League of Women Voters Texas State League Convention

LWV Membership – Great in 2008!

Welcome

“When I think of the League…

I think” …(one word)

Agenda

Overview of Membership Recruitment Initiative Key Findings to Date Need to FOCUS Practice Messaging Fostering Skills/Best Practices Identifying Opportunities to Maximize 2008 Q & A

The Challenge

30-year membership decline

Can we do anything?

Our Research Discovered

•Media Scan Results

•LWV • Well Respected, Trusted

• Good Name Recognition

• BUT …No clear understanding of the Value of Membership in LWV

• No consistent messaging

•No “Magic Beans”

•Not Rocket Science

The Goal

Each local League

reach NET growth of 5%

Key Findings

Need to foster skills and develop natural ease with outreach

• Visibility, Marketing, Media• Building relationships is the key, but this

takes time and persistence• Asking is critical and is often overlooked

Training is essential to help build skill set and comfort

Key Findings

Teams are Important • State and Local Levels

• Total Board Responsibility

• Members - Ambassadors for LWV

Coaching Really Helps Consistent support Check in - accountability = SUCCESS

Key Findings

Personal Stories are Important

Sharing Messages through stories

Creation of the League Story Bank

Individual Members and Leagues using our stories

Key Findings

Importance of Focus/Target Audience To be EFFECTIVE with our limited

volunteer resources The MRI has helped to focus Boards

around a common goal Consistent messaging works Need to stress unique value of the LWV

Focus

•Intentional about membership

•Underscore the value of membership in the LWV

•Share passion for League and personal stories

•Consistently use messages

Target Audience

The average American is exposed to around 3,000 messages each day.

Target Audience

Retirement-aged (50-65 years old) women who have been engaged in civic issues.

Target Audience

• Care about health care, child care, elder care and affordable housing.

• Have more free time

• Interested in recreational and intellectual activities

• Believe in helping others

Messages

LWV is where hands-on work to safeguard democracy leads to civic improvement.

Message #1 – Value to tap: Want communities to be strong, safe and healthy

Message #2 – Value to tap: Want to have an impact outside the home after retirement

Message #3 – Value to tap: Want to continue to have opportunities to serve as a leader

Activity: Elevator Speech

What do you say?

• Who’s my Audience?

• What do they care about?

• How can I connect with them? (personal story & unique value of LWV)

Best Practices

Outreach

•Know your community

•Be visible

•Be externally oriented and inviting

Best Practices

Build relationships with

allied organizations and

media

Membership in ALL Activities

Maximizing Election 2008

Activity:Identifying opportunities

Q&A

Time is NOW - Pledge

2008 League Pledge

•Ask people to join!

•Follow through on the activities I’ve identified!

•Pursue all opportunities to build the League!

For the good of the League and ourDemocracy … I Pledge to:

Signature________________________________ Date________________