AIS: Topics for Affiliates Meeting

From: irisborer@aol.com

In a message dated 3/16/2000 11:01:19 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
dwiris@aol.com writes:

<< One problem we have is that people will join at one of our shows or at the 
 iris auction, but they never attend even one meeting.  They don't know 
 whether they will like the meetings, programs, etc., because they never give 
 them a try. >>

Hi Tony:

I just gave a program in Ohio on forming and maintaining clubs - so I have 
given lots of thought to the subject.... and I even did a little research.  
Here are a few things I learned:

1.  Walek's Rule of Thirds (formed by the editor of the Hosta Journal):  
There are 3 types of members:  one type joins an organization on impulse - 
you never see them again and they don't renew.  Maybe they had unrealistic 
expectations on what joining could mean (like my expectations when I bought 
the Nordic Track), or maybe something changed in their life.  The next type 
continues to renew but you never, ever see them.  Maybe they're satisfied to 
get the newsletter - but for whatever reason, they are satisfied with their 
membership.  The third type is the type you wish they all were.... these 
folks show up to at least something (show, sale or every blessed meeting) and 
they continue to renew.

I think Kevin is right and I think that we need to do our best to accept that 
folks' interests fall at different levels.

2.  Tricks and gimmicks:  There are some things you can do to improve 
participation by members.  First:  offer plants at all meetings (as door 
prizes) and plants as a membership incentive and discounts at your sale if 
they're a member.  Make sure you COMMUNICATE that this is the case.  People 
want value for their membership - and people want plants.  So by building in 
value and by offering plants in return for something as simple as renewing, 
showing up or whatever... people are more motivated.

Paying members:  My daylily club came up with a WONDERFUL program that has 
been very popular, and is being adopted by other clubs.  That is, that we 
have designed our own currency - and we use it to pay members any time they 
do something that benefits the club.  This can be something as simple as 
coming to a meeting.... with additional "pay" for taking on a simple job, and 
increasing pay for chairing something.  This play money is redeemable only on 
one day - the Members Picnic.  At that time, we have late model plants for 
sale and auction - and if you have earned our currency, you can use it same 
as cash.  This is win/win in that we reward people who give of themselves, 
and we distribute more late model plants throughout the club to the most 
active members.  It's a wonderful program.

Partnering:  We work with other green groups in our area for programming and 
outreach.  This not only expands our pool of available workers, but it 
exposes iris folks to (for example) hostas and vice versa.  

3.  Communication:  Communication is the most important thing you can do as a 
club.  I think the healthiest clubs have newsletters or flyers that offer 
information on what activities are going on.... as well as cultural 
information on irises.  Sourcing is always desireable too.

So, there are some thoughts.  And as Carolyn noted, there are people (the 
Green Meanies) out there who you are never going to please.  Develop some 
coping mechanisms and don't sweat it.

Kathy Guest - full of opinions and Cajun coffee in snowy East Aurora, NY 
where we did not break the requirement that St. Patrick's Day weather be 
abysmal....

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