How to get new members for a orchid society?

[quiltergal]

Start a Facebook page. I did that for our society a few weeks ago. It's too soon to tell if it's helping or if it's even a place someone would go to look.

[RobS]

Organize a small exhibition or a repotting day at a local garden centre.

[Baz in Oz]

If you can get enough support from growers, hold an 'orchid show' as most clubs do.
At each of our club's annual shows, we raffle a wheelbarrow full of gardening accessories and sell raffle tickets outside our local chain store and hand out flyers with club membership application forms. It helps to have a display of flowering/foliage plants at the selling point.
Invite any local gardening clubs to to participate in your show etc.
Have a stall at your show in which members and others can sell surplus etc plants (at affordable prices) to the public.
Go to church twice on Sundays and hope for the best.

Baz

[silken]

Every year our city has a large garden show in the spring. It is well attended and our society's display is just one of many. But we always get new members as a result of it. Our display consists of members' flowering plants which are not for sale. We always have a sign up sheet available for interested people to sign up and then one of our members calls all of them to remind them when the next meeting date approaches.

[Yukonphal]

Would it be pushy to ask your "box store" greenhouse manager if you could but a little laminated Society "business" card in each of their orchid pots? Tell them that orchid entusiasts that learn how to grow properly buy more plants...

[goodgollymissmolly]

Same question we all have Bonnie. Unfortunately the same suggestions also. I don't think any of these are bad ideas, but they seem to fail repeatedly.

What is different now than 12 years ago when AOS had 30,000 members versus 10,000 now? Orchid shows were thriving and clubs also, not to mention vendors.

My opinion...a lousy economy and a virtually non-existent housing market. People without jobs or frightened about the one they have are not likely to be interested in hobbies. People who have lost or are losing homes won't be back in the hobby business for years if ever.

I wish I had a good answer or at least an optimistic attitude, but I don't. Just enjoy your hobby and hope for a miracle. ..an unlikely one since I'm not into miracles.

[ronaldhanko]

Originally Posted by goodgollymissmolly

Same question we all have Bonnie. Unfortunately the same suggestions also. I don't think any of these are bad ideas, but they seem to fail repeatedly.

What is different now than 12 years ago when AOS had 30,000 members versus 10,000 now? Orchid shows were thriving and clubs also, not to mention vendors.

My opinion...a lousy economy and a virtually non-existent housing market. People without jobs or frightened about the one they have are not likely to be interested in hobbies. People who have lost or are losing homes won't be back in the hobby business for years if ever.

I wish I had a good answer or at least an optimistic attitude, but I don't. Just enjoy your hobby and hope for a miracle. ..an unlikely one since I'm not into miracles.

Molly is right. It is really tough to get members compared to some years ago, and not only for Orchid Societies. Many organizations and clubs are failing for lack of members, and I am not sure it's just the economy. Someone suggested recently that it's due to the fact that there is so much information available on the web that people see no need to go to the meetings of a club or society, and that younger folk are so busy with the electronic media that they have little time for such organizations. I'm inclined to agree in view of the fact that most members of such clubs are now older people. We have tried everything to get new members for our small society and nothing seems to work.

[jrodpad]

I agree with quilter - a Facebook page and twitter account will do much of the work of attracting new members for you. Social media is a powerful tool for organizing people if used correctly. It will surely have a greater impact among younger more tech savvy folks, buy hopefully, they'll tell their parents and word of mouth will do the rest.

Good luck!

-J

[Leafmite]

You have to sell membership's benefits. We had over thirty people join at our last show. We are a small society so that was really amazing. Here are some points to consider. It isn't the electronics but rather time, money, and stress. The younger generations work more hours for less money and are often trying to balance the active schedules of their offspring, along with their jobs. You have to help potential members see the benefits.
1) We gave out a free paph to everyone who joined at our show.
2) Membership is only $20 for individuals, $30 for families
3) We told people about the free
Christmas orchids given out for being a member, two for a family membership. What a bargain! Two orchids for twenty, three for thirty! The younger people really appreciate freebies!
4) Tell them about the plant sales, raffles, dinners, and anything else that is fun.
5) Be enthusiastic and friendly. Let these people know they are welcome.
6) Don't understaff the welcome table. Have people there to focus on visitors. I think many younger people are seeking a community where they feel welcome. Make your orchid society such a place. My teens are highly aware of when they are treated rudely or ignored and when they are treated with kindness and respect. I think everyone is.
7) Advertise! For our show, I asked every florist/greenhouse to put up signs. I asked to put them elsewhere. Many people have no idea that there are orchid societies and orchid societies in their area. I found ours by the website and the address/google/posted meeting dates and times were vital. Others have found us the same way.
Good luck!

[calypsoB]

Well, I do agree that getting people to spend money in a tough economy is hard, I do know that when people are down on luck they tend to regroup and put more energy into family and social systems. Is there a way to market networking and community? Successful groups seem to be about more than just the subject matter.