You Did What? Reinvigorate Your Local

Bagels and Books

Spend a few dollars and buy bagels for the staff in your building. Put a sign next to the bagels that says something like “Enjoy a great start to your day, courtesy of the (local association)” Also, take a few minutes to share, over your nice hot bagel, something you’re reading that you’re enjoying with others. Better yet, start a local association book club.

Y o u r A s s o c i a t i o n

Thank First-Year Members

Handwritten notes go a long way. Send a special thank you or year-end certifi cate to fi rst-year members. During the fi rst-year of membership, members form their initial judgments about the value of membership based in large part upon the experience created by the local association. Make that experience a good one, and let those members know they matter to your local.

Communicate

Communicate successes to members regularly. Remember, the membership experience is ongoing. Let members know what’s going on in either a newsletter, fl ier, email, or website. When distributing your newsletter don’t forget to leave a couple of copies in any lounge areas, or common areas for everyone to see. Don’t have a newsletter? Create one today! Ask your local UniServ Director for guidance.

You Did What? Simple, fun ideas to make your Association visible

Getting away from the standard come sit and meet to hear about what’s going on can be diffi cult. Sure that type of meeting is necessary sometimes, but making the Association valuable to members beyond things like contract negotiations and protections doesn’t have to be hard.

Visibility of your local association will create value in the work you do, and will help increase your association vitality and membership in the long run. So how can you be more visible? It’s really easy. Here are a few ideas that have worked from members around the country.

Trivia Night

Have Fun

Don’t forget that having fun is crucial to your sanity and to the vitality of your local association. People want to hang out with people they like, it is human nature. Make sure to set some time aside for some social events hosted by the local association. Host a happy hour at a local establishment, create a volunteer night for the local, host a local association awards ceremony where members receive awards like “most active member,” or “most likely to pitch in when needed.” As long as you are doing something and identifying the association as the organizer you’re ahead of the game!

Sponsor a “Rookie of the Year” Award

This is an easy way to both make a connection with a new, younger member and highlight the association as the group of educators who cares about making sure people feel valued. The “Rookie of the Year” could receive a plaque and sports jersey with the local association’s name and Rookie logo on it. You could also choose of the a “Member of the Month” and Year give them something special too—maybe a designated close parking spot (which would come in handy in the winter). Either way, by selecting a member to spotlight, good practices are promoted and strong ties to the association are formed.