Attracting Younger Members

 

Our organization is ageing; many members are retired. It is difficult to attract younger women. Those who join do not stay. How can we make our organization more attractive to younger women?

Strategies:

• Find projects that capitalize on age differences, offering intergenerational programmes that give younger women the benefit of your members' experience and wisdom. Both generations will benefit. For example, develop a mentoring programme for women entering fields in which your members are prominent.

• Show your willingness to reach out to a younger segment by producing materials that show diversity in age. What is the average age of the women depicted in your brochure or bulletin? Are all of your leaders and spokespeople older members, or are younger members visible to the public too?

• Publicize the international opportunities for young members to network with those in other countries through the IFUW Young Members Network, the IFUW E-mail Network and international meetings.

• Offer activities in which young members can take an active role to gain leadership experience: a community project, a research project, or a lobbying effort. Young members are not likely to be attracted to a group that only organizes meetings and a few social events.

• Be sure to make younger women feel welcome when they attend. Assign a member to be their host for the meeting and introduce them to all.

• Arrange for childcare.

• Develop links with undergraduates by offering student memberships or co-sponsoring activities with women student groups. Post notices of your activities in university newspapers and student unions.

• Contact your local university to obtain a list of graduating women students. Ask to include a brochure in any final mailings sent to students or send one yourselves. Hold a special activity for graduating women, e.g. a reception or a tea.

• It may be more effective to lower your age profile gradually. If most members are over 50, first target women who are in their forties.

 

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