Membership: The Art of Information and Invitation

Welcome to the CUC Wiki’s membership section. To help people find what they’re looking for faster, this information is organized according to Art Brewer’s stages of membership, including:

Stage 1: Attract New Visitors

Stage 2: Welcome Visitors

Stage 3: Engage Newcomers

Stage 4: Involve New Members

Stage 5: Retain Members

NEW: UCV has a model for several sub-committees. Just ask.

New! For those who were at the ACM worshop on membership!

A copy of the speakers' notes

New! A comprehensive guide to the First Victoria Newcomers' process. The First Victoria Newcomers' process is an excellent and thorough process, described here in careful detail by Lisa Greenley. This document walks you through each step (relevant pamphlets are organized by membership stage on the wiki). The First Victoria process is most suitable for largish congregations, although everyone will find something they can use in these materials.

http://canadian-unitarian-council.pbwiki.com/f/UCV_membership_overview.pdf

When it comes to growth, it can be helpful to identify and work on your “weakest link”. Having a great program to welcome visitors isn’t useful if nobody knows you’re there. Having a great presence in the community is of limited use if you have no welcome waiting for new people when they come. If you aren’t sure where to start, this sheet from the CUC might help.

http://canadian-unitarian-council.pbwiki.com/f/Membership_Integration_Assessment.pdf

Other general resources that might be of use to you are: From the CUC:

CUC information on growth programs, including information on starting a new group, links to the Helping Unitarian Universalists Grow newsletter, and more!:

http://www.cuc.ca/programs/congregational_wellness.htm#GROWTH_PROGRAMS

The CUC Newcomer’s page, including information for people new to UUism:

http://www.cuc.ca/newcomers/index.htm

From the UUA:

Everything you could possibly want to know about growth (this is very comprehensive and will be most useful to congregations with a well established greeting program who are wanting to take the next step. Smaller congregations might find it overwhelming and quite frankly a little depressing!)

http://www.uua.org/cde/handbook/index.html#IV

All the documents needed by a membership committee (again, this is very comprehensive, and another “next step” resource):

http://www.uua.org/interconnections/membership/allthedocs.html

The information on these websites can be overwhelming. If you’re looking for someone to answer questions, you are bubbling with new ideas that you want to bounce off of someone, or you just feel like eavesdropping on some conversations about membership, join in on the national coversation on this listserve:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cuc-membership/

The CUC also has established a group of volunteers ready to answer questions, offer ideas, and be a solid person to talk to. For more information, see http://www.cuc.ca/whos_who/sc_contacts.htm

As with all pages on the Wiki, please feel free to add ideas from your own congregation!

Liz James (LizJames@shaw.ca)