Recruiting 101: Building your local committee for the present and the future Andy Edwards Regional Representative TN, MS, AL, NC, SC

Why do we need new recruits? Reduce Burnout Reduce Burnout New Contacts (circle of friends) New Contacts (circle of friends) Banquet attendees Banquet attendees Sponsors / donors Sponsors / donors New Talents, Ideas, and Energy New Talents, Ideas, and Energy Reduce Workload

How do we attract new potential members?

Hold Easily Accessible Meetings Scheduled: Scheduled: Recurring: 2 nd Tuesday of the month Recurring: 2 nd Tuesday of the month Same Time: 6:30-8pm Same Time: 6:30-8pm Same Location: USDA Service Center Same Location: USDA Service Center Location: Public but not noisy Location: Public but not noisy Avoid noisy bars, homes, churches Avoid noisy bars, homes, churches Try the back room of a bar, sporting goods retailer conference room, restaurant side room Try the back room of a bar, sporting goods retailer conference room, restaurant side room

Advertise meetings Banquet Program Banquet Program Sporting Goods Store Sporting Goods Store Newspaper Newspaper Community events calendar Community events calendar Timely paid advertising (hunting, banquet) Timely paid advertising (hunting, banquet) Early-bird / Chapter Newsletter Early-bird / Chapter Newsletter Facebook Page Facebook Page

Invitations & Reminders Invitations to non-committee members Invitations to non-committee members Banquet members Banquet members Pheasant Hunters (Pheasant Stamp List) Pheasant Hunters (Pheasant Stamp List) USDA or SWCD newsletter USDA or SWCD newsletter Reminder to committee before every meeting Reminder to committee before every meeting Phone call Phone call Text Message Text Message Postcard Postcard

Annual Recruitment Event Fun Event (Trap, sporting clays, BBQ) Fun Event (Trap, sporting clays, BBQ) Attract New Committee Members Attract New Committee Members Reward Current Committee Members Reward Current Committee Members Invitations: Invitations: Annual postcard to members & sponsors Annual postcard to members & sponsors Media Advertising (local papers) Media Advertising (local papers) Postcard to Hunters every 3-5 years Postcard to Hunters every 3-5 years Info about chapter projects and accomplishments Info about chapter projects and accomplishments Show what you’ve done Show what you’ve done

Follow up with “Get Involved” Don’t ignore low-hanging fruit!!! Don’t ignore low-hanging fruit!!! Step 1: Call Step 1: Call Step 2: Send information Step 2: Send information Step 3: Pick up / deliver to meeting Step 3: Pick up / deliver to meeting They have taken the first step, so they WANT to be involved – you just need to make it easy for them to do what they want! They have taken the first step, so they WANT to be involved – you just need to make it easy for them to do what they want!

Ask For Help! Recruitment letters and postcards Recruitment letters and postcards Boast successes - Ask for help to do more Boast successes - Ask for help to do more Be specific – What kind of help, time commitment Be specific – What kind of help, time commitment Habitat Habitat Youth Events Youth Events Banquet Banquet Send to outside groups/lists every 3-5 years. Send to outside groups/lists every 3-5 years. Pheasant Hunters, SWCD contacts, etc… Pheasant Hunters, SWCD contacts, etc…

How do we keep a new recruit? The Biggest Challenge isn’t getting a recruit…., its KEEPING THEM!!!

Make them feel welcome! Bring them to the meeting – get to know them on the way. Bring them to the meeting – get to know them on the way. Take them around to each new committee member and make introductions, share some of the info you learned. Take them around to each new committee member and make introductions, share some of the info you learned. Stick to business – avoid telling hunting or other “inside” stories that exclude the recruit. Stick to business – avoid telling hunting or other “inside” stories that exclude the recruit. Thank them for coming! Thank them for coming! Provide information about chapter. Provide information about chapter.

Involve them in meeting! Ask for their input – “Fresh” perspective Ask for their input – “Fresh” perspective Find out their interests – Get them involved on an appropriate committee. Find out their interests – Get them involved on an appropriate committee. Delegate a task for them to complete by the next meeting – Recruitment Chair help Delegate a task for them to complete by the next meeting – Recruitment Chair help Don’t dismiss their ideas – Consider them Don’t dismiss their ideas – Consider them Get their contact information!!! Get their contact information!!!

Don’t Scare Them! Stay positive: Stay positive: Don’t complain about other committee members, landowners, “national,” etc… Don’t complain about other committee members, landowners, “national,” etc… Don’t paint gloom and doom for the chapter. People want to be part of a “winning team”. Don’t paint gloom and doom for the chapter. People want to be part of a “winning team”. Do NOT welcome them as “Hey – here comes our new president!” Do NOT welcome them as “Hey – here comes our new president!”

Follow up! Ask them what they thought of the meeting Ask them what they thought of the meeting Thank them for their ideas Thank them for their ideas Invite them back (offer to pick them up) Invite them back (offer to pick them up) Reminder phone call Reminder phone call Help with assigned tasks Help with assigned tasks If they don’t show – “We missed you” can you come next month. If they don’t show – “We missed you” can you come next month.

Quality, not just Quantity

Motivated Volunteers Attend State Meetings and National Events Attend State Meetings and National Events Training Training Motivation Motivation Idea Exchange Idea Exchange Unity Unity Fun Fun

Recruitment Goals Identify a Recruitment Chair Identify a Recruitment Chair Coordinates chapter recruitment activities Coordinates chapter recruitment activities Target potential members in the community Target potential members in the community New member “orientation” New member “orientation” Chapter information Chapter information Introductions Introductions Follow-up Follow-up Recruit 1 new active committee member every year. Recruit 1 new active committee member every year.

Point to ponder… How did you become involved in your local chapter?