Have you ever seen someone join an organization and attend one meeting and then never return? It was likely that their first impression of the group was a poor or negative encounter. It is crucial that every first impression of the Grange is a positive experience for every new and potential member.

Every member needs to make it their job to greet and welcome anyone who comes through the doors of your Grange. A friendly attitude that makes a person feel at home is crucial to making a great first impression. Smile, laugh, enjoy yourself and make sure the new person is a part of the action.

Be sure to make the obligation or degrees a quality and impressive performance. Do it with pride and let the new member know you enjoy doing it for them. After all, they are worth doing it well for. Find out what the new member wants, or likes, to do and give them opportunities to get involved in your Grange as quickly as they want to. Make them a part of your Grange family from the first day.

Fill the needs of your new Grange members and give them a great first impression and watch the impossible happen!

Put together the same people, doing the same thing, and you will get the same thing over and over. If your Grange wants to attract new members, try thinking big. Thinking big means you plan on doing something that will not be easy. In other words, do something that will be difficult. It can be community service, legislative action, or even improvements to your hall. It just has to be difficult and yet attainable.

When you do something that is big there are two big effects. First, it will change your member’s attitude and perception of their Grange. It is difficult to work on something big and be negative. When you achieve your big goal, it builds pride in the members who participated. Even more important, by having a big task, your fellow members will grow as members and leaders.

The second effect is that the public is far more likely to notice you. When people see that you are doing something big, it changes their perception of you in a positive manner. If you happened to choose the big thing that they are personally interested in, they may even come to you to join. People want to be part of a winning team, and a big goal creates a winning atmosphere.

Think big in your Grange and you will find it is easier to attract new members.

Do you want to have the opportunity to recruit the most new members? If so, your focus must be to look into the future. History is great and it is positive to see what your Grange has done in the past and what impact it has had. However, that isn’t what gets most people to join today.

When someone comments on the historical significance of your hall, share your vision for the future with them. Let them know where your Grange is going. Show them the living, growing Grange that you have and that you want. Don’t let them keep an old or out-of-date view of your Grange. Share why your traditions are important to the future of your members and the community.

Create displays for your Grange hall and for use in fair booths and other public events. These displays should feature what is happening and what your Granges plans for the future are. Look for ways the Grange can invest time and resources into helping children. People especially associate the future with their children.

Look to the future in your Grange and you will find it is easier to attract new members.

When was the last time someone gave you something to read because they thought you would like it? Does your Grange have a newsletter or a hand-out for your members? If not, it's time to have a team of your members put one together. Make sure that it is positive and tells what your Grange is planning as well as what you've done. It's also a great way to keep members informed of happenings and milestones with other members. If your Grange doesn't currently have a newsletter, take a look at the Connecticut Granger, or neighboring Grange's newsletters for ideas.

When you have a newsletter that is positive and informative, find a non-member that you see on a regular basis and give it to them. Let them know that you think they will enjoy reading it. Don't pressure them, just give them the newsletter.

Next time you see them, ask what they thought about the newsletter. If something interested them, they'll ask questions. Be sure to give them answers and then ask them to join. If they don't ask questions, try again with your next newsletter.

Start giving away your Grange newsletter and watch your Grange grow!