Smooth The Path

Member Informed Strategy, Innovation & Marketing

  • Home
  • Speaking
    • Presentations
    • Upcoming Events
    • Happy Event Organizers
    • Happy Participants
  • Resources
    • Virtual Networking Incubator Roundup
    • Associations of the Future
    • New Member Engagement Study
    • Association Industry Innovation Research Study
    • New Strategies for Member Onboarding, Engagement, and Retention E-book
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

August 14, 2015 By Amanda Kaiser

Association Chapters: This is What Members Wonder

bees belonging 2

Before potential or new members go to their first chapter event here is what they are wondering:

  • Will I like them and will they like me?
  • Will I feel at home with this group?
  • Will I make friends?
  • Are they like me?
  • Will I belong?

We get so focused on providing value, picking the speaker and packing the agenda that we forget the belonging piece. For new members to feel like they belong they have to connect. To connect they need time with each other which is tough when every single second is filled with programming. Open networking time, however, is awkward for potential and new members. Friends gravitate to friends leaving new members feeling like they are the only one in the room who doesn’t know anyone.

Instead we might try to create guided discussions with a purpose. Roundtables, master mind groups and discussion circles all fit the bill. These formats give potential members a chance to see that current members are just like them. And, an added benefit, this gives long-time members a chance to talk about some of the and issues they care about the most.

Related:

  • Why you want members to belong not just join
  • The feeling of member belonging is up to us
  • Joining verses belonging

Filed Under: Chapter Tagged With: belong, belonging, connect, connection, discussion circles, first impression, first impressions, master mind group, roundtable

Follow

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Sign up for member insights & association inspiration.

Work With Me

Recent Posts

Association Strategy
Association Marketing
Association Innovation
Association Leadership
Association Value
Member Experience

Member Engagement
Member Research
Member Insights
Conference
Membership

Member Research

Blog

About

Happy Clients

Speaking

Popular Presentations

Contact Us

More Resources

Copyright © 2022 Amanda Kaiser