Ideas to Revitalize Your Group

A. GROUP OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

1.
* Explore other possible meeting places other than the normal one, i.e. outdoors.

* Ensure easy access to physically challenged individuals. This includes the entrance and seating.

2.
* Review your programs. Boring programs will only cause you to lose your youth.

* Discuss the programming with your youth. Share your youth's concerns in a constructive manner.

* Eliminate games that eliminate youth. No one likes to be left standing on the sidelines.

3.
* Follow a timed agenda when conducting your group meetings. Committee and project chairpersons should contact the group chair well before the meeting with any problems. Limit detailed reports.

* Be assertive. Begin and end meetings on time. The chair must exercise control over the meeting. Be upbeat and energetic.

4.
* Ensure an atmosphere of fellowship. A friendly, welcome environment will make people--especially new members--feel welcome.

* Establish an active, effective committee.

* Encourage the committee chairs and leaders to take an active part in the meetings.

5.
* Ask members for input. Use an upcoming group businessmeeting to ask members for the types of fundraisers they enjoy and those that have no appeal.

* Inform leaders that they are welcome to attend all group committee meetings.

B. MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND RETENTION

1.
* Appoint an eager, self-motivated individual as committee chairperson.

* Set increased membership as a group goal. Regularly communicate to the group members that membership is a priority. Consider developing a long-range plan to build your membership.

2.
* Adopt a no barrier to membership.

3.
* Immediately institute a new-member orientation program.

4.
* Make changes so the group appeals to the youth.

* Be sincere in making the recruited feel welcome. Listen to and act on their ideas.

* Explore ways to make some of your activities and projects more family-oriented so they can involve the youth and other family.

C. PUBLIC IMAGE AND AWARENESS

1.
* Invite community leaders to be your program speakers.

* Recruit community leaders as members.

* Encourage members to wear their uniforms. A good group engaged in effective service will elicit pride of membership.

2.
* Budget for or ask the local newspaper to contribute some space for an annual report of your group. This could be done at the end of the administrative year, listing group projects and fund-raising activities. You also should thank the community for its support.

* Group committee and leaders could be listed, along with their sections. The meeting time, date, and location should be included, along with a telephone number.

D. SERVICE AND FUND RAISING

1.
* Talking to people in your community can help you develop new and exciting projects for your group.

2.
* Make your group a reason for families to be together--not another reason for them to be apart.

* Consider programs that could include a parent's talent.

* Plan hands-on activities that involve family, such as outdoor activities. Projects involving the environment can be particularly appealing to your youth.

* Keep costs for your events as low as possible to make them affordable to all families.

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