How's Your Chapter's Recruitment Game?
Yvonne Liser, National Chair, Membership Committee

A chapter recruitment strategy should be similar to a sales campaign with the goal of attracting women who will become long time members. One aspect of the campaign will be making the public aware of your chapter’s awesomeness. What is it about your chapter that attracts members and what makes them remain? How has your chapter made a difference in the community? The answers to these questions may assist in creating your chapter’s outreach message which should be simple, engaging, and straight to the point with a call for action. For example, an advertisement in the local genealogical society newsletter could read: “Are you interested in preserving your family legacy for the next generation? Join the DAR Sunshine Chapter of VanBuren County to learn how being a member can do just that! No previous knowledge necessary, just bring your interest and learning spirit to find out more about us!” Also, make sure the message fits the venue being used. If placing a flyer in the window of the local craft shop consider focusing on the crafting competition of the American Heritage Committee or crafting opportunities that could be linked to Service to America, Project Patriot, or DAR Service for Veteran committees.

The recruitment strategy should also include outreach by word-of-mouth. How? Having members give a well-crafted elevator pitch to women they meet is a great start. An elevator pitch is a 30 to 60 second persuasive speech that should spark interest in DAR membership. It should say a little about DAR with a focus on the benefits of being a chapter member. A few benefits of membership include:

  • Constant learning environment and resource for learning new skills
  • Resource for gaining experience that can be added on a resume
  • Source of lifelong friendships or family away from home
  • Opportunity to make a difference as a service community at the local, state, and national levels
  • Provides a community of women with shared interests
  • Opportunity to find new hobbies
  • Opportunities to travel in a community of women with shared interests

At your virtual or in-person “getting-to-know you” event, ask the prospective members about their interests and pay close attention to the responses. Tying the interests of the prospective members to DAR activities is a great recruitment tool. Is she interested in photography? Tell her about the great photo opportunities your Conservation Committee offers on nature walks and the opportunity to participate in the American Heritage Committee contest. Does she love genealogy? Tell her about the huge community of genealogy lovers in DAR with whom she can swap stories and research techniques. Too often prospective members are given a narrow view of what DAR does. Let them know DAR offers opportunities to match just about any interest they may have.

Need some recruitment ideas? Here are a few to get your creative juices flowing:

  • Provide membership information at family reunions and holiday gatherings
  • Add a bookplate with chapter information when contributing to a little free library
  • Donate customized chapter bookmarks to the public library
  • Sponsor a community group service project open to the public
  • Host public mother/daughter events such as crafting, genealogy class, tea party, etc.
  • Offer programs or joint activities with existing communities such as churches, historical societies, heritage groups, PTA, etc.
  • Invite former members and their families to a chapter reunion 
  • Host a program for the public regarding something of interest to the community such as local history, gardening, historic preservation, etc. and weave DAR throughout the presentation
  • Have a booth at local fairs and festivals
  • Participate in local parades and other public events
  • Facilitate awareness of your chapter by wearing DAR merchandise (e.g., t-shirt, hat, tote, etc.)
  • Host fun seasonal activities for the public such as a spring nature walk sharing historic or conservation information
  • Advertise you chapter at the local coffee shop and have a meet & greet there
  • Place yard signs and roadway signs advertising your chapter
  • Advertise on social media or with Google Ads (Google Ad grants provide access to $10,000 of in-kind advertising every month for text ads.) https://www.google.com/nonprofits/offerings/google-ad-grants/
  • Ask real estate agents to provide chapter brochures in office and include in a welcome packet for new homeowners
  • Advertise on community listservs, bulletin boards, online sites and college/university/local newspapers

Recruiting new members is important. It’s not just about hitting membership numbers for a challenge or Chapter Achievement Awards. New members keep the organization fresh and allow for necessary changes in leadership over the years. It's about creating long-lasting relationships, engaging your prospective members, proving to them why they would benefit from joining, and making them feel their skills are needed by the organization. It’s about finding women in your community who could truly benefit from being a member of DAR. We are looking for women that will help the organization grow and thrive for at least a few more centuries.

Happy recruiting!

send-a-commentSend Us a comment

Membership

Connect with DAR

Stay Up-to-Date

Subscribe to the blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Search, Subscribe, & Send us a comment

Genealogical Research System (GRS) logoDAR on FacebookDAR on XDAR on YouTubeEmail DAR blog feedback

Get Involved

 

Historic Preservation,
Education, Patriotism

Through restoring historic properties, funding scholarships and supporting our troops, DAR makes a difference in local communities.