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2001 Volunteer Leader Training Guide
Attracting New (Younger?) Members to EHC
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Introduction
The Arkansas Extension Homemakers Clubs make up one of the
largest nonprofit volunteer organizations in Arkansas with a membership of
approximately 9,800 and more than 650 local community clubs. Since the beginning
of EHC in the 1920s, membership has evolved with the highest enrollment in the
1940s. Membership declined as women entered the work force, moved off the farm
and the family unit changed. Age of the membership is mostly from the 65+ age
group. Only 4 percent of the enrollment is under age 35.
The educational programs that EHC offers and the help and
support from other members is especially important to young people. There is
also a need to recruit more members from the younger age groups to continue the
EHC legacy and for the development of community leaders. Let’s look at some
possible ways to increase membership of EHC through the recruitment of young
people.
Creating a Positive Image
Activity: What does the typical EHC member look like?
Draw a stick figure and add the characteristics of a typical EHC member. One
example could be this: short, gray hair; comfortable shoes for the miles she
walks for EHC projects; a big purse for her EHC book; broad shoulders to listen
to friends’ problems; big head for all the knowledge gained through EHC; stooped
from all the volunteer work that she does.
Webster defines an image as a mental picture of something.
Therefore, we might say an organization’s image is the sum of perceptions,
attitudes, ideas, beliefs and feelings people have about the organization.
What do our friends, families and community leaders perceive
Extension Homemakers to be? Ask your friends who are not members of the
organization. Is it cooking, sewing, quilting, gossiping, community service?
Their answers may surprise you.
How are these images formed? You affect how people see the club.
Discuss these points:
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How do you perceive the club?
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Why are you a member? What were the attractions
that made you want to become a member of this group?
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When you are asked to explain the club, how do
you explain EHC to someone who knows nothing about it? What
should we be telling? Let’s take a few minutes to define who we
are and why we are here.
Mission and Goal of Extension Homemaker Clubs
When we tell others about EHC, we want to mention that there are
four components: education, leadership, community service and socialization.
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Educational programs are the life blood of the
organization. Without a strong educational program, we lose
sight of the real purpose of the club. Presentations should be
concise, interesting, relevant, timely and involve the members.
Are your county programs selected with input from the
membership? Are their needs served? The educational programs are
researched based. The county extension family and consumer
science agent serves as an advisor to the organization and is
responsible for providing up-Po-date, research-based
information. The primary focus of programs is families.
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Leadership development is an important objective
of the Extension Homemaker clubs. Members have an opportunity to
serve as officers, leaders and committee members. By being an
active member of the club and serving in these roles, members
develop leadership skills that enhance their ability to work
with other groups in the community. These skills will also help
solve problems in our homes and communities.
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Community service is an important goal of the
organization and is probably the most visible aspect of EHC.
Projects should be based on community need. We need to tell
others about our good deeds. Publicize your community service
events. Let people know the good work that you’re doing.
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The last goal of the organization is
socialization. By meeting together, members have the opportunity
to share common concerns. The sharing of ideas provides support
for the organization. In many communities, EHC is the only
organization available for members of that community to come
together, to develop friendships and to seek solutions to common
problems. Some of the best program ideas are often discussed
first during the social time that club members have together.
Sharing EHC With Others
So, what do you tell others about your club meeting? Let’s start
at home. What do you tell your husband about the meetings? We may not think this
is significant, but husbands form perceptions of the organization and are often
in positions to share these with leaders in the community. Hopefully, you don’t
just go home and tell the latest neighborhood news that you heard. Make a point
of sharing something worthwhile from each meeting that you learned with someone
else.
How is the group perceived in comparison with other community
groups? The product we "sell" is knowledge about homes, families and issues. How
does what you are selling compare with other groups for members’ time, attention
and money?
Do we need to care what people think about our organization?
Does it really matter? Of course the answer is YES. If we want people to hear
our educational message, support our community projects or improvement efforts
and join our clubs, we need to help people see us as we want to be seen.
How and what you feel about the program personally is a good
place to start. Building support starts with a positive self-image. Are you
excited and enthusiastic about the organization?
Activity: Make a list of characteristics and feelings that the
participants have about their club. Go back and put a (+) or (-) for a positive
or negative characteristic. Be honest!
Appeal to a Younger Audience
Are our club meetings appealing to younger people? Let’s analyze
the club meeting.
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Is the meeting run efficiently? Presentations
should be concise, interesting, relevant, timely and involve the
members. Don’t read the leader’s guide to the members. Four-hour
meetings might appeal to some members, but probably not to the
younger audience. Time is valuable.
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Are programs educational and relevant to their
needs? Are your county programs selected with input from the
membership? Are their needs served?
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Do you involve your new or younger members as
committee members, leaders, etc., so that they feel a part of
the club? On the other hand, do you dump everything on them
because they’re younger than you?
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Are you doing projects that are important to the
community? We need to tell others about our good deeds.
Publicize your community service events. Let people know the
good work you’re doing.
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Are your news articles newsworthy, positive and
show an educational purpose?
Some Non-Traditional Approaches to Recruiting New Members
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"Lunch and Learn" groups in places of
employment, evening activities, public libraries, etc. EHC
members could present the educational program for the group.
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Provide child care, whenever possible, so that
young mothers can participate in activities.
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Adopt a "sister club." Since most young people
work, they are unable to attend the leader training meetings for
the educational program. EHC members of existing clubs could
help form a sister club and conduct the educational program (or
train a leader).
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Invite nonmembers in the community to special
club activities, projects and community service activities.
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Clubs could meet during the lunch hour for
working members. Many of the civic clubs have been successful
with noon meetings. Meeting twice a month would give enough time
for an educational program at one meeting and the business
program at the other.
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Others – Brainstorm with your members on ways
your club can recruit new and young members.
Summary
Arkansas Extension Homemaker Clubs have a legacy that began with
Home Demonstration Clubs. Let’s continue that important tradition with
recruitment of new and younger members from your community.
Adapted from "Creating a Positive Image for the Organization,"
Leader Training Guide, Dr. Diane F. Jones, Family Consumer Science Specialist,
Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas.
Sheila Brandt, County Extension Agent - Staff Chairman
Logan County
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