Our club encourages members to bring guests to each of our meetings. Guests are met by a greeter and handed an information packet with a membership application. A guest may fill out the application, pay dues and then be welcomed as a "new" club member at the next meeting.
When a new club member joins, he/she is given a white name tag AND a bright green name tag. The member is to wear his/her green name tag until he/she feels at home in the club. We offer a chance at every club meeting for "greenies" to tear their name tag in half thereby announcing they feel a part of our club. White name tag members take special note to include and sit with "greenies."
Thank you Judy B. I love your idea. We solicit new members at our annual plant sale. We hold a raffle and contact everyone who signed up.
Our Corresponding Secretary writes an article for the local paper after each meeting. She highlights the program and upcoming events. The article is closed with two members names and phone numbers. These articles are listed under'public service announcements' so we aren't charged for them. This generates interest in our club.
Our garden club meets at night once a month. We also arrange tours of local interest that are open to friends and family. Lastly, we offer a variety of ways to participate and we have a strong community outreach varying skills and needs of the community like small arrangements to shut-ins and help with local gardens. Monkton (md.) Garden Club
Working with a local nursery as well as advertizing and and meeting there.How to and what to plant are drawing cards. Advertize on Nurserys website.
Our club has very interesting programs; and we inform local publications and websites about them. This draws in many new members.
Our club has "business cards" available for members showing our meeting day and time. Our member keep them on our purses and hand them out when we spot a potential member during social events or other community club members.
As several have mentioned, greeters, the handy application and intstant membership have helped us treble membership. However, we have found that hands-on workshops help keep them. We hold 3 per season. They relax, get to know others, take something home and learn--all at the same time.
We just launched the Southeast District Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri Facebook page and more of our clubs are getting websites to reach out to more people.
www.foreverflowercontainers.com
I am wondering why you would allow an advertisement on what is essentially a garden club forum?
We encourage our members to bring a guest to the meetings. The guest and member receives a "house plant". Guest also is given our club's list of events for the year. Our members are in competition to see who has acquired the most house plants annually. We also encourage the guest to bring a guest, and they will both receive a house plant.