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Twelve Tips to Win at Recruitment
by Michael Kinigstein, 33°, MSA Valley of Northern New Jersey
An essential component in any Valley’s growth plan is a defined pathway to membership growth and retention. Allow me to speak briefly about our Valley's defined path to success in terms of membership recruitment.
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Backstory
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The COVID-19 pandemic created a set of new challenges that many of us had no idea how to initially address. In New Jersey, it was impossible to meet in large groups indoors. This created many months of empty meeting nights and cancelled events. One of my goals as Commander in Chief was to develop creative ideas on how we could stem the tide of emptiness and simultaneously spur our leadership in a direction of growth.
Our Valley Secretary came up with the idea of, “Drive for 75,” a campaign centered around the theme of getting 75 new members. Our Executive Council agreed. Graphics and a member application were created around this theme with visuals of highway signs with a speed limit of 75 posted. Then, a member had the idea of incorporating a one-time petition fee of $75 with a defined expiration date to get the campaign kicked off. This idea spurred tremendous growth.
In consulting with our Executive Secretary, he indicated that our largest class was 75 new members in one reunion. Our Valley traditionally conducts two reunions per year. Therefore, attempting to match our largest class and thus exceed that number was a massive challenge, but we were ready to take on that challenge.
Unfortunately, the pandemic took center stage again as revised rules were posted putting a temporary end to any gatherings, large or small. We were back to the drawing board and produced an outdoor only, 100-person maximum Rite on the Road event for this new crop of anxious candidates.
ScottishRiteNMJ.org
Conduct a survey with your Secretary to discover the Valley’s years of highest growth. Analyze these numbers and create a plan centered around themes that may have taken place at those times.
7 If you have areas of your territory that contain bilingual communities, find ways to connect. Encourage members of your Valley who are fluent in that language or culture to discuss joining the Scottish Rite. Offer to conduct a Rite on the Road in their lodge or district.
2 Make recruitment a Valley-wide goal, and let it be known through all social media channels and newsletters.
8 Prepare a live degree as part of a Rite on the Road event to accompany the 4th degree video. New members joining will be impressed, and they will also see an opportunity to get involved!
Rite on the Road cast and candidates from an August 22, 2020 outdoor event which welcomed 48 new members to the Valley.
The Northern Light
