How to Attract New Members

HOW TO ATTRACT NEW MEMBERS

• Can’t “attract” you have to invite women personally – not to oh um meetings, have a great speaker, missions,being active. Programs – announce ahead of time, so others can plan.

• Come along side young women to share their ‘life’ experiences. What are they going through right now. Get to know them. They don’t have a lot of money so can’t attend costly events. (they may not be working and may still be living at home with parent.)

• UM Women not UM Church. Women may not agree with the church issues but UMW stand for other issues; and tell what UMW are involved in.

• Tell our stories, sisterhood of UMW. 503 non-profit ‘food desert’ is an organization that others would like to help.

• Climate change issues. God’s Spirit will work with us as we tell our own UMW stories, why we enjoy it, what we care about.

• New Structure – connecting with ‘relationships’; connectedness; it’s not an ABC formula – no one is right or wrong, but most come because they like the women – then this leads to sharing issue we would like to get involved with.

• Working in Mission with their children (younger women).Have a questionnaireto find out new persons interest.

• Older members who may not be able to attend, but who still have active minds – keep in touch with them; give them “at home” things to do, let them know we are still keeping them in our units.

• Others can create new circles – may not want to join circle already there.

• Divide tasks - don’t let one, two people who are ‘able’ do everything, all the time, make others feel needed.

• Look for other social media besides Face book - these (social medias) are not personal as face to face.

• Don’t call them ‘young’ adults – they are adults and able, they are our peers, equal.

• Older members can write and send cards.Start retirement home circles.
• Young women are busy – children, jobs, and may want an ‘adult conversation’ at the end of the day. Others work on computers all day and will not come home to read emails, contact them one on one.

• Check out church’s youth group – see how UMW can be involved, help and tell them what UM Women are about.

• Too much structure is not good - be flexible –others may not understand the ‘rules’ or structure of UMW. Remove barrier. Get out of comfort zones.

• God connection, go deeper! He will lead us, on how to reach out. God 1st.

• It’s not ‘Doing’ it’s ‘Loving’ – as far as reaching out, projects, missionoutreach.

• Mentor to others at work, neighbors, in your walk of life.

• Get word out that you want others to come ‘teach’ a skill to others. Cooking class; how to sell on eBay; teach a computer program; an art or craft project; etc. These interestscan bring in women and men to the church.

• Show your interest in others, look at them, share your warmth – no matter who she is - whether you like them or not. They are important and equal in God’s eyes. Eye contact. Everyone has feelings.

• Tell how God is with you in UMW. Tell others where you’ve been! Your pain and happy times. How God helped you. Meet women where they are – not what your next meeting will cover - feel where and what they are going through.

• Invite but offer to pay; offer a ride; offer to sit with them.

• Pass on the love you have received. Plant love seeds in youth and all others.

• UMW teaches leadership.

• OLD isn’t dead – you can do something; OLD ladies step up to the plate and get involved.