Tricks and Tips Based on Good Practices A Vital Zonta Club Life Tricks and Tips Based on Good Practices December 2015

Session Outcomes Share good practices to: Attract new members Retain existing members Through demonstrating a vital and attractive club life

Session Overview Part 1: What is a vital club life? Part 2: Good practices to attract and retain members Part 3: Good practices sent in by successful clubs

Part 1: What is a vital club life?

meetings presentations events International participation Friendship in and outside of Committees & Office Well-conducted meetings with exciting presentations A Vital Club Life Service and advocacy activities & Awards for young girls Inspiring fundraising events

Signs of Strong Vitality Smooth succession to fulfill functions Active participation of almost all members in meetings, fundraising events, service activities, … Stable membership with more than 15 members

Signs of Strong Vitality Zonta knowledge in general Knowledge of club achievements Indicating involvement and engagement

Signs of Strong Vitality Regular admission of new members Crucial for club to survive over generations Diversity in professions and ages Leading to diversity of ideas, initiatives, competences

Signs of Strong Vitality Understand the international dimension of Zonta Participation in area, district and international, events, meetings & conferences Club and individual donations to ZIF programs Consciousness of Zonta’s role as NGO in cooperation with UN and other organisations

Signs of Strong Vitality Being united by common goals “Zonta Says No” and other Advocacy activities ZIF awards and scholarships Service projects Club investing in external communication Local and new media and PR Acknowledge donors & sponsors

Part 2: Good practices to attract and retain members

Good Practices The results of the ZI “Entry Survey” in 2014 point to very concrete hints to retain new members Informational meetings Club handbook (welcome package) Personal mentoring by an existing Zonta member

Good Practices Active Membership Committee in place Every member to introduce at least one new member A follow-up before and after joining (Direct Dialogue)

Good Practices Implement new member survey after one year Recruit young women as a group Make recruitment a regular club activity

Good Practices Active Nominating Committee in place for succession planning Training on all levels “Shoe box” game for talent detection & team building The Zonta quiz competition

Good Practices Acknowledge the long-term members Cultivate the little signs of friendship Ask for feedback from members (anonymous survey) Organize random seating at club meetings

Tools Are Available Instrument to identify your club vitality: Vitality Indicators Questionnaire Website of Zonta International In “Membership Tools” you will find the questionnaire and the explanations for its assessment

Tools Are Available Use (more) all the materials available: PR materials Manuals Posters and documents for our awards … so much material available on ZI website !!!

There is No Universal Magic Spell But throughout each club’s cultural background, there are some common magical ingredients that help in attracting and retaining new members.

Part 3: Good practices sent in by successful clubs The following slides can be omitted for a more compact presentation give concrete examples of good practices by successful clubs show that the type of good practice depends on the cultural context

Good Practices From Zonta Clubs D27 – ZC Metz (France) D28 – ZC Engiadina (Switzerland) D20 – ZC Raseborg-Raasepori (Finland) D20 – ZC Lahti (Finland) D14 – ZC Nuernberg (Germany) D18 – ZC Ibadan II (Nigeria) D21 – ZC Sundsvall (Sweden)

D27 – ZC Metz (France) Large information meeting organized with finger food, offered for potential new members thank you to sponsors with aim to present Zonta (in a lively manner!)

D28 – ZC Engiadina (Switzerland) Many social events organized (isolated region) Dinners at private homes to foster friendship Strong support from SOM, area and governor Diversity in professions Immediately involve new members!

D20 – ZC Raseborg-Raasepori (Finland) Taking good care of members Strong ties with many personal contacts Sharing tasks: all of us and evenly

D20 – ZC Lahti (Finland) Best recruiters are motivated Zontians themselves Service work local and international is glue Seminars with interesting content to attract professional women Break loneliness of professional women through content and friendship

D14 – ZC Nuernberg (Germany) Presenting Zonta at public women’s fair Intensive follow-up of the contacts made: personal contact, invitiation to club & events Every member is assigned one contact for follow-up until decision to join

D18 – ZC Ibadan II (Nigeria) Presentation of Zonta vision, mission & membership at church Publicity on radio, TV and newspaper Mandate to every member to introduce 2 new eligible members

D21 – ZC Sundsvall (Sweden) Presenting Zonta at party for potential members and sponsors Translate international purpose and goals into local realistic ambitions with business plan and follow-up of results Intensive communication Surveying new members

Conclusion A Zonta club that can demonstrate a vital and attractive club life will be able to both attract new members and retain existing members. Clubs leaders can easily look to Zonta.org and other clubs for inspiration and ideas.

Presentation Developed By: International Membership Committee 2014-2016 Annette Binder, Zonta Club of Hamburg-Elbufer Dafne Reymen, Zonta Club of Brussel Zavel