In retirement, Gale continues to serve her community as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), advocating for the rights and well-being of children within the legal system. She is also a passionate supporter of Zonta International, empowering women and girls globally.
Family is Gale’s cornerstone. She and her husband raised two biological children and welcomed an adopted 8-year old daughter from Russia into their loving family.

2021

How to Attract & Retain Members

• How to Conduct Virtual Recruiting
  Virtual Recruiting Workshop Take-aways
  https://youtu.be/4pfqy70JrSc
• Membership Retention Handout and info at https://membership.zontadistrict1.org/retention/
• How to Increase Diversity and Inclusion in our Membership – Part 1/2
  How to Increase Diversity and Inclusion Handout
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJnu86W6Rr4
• How to Grow Zonta with New Clubs, E-Clubs.
• 100 Ideas to Recruit and Maintain Members

How to Build Confidence & Skills

• How to Practice Conflict Management Skills
• How to Recognize and Build on Core Competencies for Zonta Leadership
• How to Create and Use Effective PowerPoint Presentations
• How to be a Nurturing Leader

Attendees: Lt. Gov. Donna Raycraft, Mary Knight, Diane Lestage, Joan Lanzillo-Hahesy, Jayma Hall and Seren Derin
Membership Chairs Missing: Bonnie Haghkerdar, Maida Follini, Nicole LaMattina, Dana Fraser, Lisa Emery, Regina Caines, Janice
Tatarka
Donna Raycraft called the meeting to order at 6:05. She welcomed Jackie from the Berkshire Club and asked each attendee to report
on the number of current members. Berkshire – 30, Chelsea No. Shore – 18, Concord – 33, Northampton – 9, Quaboag – 20.
Next, we watched a 40 minute video called How to Recruit and Retain Younger Members. All clubs are encouraged to watch with
interested members. It is filled with great ideas on how to plan for and approach younger members, and how to engage and retain
them. It is posted at https://membership.zontadistrict1.org/recruitment/
Feedback from attendees was very positive and generated some additional ideas to try in their clubs. Joan reminded us to try to leap
frog: get 50 year olds on board – they know 40 year olds who know 30 year olds, etc.
HOMEWORK – an idea from the video is to check your website from a phone (as younger members do) and see what 1st impression it
makes. NOTE from Mary Knight – contact info@zontadistrict1.org if you need help with sprucing up that home page. .

The next meeting is June 5th at 6pm EST, 7pm AST

We adjourned at about 7:08
Sincerely, Mary Knight, Notetaker

District Membership Meeting  April 3, 2023

*Mary Knight is on vacation, and no one wanted to take her place because her notes are impeccable.  By default, these are Donna Raycraft’s notes.  She asks that members correct any information that is incorrect because sometimes Donna gets caught up in a conversation and forgets she is supposed to be writing it down.

