"New member focus group results
One way to stop Lapsation"

Farmington Elks #1986 Learns from New Members to Increase Membership

The Membership Committee of Elks Lodge 1986 held focus groups including members who had joined the organization during the previous 15 months in order to find out: 1) why people join the organization; and 2) what new members expect once they have joined.  

The committee learned that people join the Elks because they enjoyed themselves when they visited the Lodge and they were impressed that the Elks were friendly and welcoming.  These feelings prompted them to respond favorably to an invitation to join the organization.  In addition, the committee learned that once people become members of the organization they want to be invited to be part of a committee of the Elks so that they can get to know other members and feel like they are contributing.

The Membership Committee, under the leadership of Jennifer Chinn developed strategies to capitalize on this information in order to increase membership.  First, members were encouraged to invite friends to lodge functions and then invite them to join the organization.  Second, all recent members (joined in the previous 18 months) were called by a member of the Membership Committee and invited to join a committee according to their interests.  Third, members gave invitations to an Elks Open House to prospective new members.  The Open House included food and beverages and good conversation about the efforts of the organization within the local community and in the Elks organization. 

These strategies to increase membership are an ongoing part of the responsibilities of the committee and will have a continuing impact on the growth of membership over the next few years. 

Focus Groups are one instrument of Market Research that can be used to learn about people and their motivations.  Lodge #1986 is located in Farmington, Michigan, which is a suburban community northwest of Detroit now operating under the leadership of Kathy Pennywitt, ER.

For Further Information Contact:
Kathy Pennywitt
248.476.1986