It Works for Us!

By Karen Cook
Director of Public Relations
  

We have all brought guests to our meetings, quickly signed them up as members in an effort to increase our numbers and a short time later realized that this relationship just wasn’t going to work!

Two years ago the Calgary City Centre club initiated a “Pre-membership” program to try and further avoid this kind of scenario.  The goals of the pre-membership program are:

• to allow a prospective member to assess the time and commitment required to be a member in good standing

• to allow the club and the prospective member to determine if an appropriate mesh in values and talents is present

• to allow the prospective member ample opportunity to be involved in all aspects of the club activities prior to making a commitment

• to make the induction a truly meaningful event.

With these goals in mind, the intention is to require interested candidates to take part in club activities for a period of four months prior to induction and to facilitate the mentorship of new members.

New Member Criteria:

• a guest must attend three meetings prior to being considered a pre-member

• pre-member does not hold voting rights and does not pay dues until induction

• pre-member is encouraged to attend meetings, events, functions and community services events

• pre-member is expected to show club commitment for at least three months prior to being inducted.

By following this criteria, we have found that the pre-members that do in fact join the club are well aware of all of the commitments required for a Progressian in good standing.

We are happy to share information on this initiative with any club wanting to grow their membership.