1. This month’s discussion was centered on ideas to draw prospective new members to attend a meeting.  We were to bring ideas that we have used or ideas that we plan on doing.  And if we had none, we were to come to listen to ideas we could appropriate.
2. Diane (Concord NH) talked about the club’s plan to have their usual presence at Market Days selling used books but also having a table with a whiteboard listing not only all of our accomplishments but also the current members.  We talked about the lure of that being that if someone recognizes the name of a current member, the more inviting it would be to come to a meeting.  For most people, it’s hard to join a group if you don’t know someone in it.  She also said that the club had ordered pins saying “Ask me what Zonta is” that all the book sellers and the tabling people will wear.  The question was asked wondering where to buy the pins.  Donna said she’d find out and mail the info out to people.
3. Seren (Northampton)noted that her club has members, especially older ones, who do not show up for meetings. She thought about what would make old members, as well as prospective members, attend.  She came up with the idea of having very interesting, motivating, and well-known speakers.  She added that older members don’t attend for a variety of reasons, and it’s up to us to reach out to them.  We all agreed that our mission as membership chairs was not only to recruit new members but also to retain current members.
4. Joan (Chelsea and North Shore) said her club gives out gift cards to 5 high schools in their area for families who are experiencing food insecurity. It was pointed out to them that a lot of organizations help out around the Christmas season, but they forget that they are food insecure all the time and that there are spring holidays (Easter, Ramadan, Passover) when people need help.  So the club decided to double their giving…$300 worth at Christmas and another $300 to each school in $50 increments in the spring.  The school administrator was so impressed that she joined the club on the spot.
5. Maida (Halifax) explained that they used to do a very large awards banquet that cost a lot of money to put on that they recouped by charging admission. However, with dwindling numbers, it became a cost to the club instead of revenue.  They give awards to community college students so now give a smaller banquet on the college campus.  School administrators and all college students are invited, as are all potential new members.  She also said they have recently learned that tabling is inexpensive, productive, and needs few people to staff.  They plan one for either June or in the fall to take place in a busy mall.
6. We talked about the universal fact that our clubs are aging which impacts the likelihood of younger members joining. Maida (Halifax) mentioned that one of their scholarship awardees joined the club, and her boyfriend does the technical aspects of the hybrid meetings. Joan (Chelsea North Shore) described her club’s new approach, which all the rest of us marveled at the reverse decade chain.  Joan explained that they have members in their 70s who know people in their 60s who they could bring in.  Those new members in their 60s probably know people in their 50s who they could recruit.  And the new members in their 50s could bring in people they know who are in their 40s.  We all agreed that with intentionality this could be a great campaign. Seren (Northampton) noted that our aging membership is not inviting to younger people.  And also that they see retirees as “professional”.  We agreed that it was a good thing that ZI omits that word from our description because all women are professionals whether they know it or not.

7. Donna (Concord Club/Lt. Gov/District membership chair) suggests that membership chairs pull in the publicity committee to get the word “Zonta” in the paper as much as possible: announce the availability of a scholarship, then the announcement of the winner, an announcement of events.  Joan mentioned that they have a contact at one of their newspapers who willingly put in everything they offer.  Donna suggested that because newspapers are dying and have fewer and fewer reporters on staff, often if community members write an article themselves, the paper will print it.  She suggested an article about the history of Zonta.  Joan said they wrote something a number of years ago that is very long but could be edited down.  Jayma (Northampton) suggested that it could be broken down into three separate articles.  Seren (Northampton) asked if after Joan writes it would she share it with all the membership chairs, and Joan agreed.

8. It was agreed all around that club’s regular fundraising events are ways to introduce club membership to already supporters. Donna shared that they often invite one of the recipients of our community college scholarship to tell her story at their well-attended holiday auction.  It’s always a compelling story and invites donations…why not couple that with an invitation to join.  Jayma said that the lure is always in the story.

9. It was mentioned several times that these monthly meetings are interesting and helpful.

The meeting ended at 7:05.  As Donna was writing these notes, Janice Severance, who ordered the Ask Me About Zonta pins answered her text.  Her answer:  www.stickermule.com.

Attendees: Lt. Gov. Donna Raycraft, Mary Knight, Maida Follini, Diane Lestage, Dana Fraser, Lisa Emery, Regina Caines, Janice Tatarka
Membership Chairs Missing: Bonnie Haghkerdar, Rosanne Frieri, Nicole LaMattina, Jayma Hall, Joan Lanzillo-Hahesy

Donna Raycraft called the meeting to order at 6:05.   She checked in with each member and thanked us for coming to share and learn

Add Your Voice Campaign in April, May.  https://membership.zontadistrict1.org/recruitment/
Set an intention to mention your affiliation with ZONTA – talk about your experiences and try to sign up as many individuals as possible. They pay full membership for 2024 and get April and May free. This page has useful tools, suggestions, posters, etc.
More voices are needed to hep build a better world for women and girls.

Great resource for you (and all members” of your club) – Please Share Membership.ZontaDistrict1.org
Take a tour!  We have accumulated some good information for clubs to use as resources and tools.  Ask members to each choose a tab and report back on what they found useful and why.

