District Global Membership Strategy
Objectives for Clubs:
- Increase Community Visibility and Engagement:
- Enhance community service projects to attract attention and interest, potentially increasing membership. Key strategies include:
- Public engagement through impactful and diverse service projects.
- Promote club activities and successes, especially during ‘March Membership Month’.
- Encourage members to wear uniforms to boost visibility.
- Foster Collaboration Among Clubs:
- Promote interaction and teamwork among clubs rather than competition through:
- Regular communication and joint initiatives.
- Encouraging club visits and collaborative projects.
- Engage Younger Demographics:
- Lower the average age of club members by:
- Creating specialty and e-clubs that appeal to younger individuals.
- Identifying and empowering energetic leaders who can drive youth engagement.
- Focusing on issues relevant to younger demographics like environmental conservation and climate change, exemplified by initiatives like the Next Generation Club in Melbourne.
- Support and Expand Smaller Clubs:
- Implement targeted support for smaller clubs to help increase their membership, potentially through:
- Designating ‘Guiding Lions’ or ambassadors specialising in supporting small clubs.
- Conduct community needs assessments to better align club activities with local interests.
- Encourage Existing Clubs to Establish New Branches:
- Motivate clubs to consider opening new branches with unique focuses, such as:
- Exploring new geographical areas like Gunnedah.
- Hosting special events, like the Forrest Club’s soup festival in Western Victoria.
- Increase Specialty Club Formation:
- Promote the creation of clubs with specific interests to cater to diverse hobbies and needs, such as environmental, quilting, choral, and surfing clubs.
- Improve Gender Diversity:
- Aim for a more balanced gender representation within clubs, reflecting the demographic that 50% of the population in Australia is female.
- Boost Female Leadership:
- Enhance female participation in leadership roles through:
- Proactive recruitment and training within the district.
- Encouraging external professional development.
- Renew District Leadership:
- Transition towards new leadership within the district cabinet, aiming for 80% new members within the next 3-5 years.
- Develop a Membership Plan:
- Encourage clubs to devise and implement a robust membership strategy that includes:
- Annual planning and significant recruitment drives.
- Training Initiatives:
- Plan for upcoming Guiding Lion training sessions in the district’s southeast, with a special session for Past District Governors; dates to be confirmed.