IMPROVING BRANCH VITALITY Walter Schick & Derek Southern Our SIR members have a lifetime of experience. Let us share ideas for retention and recruitment to spread and continue the good ideas of the Sirs before us and after us. After all “None of us is as smart as All of us.” Branches can be inviting and vigorous when they have Function Teams for continuity of the social and activity offerings for Sirs. None of us is as smart as All of us

Tools to Improve Vitality Improving the Vitality of a Branch is neither a Quick or Simple process. You will need appropriate tools and the wholehearted INVOLVEMENT of members of the Branch, plus some patience. Tools are available at sirinc.org How to get members ENGAGED????

Important Tools Form 27 Goals, Results Branch Assessment Function Teams Activities Recruitment New Member Involvement LEADERSHIP There is no magic bullet to fixing branch recruitment. Branches lose 12-15% of their members each year. Fill out an annual Branch Assessment to see which key areas are opportunities for your Branch. Adopt Function Teams in your branch, and you can increase your vitality and membership. No one of us is as smart as all of us. We will expand on Activities, Involving New Members, and Recruitment ideas.

Form 27, Goals, Guests & New Members Our recruitment goal: Net Gain of Plus One but remember… We need (on average) 2 Guests to bring in 1 New Member So, if you have a 15% attrition rate, your goal is >30% guests SIR is reaching only 3% of retired men. Not only do we want to replace attrition to keep our branch active, we must share our social and activities with as many of the retirees that we can reach.

Branches can be Revived: Branch 19 Concord: 220+ to 100 to 124 We have lost many branches as they did not look at their history and make goals to replace attrition. This branch was on a steep decline until 2008 when they began Function Teams to increase the vitality of their luncheon and activities. With assessment and goal setting, branches can begin to serve new members.

Tools That Work: Area 2 (7 Branches) This graph starts in 2006, when Area 2 had declined to 1290 from their peak in 2000. The “X” marks 2008 when the State dropped waiting lists, and Jim Stedman, et.al. published the study of decline of an entire region. The aging of branch memberships showed that newly retired men were not recruited to replace those Sirs who were leaving. Each member should have a Legacy of One or More —to sponsor at least one new member to replace himself. You can start this in your branch. Membership was flat in 2008 and after. What started the growth at the “?” mark, at the end of 2009? What changed??? The Function Teams and Tools were introduced, all 7 branches in the Area adopted committees, and in the years 2009-2011 the area grew by 10%. Your area can grow also.

Branch Assessment Any Branch Opportunities — one or more categories? Which is most important for your Branch? Why? The Branch Assessment should be an annual review by the entire BEC and Function Teams. Then goals and action plans can be developed to gain in net membership. A Goal is a Dream until it has a Deadline.

Function Teams Improve Vitality Publicity + Recruitment Guests Guests + Activities + Image Members Members + Member Relations Retention Like breakfast, All are needed for completeness What are the key functions of a branch? The flow of getting guests (someone who could be a friend) to come to luncheons, then attracting them with activities and a vibrant image turns them into members. Member relations retains them as happy Sirs. This flow seems obvious, but good ideas were started and used in many branches and then lost due to lack of continuity. A Big Sir started something, then left his position after a year. Function Teams are standing committees with a BEC Director as Chair or CoChair. Then good ideas can continue year after year. In Area 2, these committees were listed in the 2009 Area Roster, and left blank if there were no appointment. Mostly Activities Committees at the beginning. But at the end of that year, Function Teams had doubled in the Area branches. At the end of 2011, the branches average 3.5 of 4 teams. And the Area net growth in three years is 10%. Adopt TriFunctions in your branch, and you can increase your vitality and membership. No one of us is as smart as all of us.

Find Tools Here sirinc.org Branch Improvement The Growth and Membership Committee has collected tools and examples from many branches. These are on the State SIR Website and your committees and officers should use them.

SIRinc.org/protected/BrAreaTools/ Where are the Functions described? SIRinc.org/protected/BrAreaTools/ Branch Assessment Ideas that Work Committee Job Descriptions Branch Assessment and Goals Branch Assessment Form Branch Assessment Solutions Recruit and Retain Catalog Branch Vitality (PPT) Recruiting Branch Leaders Four Steps to Get SIR Leaders (includes Job Description Templates) Use the Annual Branch Assessment Form to see where your branch can improve. Then discuss the Solutions and the Recruit & Retain documents for ideas to use in your branch. This Orientation Powerpoint should be given to all new elected officers and appointed committeemen in September after Branch Elections. In 2013, the Growth & Membership committee tested Four Steps to Get SIR Leaders. They work to get volunteers for the BEC and Function Teams. Have your nominating committee try these out.

