by Ed Luttrell
National Grange Director of Leadership and Membership
Does talking to someone from a newspaper make you nervous? Does having a
microphone or camera in front of you make you think about what you’re going
to say? If so, then when you talk to a non-member about your Grange pretend
that they are part of the media. Most people realize that when they talk to
a reporter, they are in front of everyone and what they say will influence
the direction of the story.
When you talk to the media, you avoid negative comments. This is important
when you are talking to a non-member. They want to hear how the Grange is
going to meet their needs, not its current problems. They want to know if
the Grange is fun or if friendship is part of the package.
We know that the media can create a powerful public perception of your
Grange by how a story is presented. A non-member will also create their own
public perception of your Grange by their interaction with you. It is even
more powerful because they can share it with others for years. Regardless of
if that person joins your Grange, they have the power to influence how
others view your Grange.
Next time you talk to a non-member, pretend that you’re talking to the media
and watch the incredible happen in your Grange.
