Example: Questions to consider when recruiting members
Once I took on the challenge of starting a student organization. I had several goals to accomplish, so I asked myself the important questions:
Why do I want or need members?
I knew I needed members because it is hard for an organization to exist without members. Second, the university had specific membership requirements for a club to be recognized and eligible for funding.
How many members do I need?
In this case it wasn't necessary for me to decide how many members I needed, because the university told me the answer to that question was ten.
What kind of members do I need?
Easy, I needed students interested in what my club was about.
Who is going to find and get them?
Since the student organization was my own idea, I realized that I would be responsible for recruiting the members--at least the first "core" members (the people who would become leaders with me). Once there were a few of us, we could all try to recruit others.
Where are new members to be found?
Since I was trying to find students at a university, I did not need to look very far. I found that putting up flyers that gave out my e-mail address proved to be very helpful.
When is a good time to look for new members?
I began looking for members soon after I decided to start the club. I decided to coordinate my efforts with an event that was happening at the university that spring.
How should I approach potential members?
I decided to put up flyers with my name, telephone number, e-mail address, information about the club, and an advertisement for the event that was going to take place.
What happens if I get a yes, maybe, or no?
I was ready with information to give anyone who answered "yes" or "maybe." Fortunately, I was blessed with "yes" several times. A few of the "yes" respondents later assumed leadership roles in the club.
What are some obstacles I may encounter?
I was ready for anything, but mainly the possibility that nobody would call or e-mail, and then I would have to take more aggressive recruiting measures. Fortunately, a few people e-mailed and called, and our group was born.