsor (Leader Dog, Community Blind or Handicapped Centers).
10. Maintain a sense of togetherness and fellowship among members
MEMBERSHIP RETENTION
If you believe that membership retention is not a problem in your club, then nothing suggested here is going to help. If you believe that your club has a problem retaining not only the older members, but the newer, young members who have never really gotten into the spirit of Lionism, then the following might be helpful to you:
Make your meetings interesting enough so that your members do not leave thinking its "another evening wasted." They are not going to be around too many years with that attitude, are they?
If your club has a fat bank account, insist that your money be put to work. Lions do not mind raising money and paying dues if they can see credible results.
Publicize your worthwhile projects and contributions. It is necessary for all Lions to be proud of their club and its accomplishments. We all need a pat on the back once in a while.
WHAT DID WE DO WRONG TO LOSE THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS EVERY YEAR?
Did we invite the wrong people to be Lions? -- We don't think so!
Did we unconsciously resent their intrusion into our comfortable little world and fail to make them part of it?--Very unlikely!
Did we bring them in without honestly telling them and their spouses what their time and money commitment would be?--Usually!
Did we quell their enthusiasm by failing to give them responsible jobs and by not seeking their opinions on our work?-- Sadly, yes!
Have we made an open-minded approach to them to find the real reason and be prepared to make changes to accommodate them?--Very doubtful!
Have we ensured that they have not left us as enemies with their pride and ego badly hurt as a result of some insensitive word or act ?--We wonder!
When they were first absent from meetings or activities, did anyone take the trouble to call and say, "We missed you-- are you O.K.?"--or did we leave it to someone else?
Is our organization now coasting on a reputation earned years ago and no longer merited? It is our reputation which attracts new members.
Did they drop out because they didn't get what they expected? If so, then the fault is ours, not theirs.
Thousands of members didn't want to continue with us. Lets find out why and fix it--QUICK!
For Club Board of Directors
HOW TO KEEP MEMBERS
1. Keep the members involved and serving on various committees.
2. Be sure the Clubs service projects are relevant (timely) and fill a community need.
3. Maintain a favorable image by:
Warm fellowship (Club should constantly strive to improve)
Impressive meeting place.
Good food.
Varied and interesting programs.
Good public relations.
4. Be responsive to change.
5. Participate in district, inter-club, regional and zone meetings, conferences and conventions.
6. Provide a consistent educational program.
7. Provide ample opportunities for leadership training and self-improvement.
8. Generate a "pride of belonging" among the members, as well as a desire to become number
One!