Halifax Cornwallis:  Membership Drive 

By Sharon Ward
  

The members from Halifax Cornwallis took a very methodical and well-planned approach to our membership drive this month.  With the help of student Laura Simmons from the Nova Scotia Community College Public Relations program, the membership drive committee, under the direction of co-chairs Kathy Grose and Sharon Ward, put together a package of personal invitations, Public Service Announcements and some well-placed print advertising to attract potential club members to an evening of information about Progress.  (Shown top-right:  Halifax Cornwallis club members feeling pretty good about their Membership Drive at the end of the evening.)

Club Publicity Chair Teresa MacTaggart was successful in finding a sponsor in Saint Mary’s University to underwrite a newspaper ad and Patty Baxter secured a free ad placement in the local Chamber of Commerce magazine.  Chuck Bridges, a spokesperson from SMU spoke to the group of about 45 and expressed the University’s pleasure in being connected with the Progress Club.  This was an added bonus to the cash sponsorship.  His comments no doubt went a long way to cementing the club’s standing in the community –a smart way to raise Progress awareness in general.

The Halifax Club was well represented by President Kermit Phillips, Zone Governor Doug Baker and Past National President CJ MacMullin.  Kermit and Doug addressed the room along with our own Rosalie Courage, Eastern Regional Vice President.

Our two main charities were there as well and had the opportunity to speak and display their material: Mike Butler from Phoenix Youth Programs and Louis Brill from Nova Scotia Special Olympics.  (Shown right:  Nova Scotia Special Olympics' display booth at Membership Drive.)  The 20 guests who came out to hear our story went away with a clear understanding of what Progress is about.  Membership Chair Ann Morrison is following up with the women over the next few weeks.  We will have a report on how we did in the next issue.

Besides working hard to keep out club strong and viable, Halifax Cornwallis members are busy planning our EastLink Live TV Auction for mid-May and our Runaround 5k walk/run for early June.  Hurricanes and snowstorms being rare in June, we hope for good weather and lots of pledge money.