Membership recruitment - it never ends

Barbershop chapters experience all kinds of results as they strive to keep their membership rosters from decreasing to near nonexistence. One thing that is required to keep a chapter from starting down the road to annihilation is an active membership program. This does not mean one membership person to do all the work involved, but a group of people working together with a common goal: Increasing the number of active singing members. Notice the term active. These are the folks who attend most meetings and performances, and the ones keeping the chapter going.

Our Society roster indicates some 40 members, but the active roster shows fewer than 30 men. Contests and performances see attendance in the low 20s. Simply put, we need more active members. Now, since Membership begins with me, I'll tell you what happened to me not too long ago.

Chris and I went out for dinner recently. After dinner, we chatted with another couple seated near us. My conversation turned to asking the man if he could sing. He answered, "Not really," but told me that he did sing in a play recently; thought it over and said he did have a pretty good voice. I suggested that if he was interested he should pay us a visit some Tuesday night and gave him my card. He was shocked and amazed at my offer, but indicated that he will be starting a new business shortly and planned to get married soon. He did seem excited about our conversation. At least a seed has been planted.

That's what it takes to find new members. The person, the conversation, and then the pitch. It won't work all the time, but it could produce results. That's how many men become members - association and conversation. What brought you into the chapter? Put it to work and use it to get someone else to a meeting.

We've got to grow. It's a matter of survival. We cannot survive by remaining static. Natural and unnatural attrition will take its toll. Sitting around and waiting for the other guy to do something about it has not worked in the past and it's not going to happen now. To insure what you are doing now will continue you and I must do more toward increasing membership than we have since the beginning of the year.

Talk to people - tell them about your hobby - find ways to introduce them to barbershopping. If you don't, it is not just your pastime that will fade away, there will be no opportunity to present to others what you are enjoying today.