Make 2010 the year of
Back to Chapter!
Most
Chapters have members who rarely or never attend.
Sometimes there are good reasons such as distance,
health or work.
But have others simply “got out of the habit” of attending?
If so, what can we do encourage them back?
Don’t let members just drift away. Make 2010 the year
of “Back to Chapter!”
Below is a suggested action plan to help them back.
Make contact
Get in touch and find out the reason why they no longer
attend . Health problems, difficulty in travelling,
family commitments or working hours can all be reasons.
But with help they may not be insuperable. Are there
hidden reasons. Is the cost of meals a problem? Were
they disappointed with Chapter - not enough to do,
or did they feel left out? Or have they just so lost
touch that not attending has become a habit?
Whatever the reasons, just letting a companion know
how much he will be welcomed back will be an encouragement
in itself. Even if he can’t attend every meeting,
coming back when he can will reconnect him with the
Chapter.
What can be done to help?
If transport is a problem, would providing a lift
help a companion back to Chapter? Could the Chapter
assist if he’s caring for a family member? Is the
starting time a problem? Arriving late is better than
not coming at all! If he was disappointed with Chapter
or felt left out, encourage him to give it another
try. Let him know that things have changed. If he
felt he had nothing to do, the answer is obvious!
If the cost of the meal is a problem - and it sometimes
is - the Almoner may be able to help.
Get a commitment
Like any good salesman, don’t settle for a half promise,
close the deal! If the problems aren’t insuperable,
get a commitment to come back. Even if it’s just for
one meeting to start with.
Welcome him back!
You’ve told him how much he’s valued as a member.
Now’s the time to prove it! Think about ways to welcome
him back:
• Don't rely on him to turn up - get someone to give
him a lift. This is more than just a matter of getting
him there, you don’t want him to arrive alone and
feel self-conscious.
• Make sure that other members of the Chapter know
that he’s attending. Nothing will put him off more
than members having forgotten who he is, or taking
him for a visitor!
• Whatever the ceremony or other business, make it
good. You want him to realise what he’s been missing,
not feel he was right all along about not coming!
• Make sure that someone stays with him, sits with
him and introduces him. Arrange the table plan at
dinner so that he’s seated with people he knows, or
would be good company.
• Make a fuss of him. Be sure that the Three Principals
speak to him. Get the MEZ to mention in Chapter what
a pleasure it is to see Comp. XYZ back again.
Make an event of it!
If the Chapter has several long-term absentees, why
not consider holding a “Back to Chapter!” event? Bringing
them back together will make them feel all the more
special, and less uncomfortable about being the only
one. It could be a great evening for the whole Chapter.
Take a little time in Chapter to “re-introduce” them
if some of the newer members haven’t met them before.
Above all, make sure that the whole evening, the Festive
Board as well as the ceremony, is of good quality.
Ensure that Toasts at the FB are done well, and that
the returning members are mentioned. Make it a happy
evening that they will want to repeat!
The follow-up
Like any good salesman, keep in touch and don’t let
them drift away again!
To begin with at least, carry on giving them a lift,
if wanted, and making sure that someone looks after
them on the night. The old habit of not attending
may take time to break. Find them jobs to do! Having
a part to play and not just being a spectator will
help to make them feel included again.
Keep up the good work! And if the “Back to Chapter!”
exercise sheds light on why members drifted away in
the first place, or what most encouraged them back,
please share this experience with the Royal Arch Lead
for the Group.
To Contact The Royal Arch Please use the Contact
Us page and select Webmaster.
