Communicate with Confidence/Project Report

              We have examined required skills and how to get them. We
have looked at ways to encourage, teach and prepare leaders
to replace ourselves We have discussed what's in it for the
potential leader We have looked at some of the obstacles
( excuses) and discussed possible solutions So what else
should we be doing' 1
If you are a leader, or have been, examine your feelings
about it
Why did you take the job? Because some leader
encouraged you and helped you gain the knowledge and
confidence you needed? Don't forget your duty as a mentor
What helped you succeed? Was it the help and
support of the past officer and the loyalty of the
membership9 Pass this assistance on to your replacement
and lobby for hun with the members
Was the job as difficult as you thought it would be9
Explain to your apprentice that the experience of lesser jobs
leading up the ladder adequately prepared you for this one
Did you get the benefits that we have mentioned?
Convince him
. Are you glad you did it? Pass this enthusiasm on
Don't be dishonest about the work involved, but
don't indicate it was a horrible experience Be positive, be
up beat and enthusiastic If you act like it is no fun, all work
and no benefits, why in heaven's name would anyone else
want it?
MEMBERSHIP
Retaining and increasing membership is the
primary challenge of most organizations today
We may blame it on today's life style, changing thoughts
on philanthropy, economic downswing or middle- class
complacency, but it isn't really a new problem Check back
in old club records and you will likely find that fifty years
ago they were voicing concerns about decreasing
membership.
Knowing that, however, does not mean that we
should just relax and assume that it will take care of itself.
Without new members, new ideas and new workers our
organizations will not survive. Once you overload the
faithful, burnout becomes a reality.
When we are looking for new members, what are
we actually doing? We are ' selling' our organization
Marketing plan
If you planned to start a business in your community you
would first do a
Market survey.
What do people want? What common interests do they
have? What is their social/ economic situation? What time
availability do they have. What is the competition?
You can do this survey with a meeting of your
members, after asking them to speak to a certain number of
their neighbours... asking such questions as:
*** What would you wish to find in an organization you
join? ( entertainment, social gathering, discussion, working
towards charitable causes, improving the community,
learning, a specific cause such as environment, etc.)
*** What special cause or interest would you be interested in
studying or working towards?
*** To what organization( s) do you now belong. Why do
you belong to it?
*** When, for you, would be a convenient time for a
meeting
*** Are you aware of ( your organization ie: ' LIONS')? What
is your idea/ opinion of it?
In some communities it is a good idea to send
these questionnaires, with a self- addressed and stamped
envelope, to a large number of people from as wide a cross
section as you can manage. ( In a small town, survey
ev eryone).
However you do the survey, use the information
Compile all the data and you have a clear picture of what
' product' will sell.
NOTE: This marketing' method can also be used to form a
club or branch in a new area.
So we must now examine and if necessary improve
The product
Look at the activities and formal of your organization Are
there ways it can be more closely tailored to meet the