How to Encourage New Members and Energize Current Members

OLLIAT

Hampton UniversityHumboldt State

Understanding your community Responding to preferences Continually assessing your structure and

offerings Building new partnerships Increasing awareness of your program.

How to Encourage New Members and Energize Current Members

Understanding your community need is very important . Since recruiting is never done, we encourage new members by offering new and exciting classes year round. OLLI at Hampton University offers such classes as; Line Dancing, Swimming, Beginning Spanish and Retirement 101.

How to Encourage New Members and Energize Current Members

Students showing their latest moves in Line Dancing class.

Students getting valuable information in Retirement 101 class.

OLLI students learning to swim.

It is very important to assess your program to get feedback and suggestions from current members. The feedback you get from your current members, will help implement new group activities and plan fun exciting events to encourage new members.

How to Encourage New Members and Energize Current Members

OLLI campus bus tour.

Orientation

Demographics of community

Analyze Your Member Information:◦Date of Birth ◦Where they heard about OLLI ◦Courses taken by season ◦Membership type by year ◦ Involvement with OLLI and other

organizations◦Special skills or connections

Understanding Your Community

Flexible scheduling (days, evenings, weekends) one time lectures or events

Registration: make it easy to sign up. Automatic annual renewal of membership.

Find innovative ways to involve new or potential members.

Fee Structure: Offer join with a friend at a discount; can be a productive way to introduce people to OLLI.

Responding to Preferences

Be explicit about the benefits: mutual promotion, building awareness, enhanced recruitment, increased visibility

Connect with non-profits with education as part of their mission

Work with local PBS station

University connections- academic & benefits

Building Partnerships

Support Pledge Drives

Get radio and TV interviews

Market to Newcomers: Realtors, chambers, etc.

Regular articles, photos, announcements

Social Media Marketing: internet word of mouth!

Increase Awareness