Without
a doubt, this is the most common grievance of chapters throughout the
Society. But how can you turn this trend around? What can a chapter do to
ensure growth not only on the membership roll, but also at its meetings,
fundraisers, service projects, and other planned activities?
Take a look at what helped
increase active membership for these chapter officers -
Shawn Klawitter
Front
Range Community College
Fort
Collins, Colorado
“We
give away things like Phi Theta Kappa key chains, junior portfolios and
scholarships that waive the induction fees during the new member
orientation and at membership meetings. This year, we are planning to add
restaurant gift certificates to our prizes. Also, we are not a
conventional chapter in that we don’t like to have meetings on campus.
Our last meeting was held at a restaurant, and it was agreed upon that we
would do that at least once a month. That has probably increased
participation the most. People don’t want to spend ALL of their time on
campus. When our meetings are moved to a more relaxed place, we tend to
get more things accomplished and bond better with our fellow chapter
members.”
Angie France
Surry
Community College
Dobson, North Carolina
“The
way that we actually increased our participation was to offer to buy
graduation regalia for those members who actively participated in the
chapter. To qualify for this enhanced member benefit, we required each
member to complete five hours of chapter service. We had people begging us
to let them do anything to get in their hours. No one wanted to pay that
$30 and in the end no one did! We bought everyone’s regalia! They all
worked very hard. We raised a lot of funds in those months. Not only could
we buy the regalia, but we had about $1,000 left over to give to local
charities.”
Bo Culberth
San
Juan College
Farmington,
New Mexico
“This
past year, our chapter tried something that helped quite a bit in
inducting active members. Our alumni chapter offered to pay the induction
fees for two new members at each of our two induction ceremonies. We had
the prospective members jump right in at orientation by writing an essay
on the Honors Study Topic. All essay entries were judged by the alumni
chapter. The two winners were later announced and inducted. We recently
got even better news when the college offered to take over and pay the
induction fees instead of the alumni chapter. Our induction competition
accomplishes two goals in one. New members are introduced to the Honors
Study Topic, and they gain interest in the chapter at the same time. I
have found that not only do the winners join and become active, but so do
other competition participants.”
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