Ideas Shared

• Including “Membership” on the meeting agenda is helpful for keeping the topic front and center. Be enthusiastic and share things you learn from this meeting and the membership.ZontaDistrict1.org website.
• Tabling opportunities are a great way to share info about Zonta. SHARE A TABLE WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION!
• If you club needs a great handout – contact Mary to get a new brochure she has printed – 25 for $15.
• When your club gives out money for causes in your community, suggest members of those organizations should join Zonta
• Use Facebook to share events, activities, education awards, new members, achievements of all sorts. “Borrow” posts from ZI and other clubs. Ask members to comment and share. Not a FB person?  Find someone in or out of the club who would be willing to spend 15 minutes every couple of weeks – make them honorary Zontians!
• Send letters to the editor about events or issues your club is advocating for. Get Zonta’s name out there.
• News releases to local papers – the public needs to hear the name ZONTA lots of times to finally sink in!
• Invite past education awardees to join your club or the new e-Club!
• Invite BUSY people to join. If they really care about gender equality, they will find the time.
• Retired members may not have coworkers they can invite, but they still have networks to tap. Think about folks in church, social clubs, services and shops you frequent, etc.

The next meeting is April 3^rd  at 6pm EST, 7pm AST
Note:  Mary is out of town that day – notetaker needed.

We adjourned at about 7:00

Sincerely, Mary Knight, Notetaker

Attendees: Lt. Gov. Donna Raycraft, Mary Knight, Maida Follini, Diane Lestage, Jayma Hall, Joan Lanzillo-Hahesy
Membership Chairs Missing: Dana Fraser, Bonnie Haghkerdar, Rosanne Frieri, Nicole LaMattina, Regina Caines

Donna Raycraft called the meeting to order at 6:08.   She reminded us that next to the Club Nomination Committee (responsible for succession planning), Membership is the most important role for a successful club.  She thanked us for coming to share and learn.

New Materials – Mary shared a new District Membership Application and Brochure, that can be used by clubs as well – especially if your club does not currently have these materials. Please review and provide feedback on suggested edits and uses. Mary will get the price for printing the colorful trifold brochure.

Videos – Donna shared videos on Tabling and ‘Zonta – Then and Now’  – please review with your committee/club and discuss how they might be used. We will discuss it next month.

Recruiting – Attendees shared the current number of members and their recruiting goal for this biennium.  Chelsea (17 to 20), Concord (33 to 38+), Halifax (9 to 15), Northampton (9 to 15), and Quaboag (17 to 22).   Joan shared that the only successful outreach has been personal invitations; tabling, news releases, fundraising events, generous donations to good causes have been good for exposure, but have not attracted new members.

Retention – We all agreed that keeping current members engaged and feeling appreciated is critical. Jana shared that the Northampton President sends birthday cards to members from the club. Concord has tried ‘spotlighting’ a member (with a flashlight) and recognizing an accomplishment. Quaboag has highlighted members in their newsletter and may try that again.

Challenges – In-person meetings have gotten expensive (finding a suitable meeting space with food) and driving in the dark is an issue for some members. Joan’s club is trying lunch meetings. Other clubs are doing virtual or hybrid to accommodate members. Jayma raised the issue of getting new recruits involved right away. Mary suggested Mentoring tools and Onboarding Checklist on the www.membership.zontadistrict1.org site.

The next meeting is March 6 at 6pm EST, 7pm AST

We adjourned at about 7:00

Sincerely, Mary Knight, Notetaker

See also:
Membership Procedures (DRAFT)
OnBoarding Checklist (DRAFT)
How to be a Mentor – Leadership training
District Brochure
District Membership Application

One club used this on FB and Instagram and held it the week after Thanksgiving. It was horrible weather and we still had a nice little showing, gained 4 members and for sure some new supporters.  Open House would work in a home as well.