Subject: Involving New Members in Chapter Operations
I am very disturbed by a recent e-mail I received from a Current Federal Employee, through our National Secretary, in which this new member states:
“I have been a NARFE member for less than a year; I believe about 8 months. Up to this point I have received the magazine and a few mailings and emails from NARFE Headquarters.
I have received one email from a chapter over 50 miles away from me with meetings held on Tuesdays during the day, while I am working. Since I am still employed with the DOD I am unable to attend.
I have no idea as yet of how NARFE is organized nor do I have any idea of how NARFE may help me. I have contributed to the NARFE PAC since I think there needs to be some representation for Federal workers in D.C.
The article from the National Secretary on Page 46 of the NARFE July Magazine really hit a nerve with me. It would be good to feel that someone cared that I get involved with this organization. I am becoming a bit frustrated since I would be interested in how NARFE is organized and how I fit in to this organization. I would like to see some form of mentoring for new members and would like to have a say in how NARFE represents me.
I would say that NARFE has another year or so and I will most likely try to find another organization that can represent me. I don't think that NARFE is the only organization that represents Federal Employees but then maybe I am wrong.
I hope that I can eventually get some information on NARFE and get myself involved. There are a lot of questions that I have and have not any chance to ask.”
Could the thoughts expressed above be the REAL reason that we are losing our members? Does your chapter contact these new members, invite them to the meetings and other activities, send them a newsletter, send them a chapter welcoming letter, offer to meet with them to explain NARFE and Chapter activities?
How many new members share this feeling, but don’t tell us? Are new members, especially Current Federal Employees, made to feel Welcome? Are these new members made to feel a real part of your Chapter? Do you offer activities for Current Federal Employees to attend? How do you get these new members involved in Chapter Operations and develop them as potential leaders?
These are all questions that National and your Federation have tried to address:
- Most recently in the July 2006 issue of NARFE Magazine – on page 46.
- Reno Symposium Summary covering retention and chapter activities in PTP 05-15.
- The January issue of NARFE Quarterly News also provides some good ideas to get new members involved.
- On the Federation Web Site under Membership – “New Member Reception” which lists many ideas and includes sample letters which can be sent to new members.
- The newest publication from NARFE – Form F-121, Welcome to NARFE, identifies what the Chapter can do for these new members.
The tools are available, they need to be put to use by the Chapters and the Membership Committee – yes, COMMITTEE, more than just the Membership Chair – share the efforts and develop new ideas from new members. Your District Vice Presidents can provide valuable assistance in these areas; they just need to be contacted.
As I visit chapters, I hear that everyone is interested in getting new members, and I’ve heard that many chapters are actually writing letters to new members, calling new members, holding special meetings for Current Federation Employees, putting pertinent articles in their newsletters regarding Current Federal Employees. That’s the good news, but I don’t hear it from all chapters.
Some chapters still have that preconceived idea that the Baby Boomers – or the Current Federal Employee isn’t very useful – because “They aren’t joiners, and they can’t attend a meeting.” We NEED to change that idea – or our chapters will cease to exist. Our chapters seem to close, because no one is willing to be officers – and once the chapter closes – the members who are transferred to chapters farther away tend to drop their membership because they’ve lost that common bond with members of their local community. While we’ve had the opportunity to reach out to these Baby Boomers and Current Federal Employees, somehow we as an organization have failed to connect with them and develop them into our new leaders. We need to work on better communication with these new members, especially the 1,662 Current Federal Employees (about 5% of our Federation Membership) we currently have as members. Let’s see how we can work with them, and develop a bond with them, to keep their interest in protecting their and our earned benefits.
True, most Current Federal Employees cannot attend the regular meeting, but what about having a meeting at a different time – a breakfast meeting, a lunch meeting near by the federal agency, a meeting after work – what if you met at a conference room at the federal agency? How about having a weekend breakfast? How about a picnic for all chapter members, which could be held indoors rather than outside if heat, wind, etc. would be a concern? Why not participate in a County Fair or Community event such as a membership table, or a parade? How about contacting them to provide the name and phone number of the Human Resource Office, so you can participate with a membership table at a Health Fair?
If you have a group of Current Federal Employees at one federal building/agency, why not encourage them to form their own chapter, which can meet at times convenient for them. They also stand a better chance of attracting more new members by holding their meetings at the federal agency.
Most importantly, all Current Federal Employees are computer literate – what about asking them to serve on the Membership Committee – they can prepare letters, labels, etc.? How about having them serve on the Legislation Committee? They can obtain the latest information from various web sites and provide a report which could be read at a meeting. How about having them send the Public Relations notice of meeting and chapter community events to all local newspapers?
We need to let these new members know what our chapters can do for them, and work diligently in all our chapters to make them feel welcome and respect their new ideas. We were all younger once and had different ideas than our elders – give them a chance – they are the hope for our future – they are the leaders of tomorrow. If we don’t take them into our confidence and make them part of our strength today, we will lose that valuable strength that has kept NARFE going over the past 85 years. I, for one, would like to see NARFE stay active and strong for at least the next 85 years!
Remember the key to doing all these things is personal contact -- not just a notice in the Newsletter, or a request at a chapter meeting. Look at your membership roster – identify those new members, and either write them a letter or pick up the phone and talk to them. This personal contact is the way to encourage these new members to become participating chapter members – and the leaders of chapters we are all seeking.
“Communicating a Positive Attitude for Participation”
Helen L. Zajac
CSFC President
707-644-7565
HLZ17@aol.com