[Nfbwv-talk] Sharing Membership Activities

[Smyth, Charlene R]

Greetings Felow Federationists:

Below is membership activities the Arizona affiliate does and I just wanted to share it with you.

Charlene

Arizona Recruitment Tips
Arizona has attributed our membership growth to our strategic focus on cultivating and maintaining partnerships within the Arizona system of blindness. The NFBA has positioned itself to develop relationships with hundreds of new blind people each year. We began with the small success of encouraging just one professional to attend our national convention and have developed into a system wide approach to interacting with all new applicants of the rehabilitation system.
The following are activities that Arizona uses to encourage blind Arizonans to learn more:

1.        The NFBA offers free advocacy training to nearby training centers, as most do not offer direct advocacy training. This can be on-going, or a one-time day-long seminar. If we can open the door for discussion with newly blind students we yield the same types of excitement that we get in our own centers.

2.       We invite all students who have received our advocacy training to practice their skills at our Phoenix Seminar. We then follow that up by encouraging them to attend their local chapter meeting, where they can be part of the process of furthering our agenda. We have found that including a meal supports participation, and so have incorporated that into many of our events.

3.       We invite all students who attended our advocacy trainings to attend our White Cane day at the state capital. Lunch will be provided to encourage participation. We also use this opportunity to advertise the up-coming November training seminar.

4.       Arizona offers free professional development seminars to blindness professionals at many of our events, including our State Convention. We offer a variety of sessions from NFB news line training to explaining how to access NFB resources such as free white canes, and slates and styluses. We have found that professionals respond positively to the word "free," and have used free trainings to take the first step in engaging these professionals and beginning our conversation with them.  We hold a rehabilitation professionals division breakout session where our VR Counselors get continuation credits at state convention. Thus encourages Rehabilitation counselors to attend and the more the counselors stay in touch, the more they think of us as their resource.

5.       The NFBA also encourages participation from those that are part of the older blind program. We have become part of the Vocational Rehabilitation orientation process as well as part of the information and referral process.

6.       The NFBA dives in and attends the state AER conference.  We may be holding a session to talk about the state NFB BELL academy, as well as all the NFB youth activities like summer programs, STEM activities and all we have to offer.   If nothing else, we get a table or just wonder around and hand out our promotional materials to every teacher we meet.  We encourage teachers who have acknowledged the differences in their students after attending our summer activities to talk to their peers.

7.       Arizona Sponsors key administrators to attend national convention.  We spend time with those key administrators in mentorship and introduce them to other like role models.

8.       Due to their exposure to our national and state conventions, Arizona Vocational Rehabilitation now partners with training centers or independently sends first timers to national and state NFB convention without question.  Additionally, Arizona Services for the Blind sends up to two new staff to the National convention each year as well as requires attendance at the NFBA state convention.

9.       SAAVI invites Chapter leaders to conduct a membership drive the week after NFB National Convention.  SAAVI pays first years dues and gathers all new members information into an excel sheet that delineates chapter division and all contact information and distributes to affiliate President and Treasurer.




Engagement Activities

1.        Arizona has developed an excel database with everyone who has been a member, who has attended a chapter meeting, and who receives our materials, such as NFB white canes, slates and stylus and/or publications.  We call everyone on the list twice per year and ask a series of questions (See attachment).  All existing members, new members, and perspective members are valuable and invited back regularly.  We only remove from the list those who expressly ask us to.

2.       We automatically add all who join to our President's list serve.  This means that they receive our monthly newsletter and the President's and Legislative Directors' messages. Each message lists suggestions for ways those interested can get involved. This list includes both big and small ways such as sending an email, donating a simple item to the NFB BELL Academy, and attending an event.

3.       The NFBA holds an annual National Convention Wrap-Up Party to celebrate convention successes and new friendships. A pool party, a barbecue, or an ice cream social are great social settings for this.

4.       Arizona holds an annual philosophy session at our State Convention that brings our message to members in an accessible and user-friendly way. We keep the theme of our message throughout the entire convention.

5.       We hold an annual, location-based leadership training for new and existing members to teach tangible and philosophical skills that strengthen our efforts. Additionally, we hold an annual state-wide philosophy session.

