Recruiting Presidentsand Patrons

Whilebyno meansessential, a well-chosenpresident or patroncanenhancetheactivities and profileofyour branch or grouplocally. Here are somethings toconsider ifyouare thinking of recruitingfor apresident or patron.

Whereto start?

Step 1:Who toaskto be apatron or president?

It is importanttohave areasonfor the ask. There is usuallylittle point intargetingsomeone justfor their‘name’aloneandnootherreason,or withoutthinkingthroughwhat roletheycouldplayforyou. It’sgoing to bemuchmorevaluable tohavesomeonewitheithersomeawarenessofMND,whetherprofessionallyor

throughpersonalconnection,or someonewho hasareasontobe interested inMNDwhowill thenhavesomething tooffer. Plus, there isoftenvalueinaskingsomeonebecausetheyhave alocal connectionandare respectedand influentialin thecommunity.

Don’t necessarilyexpect tocomeupwith thenameof apotentialcandidatestraightaway.Discussat yourcommitteeor planning meetingsover time,askyourbranch/groupmembersfor theirthoughts andtalk itoverwithyourVolunteeringDevelopmentCoordinator(VDC)–theywillhave examplesfromotherareastheycan share.

If someoneoccurs toyouthatyouthinkmightmake agoodpatronorpresidentthenbegintoresearchthem. Readall youcan, tryto getanunderstanding ofwhybecoming involvedwithyoumight beappealingtothem.

Somethoughtsofwhotoconsider:

  • Neurologist or medicalprofessional
  • MP’s,formerMP’sandAMs
  • A localmediafigure/businessleader.
  • Localdignitary
  • Someonelocal in societywhomighthave grounds or abuilding theymightsometimes beprepared to letyouusefor events

If you are consideringapproaching acelebritythen rememberthatcelebrityrelationships areparticularlycomplextomanage andthoughtheideaof acelebritymayseemappealing,you maybe betteroffthinking ofsomeone lesshighprofilebutabletoactuallygiveyou moreoftheirtime or expertise. Ifyou dodecidetoapproachacelebrityor indeedanyhighprofilefigure it’s crucial thatyoufirst approachthe celebrityandVIPmanagerwho can becontactedviatheExternalAffairsteamas this maybe someonewhowe mayalreadybe cultivatinga relationshipwithfor theAssociation asa whole.Whilst celebritiescan bringpublicity,you needtobe sure theyare going to beanappropriateambassadorforyour branch or groupandtheAssociation.

Case study 1:

South HertfordshireBranchasked the MacmillanConsultant inPalliative Medicine to be their patron. In her roleasconsultant,she alreadycoordinates monthlymeetings for healthcareprofessionalsinvolvedwitharange of neurologicalconditions. Having expressed aninterest in improvingservices and lifeforpeople withMND,the committeehad nohesitation inaskingher to be theirpatron.

Step 2:Howto askthem to become apatronor president?

It is worthspending some considerabletimeon getting the initialapproach right.Itshouldbepersonallytargetedtothemandnotfeel like a roundrobinletterwhichjust happenstohave theirnameatthetop.

Don’t askfor ameetingstraight away(unless it is via a closemutualcontactwhooffers todo so).Theywill make theirdecisionlargelyon thebasisofwhatyousayin your letter or e-mailsoitneedstobe impressive,outliningthework oftheAssociationandofyour branchor groupandwhy youwouldlike toask them toconsiderbecoming a patron. Keep ittoamaximumoftwopagesandenclosesomebriefinformationaboutMND or yourbranch/groupleaflet. Make sure thatitgets totherightperson. Ifyouare abletogeta numberfor theiroffice, call andfind outthenameoftheirassistant iftheyhaveone.Ifyou arethinkingofaskingsomeone like aneurologist or MP tryto begincultivatingarelationshipwith theirPA or assistant,whocanbeveryinfluential andifimpressed byyou canhelpinfluence a positiveoutcome. Peoplesometimesthink it isclever to bypass anassistantandfind awaystraight totheperson, in mostcasesthatbackfires.

