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Chapter Spotlight: Geneva
Geneva Shares Tips on Growing Membership
Growing membership consistently ranks as one of the biggest challenges for OWIT chapters worldwide. With over 350 members, Geneva boasts one of the largest and strongest chapters in OWIT. The chapter shares these key success factors for growing and retaining members:
Growing Membership
- Host regular, high-quality events that both members and non-members may attend.
- Host some events in surrounding communities and areas.
- The Geneva chapter holds events in Lausanne, which is 60 km from Geneva. Such Ôout of townÕ events will allow you to expand your geographic coverage and local reach, create awareness about OWIT and its local chapters, increase membership, and enhance OWITÕs reputation.
- Have networking icebreakers at events.
- Put a follow-up system in place after each event to try to convert non-members into members.
- Host Networking Happy Hours to allow non-members to network and get a feel for the association.
- Place membership sign-up desks at each speaker event and ÒNetworking Happy HourÓ to attract new members.
- Appoint a VP of Membership to help execute strategies to attract new members and retain existing ones.
Retaining Current Members
- Send an automatic letter via e-mail 30 days prior to membership expiry to encourage renewal.
- Send a follow-up message about the approaching expiry date to members.
- Implement a rolling, 12 month membership. This will allow your chapter to avoid pro-rated pricing.
- Include a ÒMembers OnlyÓ section on the website that has value-added content.
- In Geneva, members get access to the ÔCareer CornerÕ, where job postings, links to head hunters, and other relevant resources are available.
- This ÒMembers OnlyÓ section will also help entice new members to join.
- Encourage members to volunteer. When they join, give them an option to check off if they are willing to be volunteers and identify their areas of interest, such as registration, marketing, communications, website, and so on.
- This allows them to leverage their time, skills, and the contacts they have to offer, and will encourage them to stay involved in the organization.
- Distribute an annual survey to new (less than 1 year), loyal (2+ years), and lapsed or expired members.
- These surveys will provide your chapter with input on what works, possible areas of improvement, and feedback on why certain members have left.
For more information on what your chapter can do, watch for the regular Share & Reapply e-blasts from Colleen Pound, VP of Chapter Support, and Andrea Ewart, Co-VP, Chapter Support. |
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