Making Membership Meaningful 
Originally published in DOVIA EXCHANGE

To Have and to Hold

Once you’ve decided who belongs as a member and who doesn’t the over-riding challenge is how to attract and keep members. Not surprisingly, therefore, much of this manual is about DOVIA membership recruitment and retention. We’ll recap these and then go on to some additional points.

Networking Opportunities.
This excerpt from the DOVIA EXCHANGE is a sample of "Network Power":

‘GUESS WHY THEY JOIN THE VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATORS OF DANE COUNTY (Madison, Wisconsin)?

Networking appears to be the primary reason why volunteer coordinators have chosen to join VADC. From networking, members receive:

*educational and growth opportunities

*access to expertise within the field of volunteer administration

*information sharing and updating, socializing, and learning through meetings

*AND MORE

The Attractions

1. Education/Learning Opportunities via networking (see above), mentoring, and locally produced workshops
2. Recognition as a professional.
3. Meaty meetings.
4. A readable, relevant newsletter
5. A sense that as a group, DOVIA can make a positive difference as an advocate for volunteers and their career leadership.
6. A belief that the necessary work of the association can be done without putting unfair burdens on anyone (especially you).
7. A sense that the organizations genuinely values your input and participation; this more than mere rhetoric. Thus, Broward County (Florida) DOVS periodically asks new and not-so-new members these two questions:

--"DOVS is YOUR organization and wants to meet the needs of you, the volunteer coordinator. In order to offer meaningful and useful programs to our members your input is needed.

--"Please take a moment and indicate topics which you would like to see addressed at future DOVS meetings.

--"Each of our DOVS members has a wealth of talent and expertise that could be helpful to other members. Please list below those programs (30-45 minutes) that you would be willing to present, either by yourself or with a co- presenter."

Denver DOVIA also has good results from efforts to get members directly involved in planning and presenting programs.

Hard Information:
1) From local and/or national surveys of the profession - salary surveys and such. The DOVIA EXCHANGE regularly publishes information of this type and is currently developing a major series of publications on "The Career in Volunteer Leadership" (The CIVL Series)

2) On local, regional or national job opportunities in the field

3) On relevant upcoming workshops or conferences: local, state/provincial, national or international

4) Where and what local resources exist, including other members

Possible Financial Attractions.
As background, remember that the average DOVIA member is underpaid and probably does several other things besides managing the volunteer program. Therefore DOVIA benefits include:

1) Give scholarship help for relevant workshops elsewhere in the state, province or nation. As little as $50 or $100 will be deeply appreciated, even though not fully covering expenses. The selection committee will be composed of DOVIA members. Criteria for scholarship award include: member- ship in good standing in DOVIA (definitely), regularity of attendance at DOVIA meetings and workshops, and participation in DOVIA committees and task forces.

2) Discounts on DOVIA workshops and publications available only to DOVIA members in good standing. Larger DOVIAs might also explore getting discounts for their members in other areas, such as insurance, car rental, local department store, etc. Aggressive exploration of possibilities such as these could well mean a DOVIA member saves more than membership costs each year.

3) For coordinators of smaller programs especially, there may be services they can get only jointly with other DOVIA members. Insurance coverage for volunteers comes to mind as one example, but there might be several others.

4) Do not charge $20 dues if you are a local, state, or regional association. Don't even charge $15 dues without checking out reaction very carefully. One exception sometimes is that people will hold still for a special additional assessment, beyond regular dues, if they feel the event is really worthwhile; for instance, bringing in a famous national trainer. Otherwise, beware of....

Cooperative Possibilities.
Things you can accomplish working together that are much harder or impossible to do alone; for example Volunteer Fairs (possibly with the Volunteer Center), volunteer opportunities directory, purchase insurance, etc. together; afford outside trainers, etc.

Challenging the Advanced and/or Creative Practitioner.
These are the people most likely to burn out after a stint or two as a DOVIA officer, committee chair, mentor, etc. They need also to be getting something from the association as well as giving to it. The whole area is so crucial that the Center for Creative Community has made it one of five major project areas. Here's a description and please note that we're very glad to work with you and/or share information in any of these project areas.

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Ivan Scheier
Stillpoint
607 Marr
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, 87901
Tel (505) 894-1340
Email: ivan@zianet.com

For comments and editing suggestions please contact Mary Lou McNatt mlmcnatt@indra.com