Function Teams of Vital Branches Reception Image Vitality Publicity Awareness Recruitment Guests Activities + Guests Members Member Relations Retention What’s different from the earlier slide? Well, we have added the topic of the Image of your Luncheon Reception Area. Simply, if you have nothing to offer, why bring in guests and waste time on publicity? Begin to make your existing members happier. Retain them and make a welcoming, active branch for new members.

Reception Image for a Vital Branch SIR Banner Jazzes Your Entryway Greeters Activity Posters, Sign Ups Book Swap Every Month Hobbies, Crafts Table Hats, SIR Cards, TriFolds, I Love SIR What does your branch have? When a guest visits, what does your branch luncheon registration area look like? Is it inviting, is it active? Are the Sirs asleep? 1. Order a popup SIR banner from the State website link. 2. Order 11x 14 inch posters from Costco for $10. They slide into a slot on a 2x4 piece of wood. Poster templates and instructions are on the SIR Website. Begin a book swap every month. And ask your members to bring their hobbies one at a time for show and tell. Put out supplies of SIR promotional items from Form 21

Images Inside & Out When a guest comes to your luncheon, what does he see? Outside if possible, and a banner greeting him when he comes inside.

Activity Posters & Book Swap One poster lists Table games like bridge, dominoes, poker, and a sign-up sheet can gather names. The Dine-Out activity has a Sir behind the table to talk about the next restaurant. At the far end are two tables of Book Swap boxes. This branch has 400 books in circulation, with three Sirs on the committee so they can store the cartons! There are tables on the other side of this corridor for 18 Hole Golf, 9 Hole Golf, Fishing, Travel and more.

Invite Embroidme-Moore to bring an exhibit of SIR Apparel to your Luncheon No Activity Poster needed here! This is an annual SIR Apparel table, manned (!) by the embrodery company.

Publicity for a Vital Branch Publicity & Recruitment Guests 1. Local Newspaper Events—Include Speakers 2. TriFold Brochures—Senior Centers, Farmers Markets 3. TriFold Brochures---Ladies Day Luncheon 4. Sir Caps & Jackets at the Golf Course, Bocce Court 5. Invite Someone Who Could Be Your Friend 6. Guest Envelope: Application, SIR TriFold, Newsletter, Four part Sir Story Easiest publicity is to provide your newspaper event editor with a monthly write up including your speaker. Even easier is every Sir should carry Sir Cards to invite a stranger who could be a new friend. Don’t forget to ask your ladies about their friends—ladies are happy to get their retired husbands out of the house from time to time.

Announce Events in Local Newspaper Include a description of the speaker and newspapers will consistently print the event. Sons in Retirement. SIR Branch XX, location, cost and contact. Branch website also.

Recruitment Tools at Lunch Registration Desk A smaller 11 x 14 inch poster with plastic holders fits in a tight space at your luncheon registration table. Sirs can pick up some new Sir Cards for their wallet or Brochures for their Lady. Have a supply of caps and hats for sale. Invite someone who could be a new friend. TriFolds, Sir Cards, Car Sticker SIR Caps

Successful Branch Recruitment Ideas 69: Sacto Golf Expo 32 names, 9 members so far 53: Santa Rosa Free lunch for sponsor of new member 8: Walnut Creek Free wine to sponsor for new guest 146: Walnut Creek Brochure, Ladies, Golf Cards at GC 171: Walnut Creek 30 SIR Cards for City Hikers Ideas for your branch? Remember the Key Functions and your reception image as you plan your own branch vitality. The next slide reminds you that Tools That Work are available on the State SIR Website.

Recruit at Golf Expo Sacramento Small tables/booths can be manned by Sirs at County Fairs and City Street Fairs Activities, Couples, SIR Pop Up Golf Funnies, Tournies, Schedule

Activity Function in a Vital Branch What do you do when you can’t play Golf? 80+ Activities – Half can include Couples Book Swap, Dine Out are Easiest to Start “Men Enjoying Active Retirement” Many activities need only two Sirs to start Build up your activities—for your current members and for converting guests to members. Branches that have only Golf or Bowling will be limited to those who can still golf. Adding activities can double your membership. Somewhere, a SIR Branch has started one of over eighty activities on the membership application list. See if you can start at least two activities every year. Half can be couples. Easiest to start are Dine In, Dine Out, Monthly Book Swap, Wine Tasting, Bridge, Bocce, Couples 9-Hole Golf, Poker, Walking Just two Sirs and their Ladies can start Dine In, Dine Out, Couples Bridge, Couples Golf, Walking, Explore and Eat…How many can you think of?

