Membership Tip of the Month

We are in the last quarter of the year. State Sessions are all done for the year and National Grange Convention is upon us. Some of us will be making that pilgrimage to National Convention to work on policy and set our direction for the coming year. Is that all that happens at our State sessions or National Convention? No! We also get to see our Brothers and Sisters from around the state and nation. We get to hear about their Grange successes. We get to meet folks that have earned their way to convention by sharing their talents with us. We will have opportunity to learn more fun and interesting stuff to do in our own Granges.

I come away from convention charged up every time. I love the camaraderie amongst Friends. I love the sharing of stories, the playing together, the touring together, and as funny as it sounds the working together. Grangers are just fun to be around and I, as some of you know, like to have fun.

Starting new Granges and signing up new members proves that excitement brings people in. When you have a group of people in a community that get excited about something like the Grange and they are talking about it everywhere they go people begin to wonder what is going on. As the new members are talking about all the wonderful things they have plans for in the new Grange non members will begin the consideration process of joining the Grange. They start looking into what the Grange is all about. We are the reason people join. Friends and fellowship, is the #1 reason folks join. I think that joining a group of folks that are excited about what they are doing and excited about the possibilities for the future is a great calling card for us.

Excitement can be expressed in different ways. You can “show” it and you can “tell” it.

We all need to show some excitement. As we plan for our holiday parties and as we plan for the next meetings we need to make sure we let everyone see just how excited we are to be in the Grange. Let everyone see your excitement. Smile. Laugh. Give somebody a pat on the back or a thumbs up for a job well done. Just let all know by your actions that you are excited.

We all need to tell people we are excited. Talk positively about the Grange to other members and non members alike. Tell somebody that they did a good Job at the last Grange event. Tell somebody that they are needed at the next meeting or activity. The spoken word can be powerful so make it positive and make it exciting.

Excitement is contagious. It is like a virus. Once one person starts to show some others will start to get excited. Have you heard the saying “SMILE, make everyone wonder what you are up to.” I have proven this to be true. I challenge you to try it.

SEPTEMBER 2008 - HUNT IN PACKS

Now that is quite a thought?  How do we apply hunting like wolves to getting new members in the Grange?

Lets look at it as a system of gaining members.

First, we have to decide that we need new members.  That is easy.  Is there anybody out there that thinks we already have enough?  I think we can all agree that we need a steady diet of new members in our Grange to keep us strong and healthy to serve our communities better.  We all know that as we lose a member of our Grange to Death or lack of stamina we need someone to fill that void or we all suffer because of the lack of numbers and that puts extra strain on the others in the pack to pick up the work of the lost member.  So it is pretty clear that we need new members.

Second, we create a plan that includes everyone in the Pack (Grange).  We have our Alpha dog that leads us.  They help us make decisions that everyone can live with--always making sure that everyone knows their role in the hunt.  And then coordinates the Pack as the hunt progresses.  Each member then contributes whatever they can according to their strengths and talents to the hunt.  Some are fast, some are strong, and others are smart and calculating.  They all fit into the plan.

Now it is time for the hunt.  We have all heard or seen the stories of how wolves are very successful hunters.  But how do they do it?  How do they get everyone to participate?  Well, they have learned the magical system of “TEAMWORK”.  They have realized that by working together they increase their chances for success greatly.  Each individual plays a part, gets to help out in some way, and all get to feel that sense of accomplishment when the hunt is over. 

Sounds pretty good doesn’t it?

Now in the Grange we have our elected officers.  So we all had a say in choosing our “Alpha Dog”/Master.  Now we all need to look to the Master/Alpha dog for direction and insight.  We don’t look to them to do it all!  We now bring our individual talents to the hunt.  Some of us like to talk (like me), some like to “do”, and some just like to help.  Everyone has something they can provide to the Team/Pack to add in a successful membership drive/Hunt.

We need to make a plan?  Who are we targeting for this Membership drive/hunt?  What positions does the Team/Pack need to fill?  These are all good questions and ones that need to be answered by the Team/Pack.  Make sure you get input from all Team members.  It is very important that the entire Team buys into the plan and takes ownership in it.

The Hunt!  We all follow the lead of our Master/Alpha dog.  We all know our part and what everyone else is doing so that we can work together.  If one of the Team members stumbles or struggles with their position another member can recognize it quickly and help out so the Membership drive/hunt goes on.  We continually watch out for each other because the health of the Grange/Pack relies on it. 

The Grange Provides Opportunity,
It's people provide the leadership,
The Community Reaps the Benefits!

JULY 2008 - BE THE EXAMPLE

I have a twelve-year-old daughter, and like most preteens, she looks up to the sixteen to eighteen-year-olds with the idea that she wants to be like them. There are also those seven to nine-year-old girls out there that look at my daughter and say they want to be like her. I have the hardest time trying to explain to her that she is setting an example for those little girls that look up to her, just like she looks up to the older teens. I try my best to show her that some of the girls she looks up to are good examples and others are bad. Each has its own lessons. She needs to decide then which kind of example she wants to be to the younger girls that are looking up to her.

You see, each one of us needs to set a good example in the Grange. We need to consider whom we look to as examples in the Grange. Are they good ones or bad ones, and what do we learn from them? Now then, who is looking to us as an example? If you have new members, they are looking to you to see how to act, talk, and conduct business in the Grange. Our youth in the Grange need good mentors that will show them the right way to do things and who will encourage them to act so they can grow in the Grange and hopefully be even better then we are. The non-Grangers out there are really scrutinizing our each and every word and move. If we are good examples, we have a chance to get them to join, but if we are bad examples, then we have virtually no chance of them even considering joining.

