Membership Plan

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NC FBLA Membership Plan

  

NC FBLA has a little over eight thousand total members. This number is slightly dropping this year. The most important factor that will keep FBLA the greatest and largest organization in the United States is FBLA membership. Even though FBLA may be a national organization with over 250, 000 members the success and growth of FBLA rest with you.

            You and your chapters are very important to the success of our great organization. If we can have high and successful membership within our chapters then we can have successful membership within our region, state, and all through the national organization. You and your chapters can make a difference within our organization and the difference rest with your determination and motivation as a member and as a leader. As you continue through your chapter participating in events and are networking, I want to challenge you to a new task- increasing membership.

            I have devised a plan below that you can use within your schools to increase FBLA membership. It encompasses many marketing skills that businesses and organizations use to be successful.

 

Here are some advertising techniques that you can use in your school:

  • Put up catchy and informative flyers or posters. If this is allowed at your school you can make magnetic signs or cards that you can put on your lockers to advertise you FBLA chapter.
  • Make use of your schools multimedia services. Make announcements on your school’s intercom, with permission, announcing upcoming events and meetings.
  • Make announcements on you school’s newsletter or newspaper. If your school has television news broadcast, make sure you post announcements on there.
  • I am sure that your school has many different other clubs and groups. Find the unique differences that make FBLA the best. Let people know that FBLA is the only organization in America where you can be a member from middle school through the rest of your life and etc.
  • Have information sessions and invite nonmember students to attend. Let them know about FBLA.

Make use of outside technology:

  • Provide a website for your chapter that contains information about the organization and that provides a contact list or person.
  • Have online FBLA forums for fellow members and interested students can talk and answer question.
  • Advertise FBLA (in a positive way) on Facebook, My Space, and other blogging sites. 

Community Advertising:

  • The way to create membership is to create community awareness.
  • Submit articles and pictures to your local newspaper, magazine, radio, or news station highlighting special community or school events through FBLA.
  • Have community events that are popular like have a “go green” project in your school and community.

Use incentives to attract students:

  • Let students know that being a FBLA member looks great on a resume.
  • Let students know about all of the scholarships, competitions, and awards that are available.
  • Work with business and technical teachers to give a few extra points if students participate in a FBLA business related project outside class.
  • Have prizes for the 20th or 50th student to sign up for FBLA.

Challenge fellow FBLA members to recruit the most students into FBLA:

  • Have a prize for the FBLA members that can recruit the most students into the chapter.
  • Give awards or prizes for the FBLA members who can come up with the most persuasive, creative, and or, the most effective poster.

Membership Goal Setting:

  • Challenge chapters to add one member per day for one month or two.
  • Allow each member to try and invite three or more students to attend a FBLA meeting.
  • Set reachable dates for completing certain marketing campaigns.
  • Stay organized and make specific charts and plans that you can use with your chapter to increase membership during the year.

NETWORKING & COMMUNICATION:

Networking and Membership are the greatest keys into having successful membership numbers and to having great marketing plans.

  • Work with your chapter’s members and communicate to them what works and what dose not work with increasing membership.
  • Talk with other chapters within your county or region and give them useful tips on good marketing methods.
  • Feel free to contact your regional vice president, advisor or board member if you have any questions.
  • Remember to use the state website frequently and check for deadlines or upcoming events.
 

There is not a set plan on how to increase membership. You must ultimately rely on your innovation, determination, and leadership skills within yourself and within your chapter to decide what is effective or not. I hope at least that this outline will give you ideas or examples to use. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want to give me you input because with your voice, the possibilities are endless.