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

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

3. 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

4. Part 1: What is a vital club life?

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Part 2: Good practices to attract and retain members

12. 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

13. 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)

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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 !!!

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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)

22. 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!)

23. 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!

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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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.

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