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"If you build it . . .” ...conrinued from page 7 So, it is from these four groups - The Newcomers. The Locals. The Oldie Goldies and The Contemporaries - now living in rural Ontario from which the WI can recruit new members. But. how can you attract them tojoin the WI? Which of these groups would be attracted to your Branch? In my Branch. Hillier WI in Prince Edward District. we decided many years ago to continue with afternoon meetings. With this decision. we regretfully accept the fact that women who hold day jobs - The Contemporaries - cannotjoin us. But on the positive side. there are three available groups. What does Hillier WI. a Branch that has swelled their membership to 35 in the last few years. do? What is their secret? Cer- tainly nothing new! But I like to call II the PM Solution. In my WI vocabulary the P stands for Program. the M for Marketing. In the movie “Field of Dreams“ the mes- sage is clear: “If you build it. they will come." How simple! llyttu build an inter- esting. varied program. attractive to all .these target groups. long-time incitibers will remain. and new members - “they will come." How do you devise this program? Not by a Program Committee as suggested by the Handbook. but by a “Committee ol'the Whole." Have your whole membership choose the program and have fun doing it. As Program Coordinator for the Hillier WI. I maintain a file folder ol'clippings. pamphlets and ideas tetc.) that [accumu- late throughout the year. I write these topics on small pieces ol‘ paper and scpav rate the 50 to 60 ideas into the six program areas as listed in the Handbook. Our May meeting is dedicated to choosing. by con sensus. the next year's program. Our roll call “What activtty would you like to see included in the coming year?" provides additional ideas. Now what? Each member is giten IS pennies to place on the IS topics she would enjoy. The only rule is that at least one of the pennies tnust be spent on one topic in each of the six program areas. Program ideas with few or no pennies are discarded. The pennies are retrieved and by repeating the process with fewer pen~ nies each round. you eventually end up with eight to ten programs from the di- verse areas - programs that your members have literally “bought into!" With this method comes a willingness for more members to take responsibility for develâ€" oping the ideas into roll calls and programs. But remember. no matter how good a program you have. it'you don‘ttell people about it. they won't join your group. Hence. M - which stands for marketing. How do you market? If you are fortuâ€" nate, like Hillier W]. you nurture one of your members who has the interest. skills and time to make sure that Hillier activi- ties appear regularly in all the papers. Our PRO. Joyce Brown. doesn't recite the same old. tired reports that focus primar~ ily on the business meeting. Her reports focus on the positive and interesting tic- tivities that have occurred. .loyce always highlights l‘uture plans. extends an invita~ tion to new people to jitln and notes a phone number and cotitact name for each meeting. When you read her reports you say “Wow. tltis group sounds interesting and tun toJoin." or as Joyce puts it. “We are movers and shakers." How do you markcl'.‘ You make surc you approach The Newcomers. 'l'hc Locals. 'l'lte Oldie Goldies and The Con- temporaries. Tell them about your WI and leave them a copy of your program. ll' each member takes the responsibility to target a neighbour. lrtcnd. niece or cousin our Branches would he doubling in size. How do you market" When visitors attend they observe a wellergani/cd meeting With proper parliamentary pmcc~ dunes in use. at business session that doesn't interfere with the planned prlr grant. anexecutive that gives all members an opportunity for input. and a lllTlC to socmli/c (not gossip!) alter the program. How do you rtiarkct'.’ Get involved in community activities. As a Women's In- stitute. gtvc back to your community in a positive manner. Remember. "good feel- ings. good press!“ It‘you are goingto fund raise for your Branch or your community make sure they are not nickel and dime efforts. lfihe activity does not give you a good return for your efforts, discard it! Your time is valuable. so he one of the leading groups in your community. So what is Hillier's secret to attracting new itietnbers‘.’ No sccrct at all. First. we have the prograttt. an interesting and var- ied one that appeals to all members. And secondly. or market it - each member takes every opportunity to personally market it. Then. make .sure your visitors feel welcome attd valued. The Law ol' Attraction is very powerttil. Whatever we arc - \vc attract to ourselves. Arc \vc (lyv nature or disinal‘.’ t )ut ol'toucli or oti- lttte‘.’ It's up to you. not your C\L‘L'Illl\’c or' your District or the provincial lcvcl. to make your WI sitcccssl’ul. l issue you the same challenge that Sir 1». "(lo I‘oi‘th and Conquer!“ It' you do the Women's Institute will prospcr at the Branch lcvcl i: lli‘uck issued to his lighting for; s: Pt‘ggy Bum-i. t‘roqiam Limit/iraitor, Nil/t0! Wt, l'ririrb .‘tlwnrd Iii l’i'.itst‘ Ul lllt' l\iiittt'|i's lllSllilllt‘ Row the hut Women‘s Institute rose our Branch purchased in 1996 was planted at the local Seniors Lentrt‘ where we helrl our meetings It died over the Winter Our setond rose bush was planted in the same place it gave its several blooms and lots oi (oniplrmortts let their beauty. aroma and Size lii1998,wo had 26 lovely blooms on the bush which grew nearly {we feet tall Ono bloom from the centre stem measured 4 1/2 inches across and was admired by all who saw it ll our Institute membership could grow and produce such good results. we would be grateiul. The Women's Institute Rose 15 a great tribute to us all. Submitted by Hole" ritunbtn, Aurora Wt, Vark Centre Home l. Country, Spring 1999 7