Gamma Iota Sigma
Grand Chapter

Administrative Guide

Chapters

Membership Campaign

"If your chapter is not growing, it is dying." Every chapter continually replaces graduating members if it is to remain a thriving organization.  The more members you have the more manpower to carry out your established goals and projects.

Before you can realize full membership potential, you must evaluate your current recruiting strategies.  Listed below are steps and ideas designed to help you analyze and improve your membership drives.

1.          You must be successful at recruiting to stay alive!  This program must be top priority and have your complete member and financial support.  Reaffirm your commitment of time and resources before you start.

2.             Establish a goal . . .

Some questions to consider are:

a.             If you had unlimited manpower, what could you accomplish?

b.             How many projects can each member reasonably are expected to participate in?

c.            How many members will you lose this year?

3.             Establish a campaign theme . . .

a.             Recruiting will be much more exciting to you and others if you have a slogan.

b.            Build the theme around your strongest selling point.

4.             Campaign Materials . . .

a.             Stress what you have to offer (i.e., industry connections, leadership opportunity, and national exposure).

b.            Don't bore people with long letters or speeches.

c.            Use the telephone.

5.             Use current members . . .

a.            A "member-get-a-member" program is usually effective.

b.                    If you're doing a good job for current members, they won't mind selling the organization to prospects.

6.             Anticipate reasons for not joining . . .

a.             "I don't have the time."  We all have 24 hours.  It's a matter of priorities and you want to change theirs.

b.             "I don't have the money to join."  Gamma Iota Sigma industry connections may lead to career opportunities.  Doesn't a future return justify saving the money to join?

c.             "I'm in too many organizations already."  That is exactly why Gamma Iota Sigma needs them, they can use and sharpen their previously developed skills.

7.             Take advantage of bad times . . .

During hard economic times students are more hesitant to give their time and energy.  HOWEVER, they are also looking for all the help they can get.   Capitalize on this by constantly stressing the opportunities Gamma Iota Sigma can provide for the students.

8.             Make it easy to join . . .

Place applications where convenient for potential members.  Do not make them come to you.

9.             Pricing . . . use your imagination!

a.            At times, offer discounts.  Possible ideas include:

1.             Discounts for the first 10 people to join.

2.            $5 off fee for all freshman or seniors joining

3.            Year end reductions (one month only)

b.             Do not be afraid to increase dues.  Potential members are sensitive to your needs (and they don't know what you charged last year).

10.             Motivate your members to recruit . . .

a.            Awards for best recruiters:

1.             A day off - members attend the winner's classes for a day and take in-depth notes for him/her.

2.            Free servants for a day.

3.            Dinner or theater tickets.

4.            Free tank of gas

b.             Contests . . . divide current members into small competitive groups.

11.             Always ask for referrals . . .

a.            Always ask new members for prospective names.

b.             Request that new members pass on their membership materials to one other person, not a member.

12.             Keep records . . .

Monitor and analyze all efforts.  Learn from your successes and mistakes.