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Ideas for Horticultural Societies
by Courtesy of Jeff Blackadar - director district 2
Ideas for Horticultural Societies
From Jeff Blackadar, District 2 (2010)
· Bring in special speakers. Have a discounted admission price for members and higher admission for non-members.
· Apply any visitor fee toward the membership fee if the visitor joins.
· Encourage members to bring a friend, have a draw for new and old members.
· Distribute brochures and flyers at community events, libraries, stores and garden centres;
· Encourage members to invite friends, family and work colleagues to meetings, sales and shows.
· Conduct a door to door membership drive. Deep River Horticultural Society does this and has a very high rate of membership in their village.
· Keep in touch with members via e-mail. Most new members have e-mail. Remind them of meetings and other events so that they are encouraged to take part.
· Have discounts for members, like at plant sales. Spending money at the plant sale = a free membership.
· Use name tags
· Have meeting greeters. The greeters can help give out name tags.
· Pair new & old members.
· Identifying new members in some way so that other members can welcome them.
· Survey membership to see what members want – speakers, workshops etc.
· Utilize groups such as Welcome Wagon, New Canadians etc.
· Advertise in the local paper for new members and write articles about your speakers.
· Have various contests such as photography and award prizes; free membership etc.
· Allow new members to sign up at your plant sales and other events. Never refuse a membership due to a lack of forms or the time of year. Get the new member signed up right away.
· At Society plant sales, have a flyer ready to give to the public with each sale.
· Inform guests how to sign up as new members at each meeting, they may not be aware.
· Make sure new members get an introduction letter telling them about the Society and inviting them to get involved. New members who feel welcome and know what's going on are more likely to renew. Invite new members to help at your plant sales, they are one of the best places to meet other members.
· Send an e-mail or letter to lapsed members – they may want to rejoin.
· Find out what discounts you have with local garden centres. Make your members aware of them, list the discounts on the back of your membership cards.
· Have a half year membership.
· Buy a new membership, give the membership amount back in free plants.
· Interest photographers from other clubs in the photography competitions (2010-01-22) |
