Three Steps of Membership:

1) Getting people in the door

2) What you do with them once they’re there

3) Follow-up

Getting People in the Door

Publicity:

Flyers

Make sure they are CLEAR and readable; be sure to double-check them before they go out in the mail or online. (see “Making Great Flyers”)

Phone-drive

Teach phone techniques beforehand to be effective! It’s not as easy as it seems! (see Phone Calls—DOs and DON’Ts)

Email Chain

It’s cheaper than mail and far less time consuming.

MySpace/Facebook Group

This may be your most effective way to reach many of your potential members.

Word of Mouth

Impress upon your youth group the importance of talking about your TYG to your friends.

Temple Bulletin

Have something about your youth group in every issue; increase your exposure to the people most likely to attend.

Letters to Parents

Getting parents on your side can be very important but keep in mind that some kids may want to do exactly the opposite of what the parent wants them to do.

Confirmation Class

Have members of the youth group present information about an upcoming event at the beginning of their next class.

Holiday Fun Package

Send a “fun package” connected to a Jewish holiday to the house of your potential members.

Personal Calls

From an advisor, teacher, rabbi; from someone who already knows them can help them feel more comfortable about coming to your next event.

High Holiday Youth Group Service

Offering an alternative to the main service for the youth of your synagogue emphasizes the importance of High Holiday worship and makes it a wonderful experience that they can share with their friends.

***Junior Youth Programming is a very important factor in youth group membership.

Kids who participate in Junior Youth programming are more likely to become active members of your TYG!

Gimmicks:

·         TYG members who bring in a new member, get into the event for free

·         Contests with existing members (ex. Whoever gets the most new members to come to an event, gets a prize)

·         Making events free, social, short at the beginning of the year

·         Offer Scholarships for more expensive events (talk to the clergy, temple sisterhood and brotherhood groups, etc.)

Other Suggestions:

·         Start your planning early in the year and be organized.

·         Use all forms of communication to get the word out about the next event (email, online forums, phone, and snail mail as well as word of mouth)

·         Have a position on your board whose sole responsibility is to bring in new members (depending on the size and demographic of your youth group, this may simply be your Membership Vice President).

·         Schedule TYG events/meetings in conjunction with Hebrew School, to make it more convenient for people to attend

What You Do With Them Once They're There:

Do

·         Ask new people their name and remember it; get to know them

·         Use name tags

·         Begin the event with a mixer

·         Group old and new people together

·         Use a buddy system; big brother big sister

·         Something that involves people interacting with one another, not just sitting and listening

·         Something structured; have an organized program

·         Have food there!!!

·         Give specific roles to specific people –maximize leadership opportunities.

·         Have a sign-in sheet to get names and addresses

·         Say at the event what, when and where the next event is

·         Hand out contact information for the TYG Board and advisor

·         Make sure your board really welcomes people

Don't

·         do things that rely on something that happened previously

·         do things that are too long

·         plan things when it is difficult for people to attend

·         use the same people for leaders over and over again

·         let your board clique

Follow Up:

·         Make sure names get on the mailing list

·         Target events to people specifically interested in those events

·         Send out a letter or email thanking them for attending, giving more info about upcoming events

·         Phone calls can make all the difference (see Phone Calls—DOs and DON’Ts)

·         If someone doesn’t come back, call and see why; keep track of who is attending

·         Pick out potential leaders and ask them to run events (new members and veterans should run an event together)