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By Jane Cooper One More Member Every Year: Do We Gain or Lose? he Women‘s Institute (W1) is a member- based organization. The structure. bylaws. offices and executive are meaning- less without the members behind them. Many of the problems faced by the organization today are the result ofdeclining membership, In January of this year. Eastern Area circu- lath a questionnaire to stimulate discussion. collect membership statistics and generate ideas for attracting new members. Sixtyesix Branches answcrcdthe questionnaire,report- ing for 1.024 members or about two-thirds of the Area membership. This is an excellent statistical sample of Eastern Area. and the findings would probably be similar for much of Ontario. What follows are some of the findings: Branch size is steadily shrinking The average Branch membership has fallen steadily from 22 members in 1986 to 16 members in l9%. Only |2% ot'ourBranches increased their membership between 1986 and 19%. The remaining 88% ot‘ the Branches had shrinking memberships, Branches that disbanded during those ten years were not included in these numbers. Not attracting members of all ages Half our membership is over 65 years of age. The largest group. or 30% ol'the mem- bership. is between the ages ol’7(l to 79. The number of members below on years of age 12 Home 8. Country. Fall '97 drops off rapidly. Only 5% of our members are younger than 40. This is not a problem today. In fact. the experience of our senior members is one of the biggest strengths of the WI! However. in ten years time. many of our senior members will have retired from active participatioan we don’t find new members. the WI will only be halfthe size. Potential members are out there Now is the time to bring in new people. so they can learn from the experience of the current membership. Although new members ofevery age are good for an organi- zation. likely one of the best age groups to look for new members is the 50 t0 59‘year olds. Only l6% of our current members are in this group, yet this is the age when many women have more time available for com- munity activities and lots of energy to contribute. The Girl Guides of Canada have the same problem of shrinking membership. They have issued achallenge this yearto every unit to bring in just one new member. We can learn from their example. If we add just one women to each Branch each year. we can stop the shrinkage. and ensure that we have a WI to celebrate the 125 anniversary in 2022. If we continue to lose. on average one member per Branch per year. we may not have 2 WI to celebrate in ten years time! Any Branch who would like to discuss membership issues or would like to help in planning a program to attract new members can contact their Area Membership Organizer. or Lorna MeGrath. Provincial Membership Coordinator. We can all make a difference! limp Charter is the Federated ll’tmtt'n '\‘ Institute: 11/ ()ttmrm Memlwrxhtp Urgunimr/nr [he Eastern Area. The Pruvim'ial Membership Cuurdututm i'.r Lama Mt‘Gfllf’l and .rhe all: Im reached a! RR I. Elmvule 0N LlJL 1P0, Plume. (705)322-1310, A Tea Partly in Pine Sty e The Durham West District Women's Inst/rule held a promotional tea at the Bowman ville Museum. From Ielt to right are Distnct mem- bers Shirley Bubsr. Marjorie Prescott, Dora Martyn and Elaine Baker. Submilted by Dora Martyn. F'FtO. Durham Wosl Dislllct ‘ This" list was complied from ideas ool~ looted from the questionnaires, and none of them are new ideas. They are the tried and tested ideas which have worked for the last 100'ye’ats, we need to ask our- selves, are we dolngythese things in our Branch to move iorward into the next 100 years?: A minority of Branches are doing thoseythihgs and they are finding new members of all ages. I 1. Invite friends as weil as members to meetings. Establish a commitment to have at least one guest at every meeting. Maybe the hostess for each meeting can be responsiblotor inviting a friend or neighbour? I 2. Plan: an interesting program. Bring in guest speakers. Every meeting should have a speaker, an activity. a craft. .a field trip, something. Ordinary business is not enough. 3. Write newspaper articles about your program. Every program activity is of interest to your local community newspaper. Write it upl 4. Plan your program to reflect current society. Find speakers on current topics (to. doctors will talk about new medical practices, teachers can talk about changes to- the school system, high school students would love to show you how computers work, visit a new business in town,‘etc.). 5. Bervlsibiel Join in community events. Be seen at your local lair. garage and craft sale and tarmers market (eta) Advertise your Branch at thesa‘me time. ' I 6. Organize trips open to the public. Rent a bus and visit a local place of interest. I 7. Hurt educationai murses. Hire a local person who can teach a craft or skill. rent a hall and advertise. Charge registration fees to members and the public. You can make money and advertise the WI at the same time. ‘ .I 8. Hold meetings at-‘diflerent tlmes to suit different members. Some Branches are holding half their meetings in the evenings; some are holding all of them in the evenings. ‘Takeia‘look at your schedule. Would or stem meeting. times bring In more members?! 'I 9_.ZHand out program cards to area ' newcomers. Print your program and .usozit‘to advertise to new'and old sighb‘o'iais; ' ‘ ' mfirfiberta have fun at your. . 5, : , .