Intheletterexplaina little aboutthe role ofthepatron or president,beingclearbutnotmakingit soundtooonerous. Trynotto specifyasetamount ofeventstheyshouldattend orbetooprescriptive. Ideallyyouwant togettheirinput onwhat theyfeel couldbeuseful toyouandfor them tofeel itis a privilege tobeaskedandthattheycould playavaluable(thoughnottimeconsuming)role.

Concludeyour letter withanoffer tohave ameetingtoexplainmoreiftheywouldlike,althoughaim for your letter tobepersuasiveenoughon its ownthattheymight just wantto sayyesstraightaway.

Thenwait.Theymaybe outofthecountry;theyare undoubtedlybusyand asacharitablerequestyou’ll needto waitfor ittorise tothetopof thepile soit couldtake sometimebeforeyouget a response. At theveryleast,give it severalweeks.

If youget apositiveresponse totheideaof ameetingmake sure it is heldsomewhereconvenientfor them. It’sgoodto havetwopeopleattendfromyourbranchor grouptogiveeach other support,butnomorethanthat. Don’tmakeittooformalbutmakesureyouget tothepointrelativelyquickly. Tryto drawoutofthemwhattheymightbe interested inandhowtheymight be abletohelp. Askattheendhowtheywouldlike toproceed,wouldtheylike a littlemoretime tothinkit throughandwhenshouldyoucontactthem again. Ideallytheywillsay ‘yes’right there.

If it comesbackas a no,saying theyare toobusyat present,respondpolitelyandask ifit wouldbe ok if you sent theoccasionalinformationaboutyourworkthrough.Sometimes‘no’can justbea stageon thewayto a‘yes inthefuture.But ifit’safirmno,send a note tothankthem for givingit theirconsiderationandmove on.

If theyagree to takeonthe role,whether to your initial approach orfrom themeeting,send a letterto formallyacknowledge thisandto sayhowmuchyou look

forward to workingwiththem.Ifit’snotbeenmentionedbeforenowis also agoodtimetooutline thatthe role ofpatron orpresident is usuallyfora termofthree yearsandhas tobe ratified bytheBoardofTrustees.

Case study 2:

The TyneandWearBranchaskeda long standingmember oftheir branchcommitteewho had been treasurer for 6years andchair for 5yearstobecome apresident. As an effective public speaker hehadrepresented the branch in awide varietyofsituationsincludinggiving atalktolocal primaryschools and variousorganisationssuch asrotaryetc.where he received chequesonbehalf of thebranch.The branchbelieved that he hadearned the honoraryappointment of branch presidentin acknowledgementforhis outstanding contributionover the years and asawaytomaintain his excellent skillsasanambassadorfor boththeAssociation and thebranch.

Step 3:Applying to the Engagement Committee

The nomination form, guidance notes and confidential disclosure can be downloaded from the Volunteer Zone.You can alsorequest electronic or hard copies from the Volunteering Team by calling 0345 604 4150 or emailing .

Once the completed nomination form and confidential disclosure have been successfully received, they will be sent to the Engagement Committee who will make a decision within 28 days. You will then be informed of the Engagement Committee’s decision.

Once the Engagement Committee have approved the nomination, the Chief Executive will send a welcome letter to the new or returning President/Patron.

Step 4:They’ve saidyes. Nowwhat?

Rememberthatthepersonyou are workingwith is likelyto have a complexscheduleandlimitedfreetime. Theywon’tbeable toattendfrequentbranch/groupmeetings andit is unwise tooverloadthemwith requests. Thinkcarefullyaboutwhereyou are going to getthe most outoftheirinvolvement. YoumightsuggesttheyattendyourAGM, oramajorfundraiser,or eveninvitethemtoa supportmeetingtoactuallymeetsomepeoplewithMND and hearthe issuesfor them directly. Eachindividualwill be differentbuthereare someideasonwhat patronsandpresidentscando.

  • Attend afundraiser
  • Speakatanevent
  • Give aquotetobeused in apress releaseortosupporta particularevent.
  • Act asa soundingboardfor you intheirareaofexpertise
  • Attendyour AGM
  • Introduce youtotheircontactswhomightbehelpful (this onlyusuallyhappensoncetheyhavebeeninvolvedwithyouforawhile).

