Have you looked at your chapter's profile lately?  Do you know the number of women who have been in the Society for 5, 10, 20 years?

How about the age ranges of your members?  Educational Positions?  Highest Degree?  Membership Status? Years in Education?

If you want to do a quick analysis of your membership, complete the "Chapter Profile" form.

Chapter Profile Form

HONOR CHAPTER AWARD CRITERIA

__An increase of at least a total of three members between February 1, 2011 and February 2012. For instance if your chapter membership was 76  on February 1, 2011, then you must have a total membership of 79 as of February 1, 2012.  If you have any questions about the membership number that will be used, please contact Bev Johns at bevjohns@juno.com  This criteria must be met to be an Honor Chapter.
At least 5 of 7 of the following additional criteria:
__Attendance at the previous (2011) Lambda State Convention as follows:
            1-19=2 attendees
            20-39 =3 attendees
            40+=4 attendees
__Attendance at the Spring 2011 General Convention Session/Executive Board by the Chapter President or official representative
__Attendance at the Fall 2011 Executive Board Meeting by the Chapter President or official Representative
__Chapter dues correctly completed to the Lambda State Treasurer, Sharon Vinson, postmarked by November 10, 2011.
__One copy of the Chapter yearbook to President Sandy McGaughy, Executive Secretary Nancy Polios,  and one copy to Program Chair, LaVonne  Chaney, postmarked by December 1, 2011.
__Chapter president’s Report to Lambda State President, Sandy McGaughy, postmarked by February 1, 2012
__Chapter Necrology Annual Report due to Lambda State Membership Chair, Bev Johns, postmarked by February 1, 2012

Purchase the new brochures to give visibility to our Society for prospective members and involve all members in your chapter to spread the word. 

• “Prospective Members – You & Us”
• “Get Involved – One & All.” 

Tips for Obtaining and Retaining Members

A. What are the important “selling points” for becoming a member of the Society?

• Personal enrichment
• Scholarships for graduate study
• Group trips
• International and State Conventions and Regional Conferences
• Leadership Training both locally, state and international levels
• Opportunity to be on committees and hold office
  

B. What are creative ways to nurture members

• Celebration of birthdays---birthday cards
• Use creative roll calls as a way to give every member an opportunity to share something about herself.
• Provide recognition to members who are involved in other community activities.
• Schedule time for social interactive at each meeting.
• Value members who attend only sporadically.
• Highlight one or two members in each chapter newsletter.
• Institute a “buddy” system or a “secret friend” activity as a way to keep everyone involved and valued.
  

C. Where do you look for new members?

• Sponsor a general educational meeting with an outstanding speaker and provide Society information
• Trade school instructors

D. How do you attract young professionals to membership?

• Invite 2 (or more) at a time so they have a buddy
• Invite non-members to chapter meetings.
• Create a chapter brochure or use an International brochure to give to prospective members.
• Celebrate the accomplishment of a non-member by inviting them to a meeting and spot light their accomplishment.
• Organize and host a professional development day for all educators in your area, i.e., all librarians, day care teachers, pre-school teachers, teaching nurses.

Successful Chapter Model

A survey of 1200 chapters conducted by Jensi P. Souders, Ed.D., International First-Vice President and Helen Popovich, Ph.D., produced the following practices compiled from the survey:

• Holds 4-6 well-planned, relatively informal but still structured, quick-moving business meetings per year
• Meets at varied times, days, and places convenient for working members
• Meets for approximately 1 ½ hours in length, including meals
• Has more refreshment-only meetings than meetings with meals
• Plans fellowship time as part of each meeting
• Focuses on meeting members’ social needs
• Has open meetings and activities that welcome non-members
• Has a wide variety of high-quality, interesting programs and speakers
• Supports a variety of one-time and on-going projects that actively engage members
• Communicates with members in multiple ways
• Publicizes the Society through projects and activities that receive newspaper coverage as well as school and community recognition
• Has specific strategies in place for attracting new members, retaining members, engaging retired and employed members, and developing/nurturing new chapter leaders
• Emphasizes the Society’s mission, purposes, and history

Your Lambda State Membership Committee for 2011-2013:
Bev Johns, Alpha Phi, Jacksonville, bevjohns@juno.com, Area 4
Sandra McGaughy, Mu, Moline, smcgaughy@gmail.com, President
Judith Vaughn, Gamma, Charleston, judith.vaughn@gmail.com, Area 3
Barbara Noeth
Linda Beitzel, Alpha Nu,Libertyville,  lbeitzel@sbcglobal.net, Area 2
Susan Kaye, Beta Tau, Northbrook, dsjkaye@comcast.net, Area 1
Andrea Herbster, Beta Psi, Wilmette, a.herbster@sbcglobal.net, Area 1
Pam Rowe, Alpha Epsilon, Newark, pjrowe42@att.net, Area 2
Michelle Turek, Beta Upsilon, Lake in the Hills, crismich@sbcglobal.net, Area 2
Janice Kaufman, Omicron, Mendota, jljkaufman@yahoo.com, Area 4
 Linda Davidson, Beta Epsilon, Moline, foxetwo@aol.com, Area 5