New members and volunteers bring new ideas and extra hands to help and support your organization. Recruiting new members can be a challenge. But developing an approach to recruit members can make this task less stressful. Be patient. Participation and commitment grows steadily, but often slowly.

Here are tips on preparing a plan to encourage new people to join or participate in your organization:

Establish Direction
Before you start trying to recruit new members, spend a few moments determining why you are trying to recruit members. Answer these questions to help you establish direction in your recruitment efforts.

1. Why do you want or need members?
2. How many members do you need?
3. What kind of members do you need?
4. Who is going to find and get new members?
5. Where are the new members?
6. When is a good time to look for new members?
7. How should you approach potential members?
8. What happens if you get a yes, maybe or no?
9. What are some obstacles you may encounter?
10. How do you plan to get around obstacles?

Contact Potential Participants
Many effective methods for contacting potential participants are available. Select a method, or combination of methods that is most suitable to your needs and time availability.

1. Meet face to face.
2. Call on the telephone.
3. Fax a note.
4. E-mail a message.
5. Write a letter.
6. Prepare a flier or brochure.
   - Agenda/flier request form (.pdf file)
7. Prepare a fact sheet.

Encourage Participation
It is important to convince people that they will get something in return for their time and effort. Some of the returns are satisfaction, learning new skills, helping others, gaining information, meeting people, being included, solving a problem, having fun, and personal fulfillment.

• Welcome people to the organization.
• Be open and clear about purpose and goals.
• Give people something to work on.
• Listen.
• Appreciate whatever level of commitment someone can make.
• Don't guilt-trip people into participating.
• Continuously recruit people.
• Find out what people are interested in.
• Always recognize volunteers for their work.

Recruitment Ideas

1. Have board members bring a neighbor to a meeting.
2. Send personal letters of invitation to a meeting or event.
3. Send written notices to newspapers.
4. Post fliers at local markets, schools, businesses, libraries, etc.
5. Designate a member to attend parent club meetings at local schools.
6. Develop a recruitment brochure.
7. Use the newsletter to promote and recruit.
8. Consider presenting special awards at your meeting for a business or neighbor's beautification efforts.
9. Display exhibits in stores, malls, conferences, etc.
10. Identify groups in the community with similar goals or activities.
11. Try advertising to promote the group, using t-shirts, bumper stickers, parades, buttons, calendars, open houses, tours, parties, etc.

(Sources: Community Tool Box and Salem, Oregon Neighborhood Handbook)