How to Recruit New Members

Recruiting new members is an important responsibility of every 4-H club.  New members keep the club active, strong, diverse, and open to new ideas.  There are a variety of ways to reach out to the community and attract new members; the guidelines below are helpful but not exhaustive.

WHERE TO RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS:

• Schools

-Distribute fliers to be sent home at the beginning of the year

-School share fair

-Youth giving demonstrations in classes at school

• Community

-Exhibits at community library

-Petting zoos at community events

-Newspaper articles and advertisements

-County Fair

• Word of mouth

-Talk to families and friends at sports events, church gatherings, etc.

INVITE NEW RECRUITS TO CLUB MEETING:

• Greet prospective members
• Introduce yourself by name
• Be available to answer questions all night
• Have current members share experiences with them
• Hand out written materials about the 4-H program, including your phone number

FOLLOW UP PHONE CALL:

• Call within 1 week after meeting new recruits have attended
• Ask if they have any questions
• Ask what part of the program they are interested in

-Arrange for a club leader in that area to contact them with more information

• Be sure they know the date and time of the next club event to attend