If you’regoing to askthem to speak atanevent,offer to givethem awrittenbriefingin advance. Don’toverloadthemwithpaperwork but trytoputdown afewkeynotes andmessages. Theinformation for journalistssectionon thewebsite can beusefulat:

orcontactthevolunteeringteamwhocanforwardyou ahardcopy.

Case study 3:

The CheshireBranchaskedLordAshbrook to be their patron.He allowedthem to use hisstatelyhome to hold agarden partyfor peoplewith MND,theircarers and otherbranch members,whichwasaverysuccessfulsocialevent and a realtreatforeveryone. Areceptionwasalsohosted byLordAshbrook and attended bylocaldignitaries,whichraisedawarenessbothof thoseattending andvialocalpress and magazinecoverage and approximately£5,000.

The bestwayto manage therelationship

It is best to have justoneperson nominatedas thepointofcontacttodealwith anewpresidentor patron. Thisensuresyoulookprofessional. Askthisperson tokeepnotesofcorrespondenceandcontactthatcanbeusedtoupdatethecommittee/planning groupandsothata handover is easilymanagedif thecontactperson changes.

Make sureyour keycontactperson is extremelyefficient andorganised.Ifthepresident or patron is attending anevent it is importanttoensure all thetimingsare clearand sentover to him/her inplentyof time. Makesuretheyare duetoarrive in plentyoftime,butequallydon’t havethemhanging aroundwhileyou aresetting up.

Aim tobe in contactwiththem several timesa year, sayeverythree of fourmonths,butwithpurposeeachtime,notnecessarily withanask butwithinformationon whathasbeenhappening witha campaignoramajordevelopmentin research for example. Keeptheminformedandremindedofwhatyour branch or groupis doingbyforwarding them your newsletter.

If you are going toinvitethem to openan eventor attendafundraiser tryto giveas muchnoticeaspossible–three months isusuallyideal. Don’t expectthemtogetback toyou in thefirstfewdays after yourrequestanddon’t re-approachfor ananswer untila reasonableamountoftimehaspassed.This is where a goodrelationshipwith aPAor assistant canhelp.Aim toideallyhavetheminvolved in twoevents a yearbutdon’tbeprescriptive.If theyare busyit might be lessthanthat,butoneeventthattheyhelp tomakeasuccess is worth it.

Risks

If you are workingwith someone inbusinessoranotherfieldwith ahighlevelposition, there is always achancethat a‘crisis’ mayoccur whichpreventsthemattending aneventtheyhad alreadycommittedto. This is inevitablyahuge blowbutbe gracious,it is something thatcomeswiththeterritory. Ifithappensmorethanoncethoughthenthis mightbean indicationofproblems.

Step 5:Sayinggoodbye

Inmost casesthenormallengthof timefor someone totakeontherole ofpresident or patronwouldbethreeyears. Attheendof this timeifall has gonewell and theywish totheremaybeno reasonnot to continue,butyouwill need toreapplyto theBoardofTrusteesagainandonceagreedconfirmin writingagaintoyourpatronor presidentclearlystatingthisis for afurtherthreeyearperiod.

However iftherehasnotbeenanycontactforsome considerabletimeor anypositiveresponsetoyour asksandyoususpectthattherelationshiphas runitscourse thenitmaybe timeto drawthings toaclose.Writeandlet themknow thattheirthreeyearterm is duetocome toanendandthankthem forwhat they havedone,theirinterest/involvementetc. Ifthings start to gowrong some time beforetheendoftheformalperiodyoucouldsendalettersaying thatyourealise thattheyhave a numberofcommitments ontheirtimeandthatyourealisethat theymayhavereached apointthattheymayno longer beabletotake onthe role ofpatron or president.

Like theendofall relationshipsthings cansometimesbea littlemessy. Ifthatprovokesfurther silencethenfollowthroughwith one more letter,recapping in thefirst letterandasking them to contactyoubyacertaindate. Ifyoudon’thearback bythen, it’stimetomove on.

Last updated: September 2016