Try, Try and Try Again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the time of year clubs put together programs.  Make them interesting, and make every third month special; so that you will intentionally want to invite guests.  They like that program, their curiosity will be piqued, and they will come back.  Try it!

 Try the swirly slide instead of the plain up and down slide for a change.  Some ideas that your club might try:  Try having your program first; then your business will automatically be short, (because all will be in a hurry to leave.)  Try having an executive meeting before the meeting, this allows you to have a more brief business meeting during the regular meeting time. Try to prepare a few handouts of minutes and treasurer reports for those who are interested, allowing you to give only the bottom line information at meeting time.  Try putting reminders of dates on a calendar, or on those handouts.  People are busy and they are at meetings to learn and participate in projects.  Members want programs, not long business meetings.  Their time is precious.  They will socialize during refreshments, at the summer picnic, committee meetings and Holiday parties.  Interesting programs retain members, and encourage guests to return. 

We have two new clubs sharing our playground, and that is wonderful.  More playmates!  We welcome The Garden Club of New Harmony, with 29 members, who asked to join us, so they could work on beautification projects in their city.  Now all work is being done under one umbrella, and that is the Garden Club.  What a neat concept!

 We are equally excited to welcome The South Haven Herbal Garden Club, with 7 members, a club that is focused on Herbs.  They just want one little corner of the playground, but when they see what opportunities await them – they might be enticed to a bigger challenge.  If not, they will be content with expanding their spot on the corner under the shade tree.  That is not a bad thing, it just shows that each club has different strengths and this adds to the complete and exciting landscape of our playground.

 Now that you have your exciting programs, a revised business meeting; make plans to deliberately invite guests.  Make it a contest, a project, a goal, or just make it a point to encourage others to play in your garden club yard.  Make them feel welcome.  Invite them to return to the playground.  Encourage new members, new clubs, and new ideas.  This will make our playground more all-encompassing and more enticing for all.  Try it! 

 Large clubs, small clubs, older clubs, or brand new clubs, we all have the same goals.  Swirly slide, or up – down slide, it does not matter which we choose.  Just choose to enlarge and enrich our playground; then we can expand our knowledge and capabilities.  Try it, you’ll like it.

 

 Joyce Bulington,
Membership Chairman