6.       The NFBA personally invites all NFB BELL ringers, their families, and all BELL mentors to a chapter picnic, to a chapter social activity/meeting in June, and to a Christmas party.  Speaking of Christmas parties.  Santa will surely show up if you invite him as well...

7.       We hold mentoring and/or social activities before and after chapter meetings that encourage multigenerational interaction. Examples of this are holding regular dinners out, and having students mentor seniors in the use of i-devices.

Schedule of Seasonal Activities
January:

*         Advertise for Phoenix Seminar

o   This is Arizona's Version of Washington Seminar where we converge on the state capital to advocate for state legislation.  NFBA does advocacy training with partnering training centers, like SAAVI, to teach the importance of advocacy.  The NFBA discusses the philosophy of the NFB and how the annual initiatives fit into that philosophy.
February:

*         Phoenix Seminar

o   This seminar is organized into 30 districts and Arizona typically has approximately 125 blind Arizona federationist and those learning about blindness advocacy who represent the districts from all over Arizona.
March:

*         Recruit newly trained NFB members to attend chapter meetings all over the state where we recap the successes from the Phoenix Seminar, and strategize for next steps.  Chapters are encouraged to include mentoring activities for that meeting like technology, letter writing, ETC.
April:

*         Chapter Picnics

o   Typically, April is a great time for chapters to host their annual picnics.  This is usually a highly attended event.  Cities where more than one chapter is present often combine events.
May:

*         Board Philosophy session

o   This day-long session is an open to all and transportation is arranged to bring members from all over the state to engage in a philosophy day. Of course, we also provide lunch for our participants.  Alternatively, the board may hold two sessions in various parts of the state.

June:

*         Focus on Parents

o   Arizona NFB BELL Academy occurs the first two weeks of June, making it the perfect time to hold an ice-cream social, or other family friendly activity at the local chapter meeting.
July:

*         National Convention

o    Arizona Vocational Rehabilitation partners with SAAVI and the Colorado Center for the Blind in sending first time convention goers who are enrolled in training.  Arizona typically brings upwards of 50 first timers.  The Arizona Association of Blind Students holds a pizza party at convention after the Arizona Caucus.
August:

*         Wrap-up party

o   Held by local chapters to bring all those who attended convention together with all chapter members to celebrate what we learned at convention.  Every attempt is made to provide transportation and other encouragement to those first timers who attended convention.  Activities may include pool parties, ice-cream socials, ETC.
September:

*         Arizona State Convention:

o   Our convention is required for all VR employees as well as all SAAVI students and staff.  Thursday night is dedicated to making federation philosophy available and accessible to all. Membership Recruitment and Engagement is responsible for developing a team that focuses on recruiting and energizing new members.
October:

*         Meet the Blind Month and White Cane Day:

o   Chapters are encouraged to engage new members from both conventions to participate in community activities, culminating at the State Capital for White Cane day.  White Cane Day is where Arizona reinforces the advocacy from the Phoenix Seminar and introduces advocacy initiatives from September convention resolutions.
November-December:

*         Training seminar

o   Chapter Road show and/or geographic training events focusing on hands-on mentoring in the areas of leadership skills training for all members.

December:

*         Christmas Parties:

o   Each chapter holds it's Christmas party where every effort is made to invite all new and prospective members from the year.  All bell ringers and their families participate as well.




Questions to ask on semi-annual calling campaign

1.       Is this your correct address?

2.       Is this your correct email?

3.       Is this the best number to reach you on?

4.       Does he/she receive the president's messages?

5.       Does he/she receive the Braille monitor?  Volunteer to help sign him/her up.

6.       Does he/she know how to receive a free white cane and/or slate and stylus?  Assist in signing him/her up if interested.

7.       Confirm the chapter that the member belongs or is nearest to?  Confirm he/she knows the name and contact of chapter president and chapter meeting times and locations.

8.       As if he/she enjoys the chapter meetings and if he/she has any ideas that will appeal more to his/her interests.

9.       Discuss various NFB divisions and ask if he/she is interested in learning more.

10.   Any other questions?





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