Put together the same people, doing the same thing, and
you will get the same thing over and over. If your Grange wants to attract
new members, try thinking big. Thinking big means you plan on doing
something that will not be easy. In other words, do something that will be
difficult. It can be community service, legislative action, or even
improvements to your hall. It just has to be difficult and yet attainable.
When you do something that is big there are two big
effects. First, it will change your members' attitude and perception of
their Grange. It is difficult to work on something big and be negative. When
you achieve your big goal, it builds pride in the members who participated.
Even more important, by having a big task, your fellow members will grow as
members and leaders.
The second effect is that the public is far more likely
to notice you. When people see that you are doing something big, it changes
their perception of you in a positive manner. If you happened to choose the
big thing that they are personally interested in, they may even come to you
to join. People want to be part of a winning team, and a big goal creates a
winning atmosphere.
Think big in your Grange and you will find it is easier to attract new
members.
Is your Grange looking for ways to attract new members?
One way is to find another organization to partner with. Joining the Chamber
of Commerce or having a member represent the Grange at another
organization’s meetings are good ways to partner. It is critical that the
member, who will be your liaison, is positive in the way they speak about
your Grange. Look for ways that the Grange and its partners can all achieve
success.
The advantage of having a partnership with another
organization is that they will learn about your Grange. This opens up new
avenues to make people aware of the Grange. They may also have some
misconceptions about you that you can correct.
A second positive is that your Grange will learn about
opportunities to serve the community that you may never have thought about.
When you meet different needs in the community, you will make yourself
relevant to more people. The more people who view your Grange as valuable to
the community, the more potential members you have.
Look for ways to have your Grange partner with other groups and you will
find it is easier to gain new members.
