Just what does membership mean?

Membership in any organization has three aspects: obligation, duty and responsibility. No matter what organization you join - a church, a civic or business association, or a fraternal club - you are expected to contribute something to that organization. After all, if you did not want to be a member, you would not have joined. Well, membership in our Society, and in your chapter, carries these same obligations, duties and responsibilities.

As a member of your chapter, obligations of membership include learning your notes and words, regular attendance at meetings and public performances, and general support of the chapter. Support for your chapter, the duties which one must fulfill, can have many faces, too: Helping to transport and set up risers, selling tickets for performances (which earn money for the operation of the chapter), and serving on a committee are just a few examples.

But new member recruitment is a membership aspect to which we all have a responsibility. New members are the lifeblood of the Society and of your chapter. You visited your chapter, decided this was something you wanted to do, so you joined and became a member. By taking that step you automatically accepted all the obligations, duties and responsibilities associated with that membership.

So, now it is time for you to respond to one of those responsibilities - by doing your part to recruit a new member. Society statistics show that if each member would recruit just one new member every seven years, the Society would grow by nearly two percent a year! Set a goal to talk to at least one new person a week about barbershop, and don't forget to ask him to visit your chapter.

We have something no one else has - each other! Think of how happy you could make someone by introducing him to this wonderful hobby of ours.

Take time to talk to someone, this week, and ask him to attend your chapter meeting, too. Remember: Your district has someone in it, your district vice president of member services, who can be of help in your reaching this goal. Please contact him, and let him know you want to do your part to fulfill not only the obligations and duties of membership, but the responsibilities of it, too.