30 Ways to Keep Members

1. Create a new member welcoming committee.
   
2. Give members a sample news release which your public relations chair will run in the local newspaper announcing they have joined the association.
   
3. Make the recruiter responsible for reminding and encouraging the first renewal.
   
4. Send a special newsletter to new members during their first year.
   
5. Let new members attend their first meeting for free.
   
6. Keep members’ names and addresses current and accurate.
   
7. When members drop out saying they didn’t get anything from their membership, find out exactly what they mean.
   
8. Obtain speakers from the national or regional levels to describe how NALS membership adds value to a state or local membership.
   
9. Send a mini-survey to members six months after they join to see how they rate your chapter’s service.
   
10. Develop a checklist to use when trying to determine why members do not renew.
    
11. Have a member services booth at your next annual or regional meeting.
    
12. Publish an annual report and send it to all members.
    
13. Create a speaker’s bureau and arrange opportunities for speakers to talk to other organizations within your profession and community.
    
14. Hold a new member reception at your board and annual meetings.
    
15. Feature a service-of-the-month in your organization’s magazine or newsletter.
    
16. Hold a retention contest.
    
17. When important issues come up, call some of your least active members and ask them for their opinion.
    
18. Offer plenty of members-only programs and benefits.
    
19. Recognize members who reach milestone membership anniversaries.
    
20. As members renew, send them a deck of cards which has the organization’s logo on the back of the cards and different messages on the face of each card or a Certificate of Membership, or business cards.
    
21. Get members involved on some level because involved members do not drop out.
    
22. Send members notepads imprinted with your chapter’s logo and the date of the next annual meeting.
    
23. Hold professional development programs to give members the tools to be successful volunteers and leaders.
    
24. Hold regular town meetings where members can have an open forum to discuss anything they want with your organization’s leaders.
    
25. Start a regular column in your publication to thank members for their involvement.
    
26. Recognize your members as often as possible. Be sure to thank them for their participation at each and every level.
    
27. Feature a “member of the month” in your publication.
    
28. When members are elected or appointed to a leadership position, send a note of congratulations to their employer.
    
29. Get testimonials from prominent members.
    
30. Give new members a special ribbon to wear.