Don’t you want everyone in your Grange to take action and ask somebody to join? Wouldn’t it be great if there were somebody that would plan the next booster program for your Grange? What about you? Yes you! Why not? You have seen it done before. You are more than capable. Why don’t you show everyone what a great booster program is? Why don’t you ask your non-Grange friends to join? You could set a good example for others to follow in your wake.

Just one person taking action can inspire others to do the same.
-- Leslie C. Aguilar

Do you hate the way that some Grangers run down the Grange and its members? How about you? Do you speak well of the Grange? Do find good positive things to say about other Granges and their members? You should. You should encourage others to do the same. Sometimes it is how we talk and act that influences others and the way they talking and acting. You can be an example of how you would want others to talk about the Grange.

To say "well done" to any bit of good work is to take
hold of the powers which have made the effort and
strengthen them beyond our knowledge.
-- Phillip Brooks

Setting a good example in all that we do in life will make those around us happier and want to be with us, even encouraging them to strive to be good examples, too.

MAY 2008 - BE POSITIVE

If you were to look into the mirror and take a look at your Attitude what would you see? If you now put on your Grange glasses would you say you have a good attitude about the Grange? Would you say that you have a good attitude about the people in the Grange? What about it’s Officers/Leaders? What about it’s activities? Now it is time to face the cold hard truth: What do others see and hear when they look at you concerning the Grange?

I always like to make the analogy; if you see someone walking down the street and they have a long face, staring at the ground and just generally looking lost what do you think? You think they have had a bad day, gotten some bad news, or just upset about something. Now what if you see someone walking down the street and they have a bounce in their step, a smile on their face and they are waving to folks and saying hello to who ever catches their eye. You would say that person is having a good day, happy about life, and someone you would like to talk to. Well, it is the same with the Grange.

If folks here us complain about our meetings, talk bad about our fellow brothers and sisters (we are a fraternal order), or just act like it is a chore to be a Grange member, how many folks would join if you asked them? Now if they hear us saying good things about our meetings, talking about how much fun we had with the good people at the Grange and how wonderful it was to work doing the activities for the Grange, how many folks would join if you asked them? I know for a fact the percentage would be higher in a positive case.

Your Attitude is the single most important tool you have to convince people to join the Grange. Attitude is the foundation to all that we do in the Grange. We need to be positive, open and welcoming, and have that “can do” or “find a way” type of attitude. We need to be team focused. And most of all have fun! If you talk good about the Grange, people are going to want to know more. If you say good things about your fellow Grangers, they will feel more comfortable when they come to Grange functions and Grange activities. If you act like you are having fun working for the Grange and have that satisfied feeling about your time spent at the Grange others will not be so reluctant to participate with us in our activities.

Now when you ask them to join you have just eliminated any excuse they may have had about the organization. Then you can focus solely on them and their needs. You can tell them they are missing out on a lot of fun, fellowship and making new friends. You can tell them that they to can feel that positive feeling of doing something good.

We choose our attitude every morning when we get up. We choose if we want to be kind, say “please”, open the door for others, help some one, and turn in the wallet/purse we find at the mall. We can choose if we want to be happy in the face of adversity. We can choose if we want to speak positive about our Grange and Grangers and the Grange work we do.

Let’s start with the media; Newspapers (daily, weekly or monthly), Radio stations, and Television stations (including cable networks). You will want to get to know your local editors, Talk show hosts, and station managers. Creating a relationship with them can be a huge asset when it comes time to getting something important out to the public. Having them recognize you and/or the Grange will give you much needed priority over other lesser known people and groups. You must always be prepared with a good, honest and positive message. Never ever get sarcastic! Remember, news people are always looking for a quote and if you say something sarcastic that very well may be used in their story. Lots of the media provides free advertising for non-profit community groups, so make sure you contact them with all your activities and get them posted. It is a great way of reaching lots of people and getting acquainted with the right people that work in the media.

Posters and flyers are another thing that all Granges need to use when “Getting the Word Out”. Make your posters and flyers colorful and entertaining. Make them “eye catching”. Be careful not to make them too busy so people get lost in the message but just include enough information so they know what you are trying to convey.

Window displays, banners, and billboards can be much bigger projects that need more time, thought, and effort to put together. Get a team of members together when planning these types of projects. It makes it more fun and usually a better finished project is the result.

Brochures and newsletters are something that every Grange needs to have for themselves. They are more personal and also allow us to target our audience. We know who they are to go to so we should know what we want them to see.

What about our dances, parties, fair booths, parade floats, and etc? Aren’t they considered “Getting the Word Out”? You bet they are! And they are a very important one at that. Check out the 2006 and 2007 “Idea Books” on the National Grange Website for more great ideas .

In all these different forms of “Getting the Word Out” one thing that should always come out, is our POSITIVE ATTITUDE and our PASSION FOR THE GRANGE! Let’s get ready for Grange Month in April by planning how we are going to “Get the word out” about the Grange!

We will be discussing the “ Idea books” and all of the above ideas on Team Speak March 11th at 9:00 pm EST. Everyone is welcome to join us. For hookup instructions contact:

Rusty Hunt @ membership@nationalgrange.org | Carl Meiss @ publicrelations@pagrange.org