The
Call of the Wild
By
Marge Zimmerman, Vermillion Valley Chorus, Region 5
Membership!
Membership! Membership! Have you heard it? It’s echoing from
the hills to the valleys. Just like the wolves of the American Northwest,
the Sweet Adeline choruses are calling out for others.
Some of us are concerned with retention — keeping all of those
valuable members on the risers year after year. Others are clamoring
to bring in enough new members to recharter without a hitch. Many
of us worry about both, or just want to be a bigger chorus!
Why? Why is this such a major concern? Is it just your chapter?
Is it just your region? Is it just Sweet Adelines? Rest assured
— you have plenty of company. Indeed, many similar types of
organizations are struggling too. And, much of the Sweet Adelines
network is dealing with membership worries. Most of us fit right
in the pattern with more and more small choruses and only a few
large one within our boundaries. The larger ones fight to keep up
their membership and the smaller ones yearn for that stability and
big-sound quality.
What’s wrong with this picture? Possibly nothing. It’s
OK to be a small or mid-sized chorus if you are happy where you
are. It’s OK to have 70 voices rather than 100 if that’s
where your chorus is comfortable. It’s OK to be pushing 150
voices if that fits your chorus goals. Sweet Adelines is, after
all, a hobby. But we all know that it is a hobby with a lifestyle
… and it is not suited for just anybody. We come together
to learn the art of 4-part harmony, barbershop style, and to share
it with others. If your chorus is working together to improve its
musical quality and your members are happy, then you are indeed
growing!
Still, you say, you don’t want to stay at that number —
even if it is OK. That’s fine, too. Then do something about
it. You’ve heard that before, haven’t you?! Why then,
if we want to grow and know we have to do something about it, don’t
we? There are a lot of very talented and creative women out there.
If the old membership ideas don’t work anymore, put those
women to work in creating some new ones. There are many approaches
that will work for your chorus. Believe it! They are working. Ask
(chorus name). Ask (chorus name). Ask (chorus name).
The problem is often that even though we have the desire and probably
the talent, we don’t know where to start. Here are some suggestions:
1. Talk to each other. The chorus must be of one
mind as to the ultimate goal. It has to be a 100 percent commitment.
Talk about it!
2. Plan a campaign (not just “a night”)
together and well in advance. All committees should work toward
a common goal.
3. Involve everyone — each member must feel
the responsibility for your success. Don’t forget that the
director is an integral part!
4. Survey all of your past methods. What worked?
Update that and try again. What didn’t work? Revamp the whole
idea or simply scrap it.
5. Have several “think tanks.” Split
the entire chorus into small groups and brainstorm all kinds of
ideas. Let each group refine its best ones and present them to the
chorus (or maybe to the membership committee). Choose the best one(s)
and make a written plan of action.
6. Make sure every member knows exactly what is
expected of her and what resources she has in her at her disposal.
She will need to know what, when, why, where and how. Give lots
of public kudos as the plan progresses.
7. Continuously evaluate what is being accomplished
— make adjustments.
8. Get help if you want or need it:
a. Call a growing chorus. They will probably be
proud to share some ideas.
b. Contact your regional membership coordinator.
She knows lots of good stuff.
c. Use the resources from headquarters: The Diva
Program, The Membership Toolkit, etc.
d. Go to the regional membership workshops and
classes.
e. Talk to other chorus members at regional events.
9. Follow through with all aspects of your campaign.
Don’t let the plan falter.
10. Work hard to keep each other “psyched
up.” This is the key to your success.
11. Build fun into your campaign. If you look at
it as a burdensome task, it probably will be.
12. Celebrate your successes along the way.
So as you hear that forlorn “call of the wild” from
one corner of our Sweet Adeline world to the other, remember that
you don’t see too many lone wolves! Persistence pays off.
Work together to make this a year of growth, of every kind. It can
be done. It is being done. YOU can do it too.
