“The Attitude of your Leadership, Influences Retention” Everyone here today takes on, or is about to take on, a leadership role in this Lion’s District. Therefore how we go about our duties will largely determine the success or otherwise of your respective clubs. We are all fully aware of our declining membership. We have no problems with recruitment it’s holding these new members that’s the problem. “The Attitude of your Leadership, Influences Retention”

Foundation Train our members on the art of sponsoring - Provide better information pre-joining Place an advertisement in the situations vacant columns Brief history of the club - Housekeeping rules - Project history - Social activities Ask a prospective member what they would like to do. - The President will have a better idea on what committee to place the new member. Identify, “Why we want new members?” Click What are the requirements of sponsoring a new member. The sponsoring member should be able to pass on the responsibilities of being a Lion to the prospective member. Click What about an ad in the local paper. Situations Vacant, Handyperson for many tasks. Remuneration is very rewarding although not financially Click Make sure the new member has a good idea of the history of the club they are joining Click Get a better understanding on the new member’s interest areas Click Do we really know why we want new members Click

Induction Place the new member in a busy committee, possibly with their sponsor Ensure all members involve this new member in all activities Encourage participation from all members, particularly the more quiet members Involve partners with all social events President may invite the newer members to his/her home Click for each point Its important that the new member is giving tasks to show that they are valued Get involved with this new member Do not forget about the other members in the club particularly the quieter ones. They tend to be forgotten. Most people like to involve their partners in what they do so encourage the members to involve their partners in social activities Maybe you Presidents could become more involved on a personal level with the new members

Chairing the Meeting Set up an agenda and stick to it Do not allow any one person to continually dominate the meeting Meeting structure and rules Start and finish on time Prioritise the time for each item Encourage participation Click then comment on each point Nothing is worse than a meeting that continues to wander away from the agenda Possibly make a ruling that the members can only speak once to a motion General business items to be tabled at the beginning Most important to start and finish on time. Try not to make the meetings go on too long A straight forward agenda item that all members agree with should not be discussed at any length Make sure everyone is given the opportunity to say their bit

Form Your Attitude To Influence RETENTION Add value to your club in whatever role you play Men and women go where they are invited and stay where they are looked after Today’s visitors are your future members Today’s members are your club’s future Look after them as if your club’s future depends on it …… because without them your club has no future! Click then comment on each point Maybe a guest speaker at your club could be a specialist in Customer Service. This is factual, have you ever gone back to where you feel you are not welcome Make a fuss of your visitors, make them want to come back Involve all the members in the club’s activities Absolutely true

Having a Person as a Member of your Club is a Privilege Spend more time and energy farming rather than hunting. Give them the kind of experience that will bring them back again and again. Spend time keeping in touch with existing members – the best members are the ones the club already has. If you are in a leading role, view members as customers rather than staff, and you will be closer to the attitude that gets results. Click then comment on each point We already have the members – then put the energy into keeping them as members What are the types of experiences that makes you keep returning as a member Become good friends of the current members The senior members should not get too hung up in their roles and status

Do You Know What Your Members are Worth to Your Club? When you know the lifetime value of your members you will come to treat them with the importance they deserve. Make Member Retention your number one business priority Improved retention rates make for attainable growth Keep in touch with members between meetings and after projects. Click then comment on each point Good friends last a life time. Lions is the vehicle to get you these friends Without customers a business very quickly not a business Build on the strengths of the club Involve the members in your normal activities. When seeking a service or purchase what Lion can you do business with?

Help Members to Come up with Problems! Members are always right about what is their problem, often they may be wrong about what is the best solution. Identify problems early, and come up with workable, positive solutions. Help members stay motivated by recognising their efforts, rewarding achievement, and celebrating success. Click then comment on each point Once a problem is identified then seek the best solution for a win, win result Have an open mind, try not to take sides. Agree there is a problem then work towards a positive outcome When there is a positive result then massage the egos of the achievers they deserve it.

Make Life in your Club so Good that Nobody Wants to Leave! They are provided with a safe, friendly and comfortable meeting environment They are made to feel welcome Time is spent understanding their needs They are given options Any performance problems are handled sensitively & well There is follow up to activities and events to make sure that members are happy with the outcome There is on-going contact with members Click Maybe we all need a checklist Click then comment on each point These are just a few things that would help…….

President’s Retention Campaign Obtain from Lions International copies of the resource booklets that support this programme. They will assist you in the three main areas identified as important for retention of members. Making meetings efficient and enjoyable Avoiding formation of cliques, and influence of internal politics Heightening involvement and recognition of members There is resource material available on retention all you need to do is ASK

INNOVATION – GATEWAY TO OUR FUTURE Be innovated with your meetings because this is what will hold the interest of your members. Don’t fall into the trap of always doing things because they have always been done this way. My grandfather did it this way, so did my father so it must be okay……….. Yeah Right

People will forget what you said or what you did. However, people will never forget how you made then feel! People will forget what you said… or what you did However people will never forget… how you made them feel