by Marilee Seef

April 25, 2009, will mark the twelfth annual Lions Worldwide Induction Day. It’s a special day devoted to our new members--honor them and welcome them as they join with us to fulfill our mission.

Take advantage of this unique event to organize a successful membership campaign. Following are some fun ways to motivate your members to get involved with the campaign. These are proven membership recruitment techniques used by clubs and districts worldwide.

The Challenge
Add an element of fun by challenging other Lions to recruit new members. Challenges can be made between districts, regions, zones or clubs. Each participating group simply challenges the other to meet or exceed the number of new inductees. The “loser” is committed to do something for the “winner” of the challenge, such as host a reception or assist with a project. Prizes can be creative or unusual. Announce the challenges throughout the district by ways of newsletters, announcements, e-mail, visitations and other meetings.

Recruitment Night
Ask each member to invite a potential member to a special club meeting. This meeting should feature projects and accomplishments of the club – and let the guests get to know the other members.

Project Volunteers
Invite the public to participate in a special club project. The public will learn more about the club, and club members will learn more about the volunteers and can invite potential members to a meeting.

Member-Get-A-Member Campaign
Each member is encouraged to provide the names of potential members to the club’s membership committee. Possible new members can include: colleagues, relatives, neighbors, co-workers, community leaders, corporate leaders, educators, other professionals, and friends your club members know from their churches, hobbies or other clubs. If your club is involved with youth activities, you may find parents, youth leaders, and other adults interested in community service. The committee can follow up for possible recruitment.

Club Advertising and Promotion Campaign
Some ideas for reaching out to members in the community using advertising and public relations techniques include:

• Setting up a booth at a community event
• Publicizing your activities in a local newspaper or television
• Conducting a direct mail campaign
• Designing a Web site and/or a club brochure for your club and its activities
• Developing some other type of campaign that showcases your club’s activities and accomplishments.

Once the Campaign is Completed
Provide your district governor with the estimated new inductee total before March 1, 2009, so that special commemorative and new member certificates can be provided for the event.
Invite the new inductees, as well as spouses, current members and special guests, to the ceremony. Each individual club is responsible for inviting and registering new inductees with the district governor or induction ceremony coordinator.

For more information about this event, click here. Download the “Lions Worldwide Induction Day Club and District Planning Guide,” a helpful resource to aid you in planning a memorable ceremony.

Please let us know if your club or district will participate. Complete the Lions Worldwide Induction Day “Enrollment Form” linked to the Worldwide Induction Day Web page and submit to the New Clubs and Marketing Department as requested. Each participant will receive an attractive, commemorativeLions Worldwide Induction Day certificate signed by the 2008-2009 international president, Al Brandel. Note that certificates must be ordered prior to March 1, 2009. For more information, e-mail inductionday@lionsclubs.org.