Friends Groups Notes from the Friends Support Group September 2006

Friends Support Group Notes | September 22, 2006
Topic: Recruitment & Retention

Handouts:

• “Why People Volunteer,” Susan Ellis, “Why Volunteer?,” Energize, Inc. [http://www.energizeinc.com]
• FOLUSA Fact Sheet #18: Getting and Keeping Members
• FOLUSA Fact Sheete #20: A Checklist for Board Strategic Planning
• Prospective Board Member Information Form
• National Friends of Libraries Week (October 22-28, 2006)

Facilitated Discussion Notes:

Laying the Groundwork for Success:

• Strategic Planning
• Set goals
• Define what your group does [*See “What are area Friends doing?” section below]
  • 3 main roles of Friends Groups: Advocates, Volunteers, Fundraisers
• Volunteer Management
• Orientation and training
• General
• Event specific (i.e. book sale)
• Membership Brochure
• Clearly explains the purpose of the Group
• Identifies ways to get involved
• Ex: check-off boxes to indicate how they want to be involved (i.e. book sorter, program support, mailings, etc.)
• See sample brochures
• “Giving” vs. “Participating” Friends
• Dues structure
• Examples: $10 Family / $5 individual + “benefits” – membership card; 5 levels spanning $10-$100; business level = $100+
• “Dues used to run the Friends organization; Fundraising dollars go to support the library directly.”
• Deb Begley – Graphic Designer @ MHLS: dbegley@midhudson.org; 845.471.6060 x 22
• Web Site for the Friends
• email address fro the Friends Board
• upcoming programs and events
• membership info
• cross-linked with library
• Examples of Friends Groups web sites
• Operating agreement or memorandum of understanding between the Friends and the library board (sample available upon request from Rebekkah: rsmith@midhudson.org)

Who Are the People That Get Involved With Friends Groups?

• Love the library
• Want to support the library in any way they can
• Readers
• Value a sense of community
• Want the library to be central in the community
• Want to ensure the future of the library

Getting People to Come to Meetings / Get Involved & Stay Involved:

• Ask!
• Personal connections – face-to-face
• Who are the heavy users of the library?
• What would attract someone to join?
• WIFM = What’s in it for me?
• For example: Social group, meet new people, give back to the community, family volunteering opportunity, etc.
• “Each one bring one”
• Food
• Defined end time for meetings
• Be specific about
• Time commitments
• What is involved in a specific task
• Use a “calling corps” to help keep people involved; don’t overburden one person with making phone calls
• Match people’s skills with tasks that need to be done – “the right person for the right job”

What are area Friends doing?
(…besides book sales)

Fundraising
-Selling items ( like stationery, calendars, and tote bags)
-Penny Social
-Flea Market
-Art Sale
-Antiques appraisal
-50/50 Raffle
-Capital campaign involvement

Membership / Advocacy
-Membership drive using e-mail
-Booth @ community street fair
-Help with annual survey

Cooperation / Collaboration: Amongst area Friends groups; amongst other nonprofits, schools; and Local businesses

Programming
-Using fundraising dollars to support library programming
-Music programming @ bar / restaurant
-Sponsor Summer Reading Program
-Mystery Discussion Group
-Authors events
-Bus trips
-Co-sponsored events
-Provide food at library events

Misc.
-Monitor voting booth

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