Each Couple Brings an Appetizer Wine Finders Under $15 Each Couple Brings an Appetizer Twelve couples each bring a bottle and an appetizer. The bottles are separated into two six-bottle tastings, and the most popular of each tasting is recommended. The ladies enjoy meeting the others, and this is a short bi-monthly mixer.

70+ Activities are now listed on the back of FORM 2 Application __Antique Cars __Computers & Tech __Golf 9-Holes __Softball __Astronomy __Computer Training __Golf 18-Holes __Stamps __Backgammon __Cooking (Group) __Golf Home-Home __Tennis __Barbershop 4tet __Cooking (Host) __Guys Dine Out __Theatre __Baseball Day __Crab Feed __Harmonica __Travel __Biking __Cribbage __Hikers __Walkers __Book Club __Dancing __Historical Interest __Wine Finders __Book Swap __Digital Photo __Hobby Display __Wine Tasting __Bocce __Dinner Dances ­­__Horseshoes __Wine Bargains __Bowling __Dine In (Potluck) __Investments __Woodworking __Bowling, Lawn __Dine Out (Group) __Internet Games __Write Autobio __Breakfast Club __Dominoes __Jazz Sacramento __Veterans __Brewing __Economic Study __Model Railroad __Yoga __Bridge, Basic __Explore & Eat __Pickle Ball __Bridge, Duplicate __Fishing __Pinochle __Bridge, Rubber __Football Day __Poker __Bridge, Travel __Games Night __Pool-Billiards __Chess __Gardening __Racing Day __Chorus __Genealogy __Radio Amateurs __Coins __Gin Rummy __Rec. Vehicles The BOLD activities are for Sirs and many times are also scheduled for COUPLES. Involving your ladies will support “Men Enjoying Active Retirement” and because of these Couples activities, we have had new members join when their wives heard about them. Your branch should begin using the new Form 2 Application, which is on the State Website. The new application allows you to add your branch contact information .

Member Relations for a Vital Branch Branch Problems, Assessment Goal Setting Measures Action Plan Schedule Assign (New Members plus) Retain! Use the branch assessment tools on the SIR website, start a branch focus group to discuss problems and solutions. Use the branch plan which is on the SIR website (Branch & Area Tools\Member Relations) and modify it for your own branch. Involve New Members early in the Function Teams, even if for just a year. See: Branch Assessment in Branch & Area Tools

Volunteers for a Vital Branch Where to get Volunteers? — New Members How do you involve them? — Give them a Job Ten or fifteen percent of your members are NEW. Have them choose a Function Team for one year. Engage them by involvement. Do you have a program for new members?

Volunteers for a Vital Branch Where to get Volunteers? — New Members How do you involve them? — Give them a Job Where to get Volunteers? — Directors How do you involve them? — Give them a Job Directors have volunteered to join the BEC. What do you ask your Directors to do? Have them represent a Function Team by being a member or co-chair. This is a great link to the BEC for action on the Team goals.

New Member Volunteers Function Teams: half are new members Dine-In Groups: 2-6 new Sirs start a new DIG How else can you involve them? Source of Volunteers for Offices…website, newsletter, speakers committee Greeters Assistant Chairs of Activities Ask them at 6 month follow up meeting Involve your new members- a six month meeting with new members can get their input about the branch and you can ask them to join an activity or Function Team.

Recruitment Team and The Real Magic Bullet Without the Activities and an Inviting Image, the Magic Bullet will be a dud. Improve your current Sirs satisfaction with new activities. Then use the Magic Bullet SIR Card to invite someone who could be a new friend.

Recruitment Team and The Real Magic Bullet List activities, even if you don’t have one now. When a guest ask about PickleBall, you can say your branch doesn’t have that activity, but let’s start one. After all, most activities only need two Sirs to start. Then use the Magic Bullet SIR Card to invite another someone who could be a new friend.

Recruitment Teams using The Real Magic Bullet Br 8: Once a year, Greeters ask incoming Sirs “Do you have cards in your wallet? Here are 3, put your name on all, two in your wallet and one for your wife. Ask her to ask a girl friend get her husband out.” Br 171: Take a batch to your walking group… Br 146: Take some to your golfing buddies outside of SIR… Then use the Magic Bullet SIR Card to invite someone who could be a new friend.

Branch Revival Branch 19 Concord 265 to 100 to 124 How did Branch 19 achieve their revival? Make your branch for “Men Enjoying Active Retirement” by adding activities, having an attractive registration area, and asking your members what you can do for improvement. Let’s visit your own branch revival next year!

None of us is as smart as All of us Thank You None of us is as smart as All of us