Membership Retention
Retaining members from year to year, or even season to season, can be very difficult. Retaining members is not just getting members to join each year, but actually getting those members to be as active as possible. By keeping members active and having them participate in different events will make your chapter stronger than ever, since people will know how much fun it is to be in FCCLA. There are quite a few ways to keep members active, including keeping everyone informed, giving member’s responsibilities, and by showing them recognition for the work they have done.
Make sure you let every member in your chapter know about events that FCCLA is hosting or any type of community involvement that the chapter is doing. As well as letting them know what the event is, it is important to state that the activity is going to be a lot of fun and it is greatly appreciated if members come. By doing this, members will come, have fun getting to know other people, and then tell their friends about FCCLA, who will want to join, which helps recruit members.
There are many ways to make sure everyone is informed about FCCLA events. Regular meetings or class updates are necessary for members to know the information they need, but there are some other ways to keep members informed and reminded. One way is to send e-mails to every member about upcoming FCCLA opportunities. This method allows everyone to have all the information they need, such as the activity’s date, time, and location, in one message. Another way to let everyone know about different events is through a bulletin board or a notice board. Having a bulletin board gives members all the information about every activity in one place. Another way to let all the members know about events is handing out monthly calendars, showing the events. By using one or more of these different ways to keep everyone informed, members will be sure to be active season after season.
Another way to retain members is by giving them responsibilities. This way, members know that they are a vital part of the chapter. Members can be given responsibilities in a variety of ways, including having chapter officers or a chapter executive council. Make sure each of these officers has a different position with well-defined duties, so that they know they are a unique and integral part of the organization. You can also have these officers lead certain committees, such as membership recruitment, community service, or preparations for the State Leadership Meeting. Each member could be part of a committee that they are interested in, and the chapter officer could give each member of the committee some responsibility.
At the end of each year, it is a good idea to have a recognition ceremony, which shows the great efforts that members have put in to make FCCLA even better. You could invite member’s families, other teachers in the school, and a representative from any companies that may have sponsored you. Create certificates that show a member’s hard work, and give members that have worked very hard a picture of them participating in an FCCLA event.
Using these ideas, members will not only return each year, but also be active members. Members will know about the different events that FCCLA is hosting, and be more likely to participate. All the members will know they are an important part of the organization by giving them responsibilities, and knowing that they are doing something that will make a difference.