Recruitment and Retention

Recruitment and the retention of members is very important to The Royal British Legion.   In order to help out and give some ideas on ways in which to recruit and retain members there follows two A to Z lists on how to encourage Recruitment and encourage Retention of members.

 

A to Z Ways to Encourage Recruitment

Advertise Your Branch in the local area.
Branch Activities What activities does your Branch do.
Community/Communication Let people know your Branch exists.
Display Of RBL Posters Put up posters etc. in public places.
Events For ex-Service personnel in your area.
Families Try to get families involved in what you do.
Get Out To Recruit Don't expect people to come to you, in most cases they won't.
Handouts Hand out or leave information where it can be seen.
Information Inform your community what the RBL does in your area.
Jump At Any Opportunity To Recruit Always keep an application form with you.
Keenness Be keen and enthusiastic when talking to people about the RBL.
Leaflet Drops Drop information about your Branch through letter boxes.
Membership Let people know what they can get from being a member of the RBL.
Newsletter Does your Branch produce a newsletter for informing the local community.
Other Organisations Do you get involved with other charitable organisations.
Publicity Publicise what your Branch does in the local community, not just to members.
Quiz Teams/Quiz For Youngsters Does your Branch have a quiz team at the local.
 Rewards For Recruiting Run a competition in your Branch for most new members.
Shows Do you attend local shows/fetes to advertise the RBL and your Branch.
Training/Talks Do you get people in to give talks or conduct RBL Training.
Utilise The Facilities & Knowledge You Have You know what you can offer.
Volunteers To Help Out Do your members volunteer to get involved.
Window Displays Many local shops/companies will advertise free in their windows.
'Xamine What you and your Branch do to recruit.
Younger Members Does your branch actively try to recruit younger members.
Zealous In Your Recruiting Always think about your recruiting new members.

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A to Z Ways to Encourage Retention

Advanced Warning To members in advance that fees are due, by letter, newsletter etc.
Branches Must have a facility to chase up lapsed members.
Consider Changing your meeting venue and time if members do not attend.
DDSP All eligible members should be encouraged to pay affiliation fee by direct debit.
Encourage Members to get involved with Branch activities and social events.
Familiarise Yourselves with what other Branch members have to offer.
Go Out To see your members if you think they are unwell.
Handouts Hand out leaflets informing the local public that your Branch exists.
Information Inform your Branch members of what is happening (See newsletter).
Join Together With the Women’s Section if you think this will bring members to meetings.
Keep Your members interested in what you are doing within the Branch.
Lapsed Members Cost lots of money to chase up and often are lost to the Legion forever.
Meetings Are yours interesting enough that members want to attend.
Newsletter Does your Branch produce one informing members of what is happening.
Open Meetings Make sure that your Branch meetings are open for all to have a say.
Procedural Meetings Are a sure way to turn people away from attending meetings.
Question Your Branch members from time to time – what do THEY want from the branch.
Reminders Inform all your members that affiliation feed are due at least a month before.
Social Programme Does your Branch have a social programme for the year.
Talks There are some very good public speakers who will talk for free at your meetings.
Utilise The knowledge and expertise your members have in being an active Branch.
Volunteers Ask members if they would volunteer as Caseworkers, Poppy Appeal etc.
Welcome New members to your Branch and inform them what your Branch does.
‘Xamine Ways in which you can ensure that your Branch retains its members.
Younger Members Does your branch actively encourage younger members to join.
Zealous Be enthusiastic about your Branch and encourage other members to do likewise.

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