| |
From Nancy Gluck, Lifetime Learners Inst., Norwalk, CT
Talk to the members they do have, find out what they want, what they like
and don't like. Call those who sign up for classes and then don't come
to find out why they don't come. Work with local senior centers and similar
groups (Y's, church senior groups, AARP) to find out where they are going.
Don't compete -- learn and cooperate. Are there other LLIs in the geographic
area? Visit them, ask for help. Critique the courses being offered. Make
course changes in terms of overall goals: more members?, more academic?,
more fun?, more social?, a stronger core group?
From Len Shore, Guild for Learning in Retirement, Milwaukee, WI
If they were selling soap and getting disappointing results, they would
take a poll and find out why. They must have some kind of feedback, what
is it? If it's not adequate they better find out.more. There was one reply
with recommendations that might help but until they understand the disease,
they won't know whether to operate or give an anti-biotic.
From Toby Hodes, LIRA at UMass – Lowell, MA
I have to agree with Len Shore's assessment. But even more importantly,
they have to contact some of the people who may have expressed interest
but have not become involved and find out why. They may be offering courses
that no one is interested in or that are available elsewhere. Have they
tried to get individuals involved in planning and other activities? One
of my favorite quotes from when I was involved in another volunteer organization
was, "You can't be down on what you're up on." The other was, "People
don't like to be should upon." So - - how are they involving people
so that they feel they are up on what the organization is doing, and are
they, by chance, telling people they should be doing this or that? Have
they polled their members to get ideas for study groups; and, most importantly,
if they have, have they then followed through on these suggestions? Hope
this is of some help.
From Lana Campbell, Southern Illinois Learning in Retirement, Carbondale,
IL
I am the College's contact for the SILIR group. We are very rural and
it was a little slow to start off, but now we are growing and we anticipate
200 members by the end of the year. Is it possible for this group to receive
a list of the emeritus faculty and staff from the college? This is a good
mailing list to start with. We have used it with success, but the best
seller is word of mouth. For our group, the courses have been the key.
The most popular courses are related to southern Illinois or computers.
We have a husband and wife team that do southern Illinois history in a
storytelling form. This has brought in new numbers for the group.
"Southern Illinois Indians" was also very popular, as well
as the unique history of the college president (a controversial figure)
from the 50's and 60's. This is all to make my point that courses that
are unique to our area have drawn the most publicity and the greatest
number of people to our group. The local extension office through the
land grant University has been very helpful in publicizing information
for us. We mailed to all local churches. Some were supportive, some not.
The core group is very important to start the group. We started with approximately
nine people, but found that at least three of that group were not accomplishing
the goals. We found replacements for them and all is going well at this
point and we are working on all positions on all committees being rotated
every three years. Good luck to this group. They can contact me, if they
wish, for further discussion.
From Shirley Stone, WCTC Learning in Retirement, Pewaukee, WI
It sounds like there may not be enough interest to establish and maintain
an LLI at that site. However, they surely must have an assessment of the
potential population, their interests and needs. Some LLIs (like the one
in Waukesha, WI that is affiliated with the Technical Institute) serve
a blue-collar population rather than a professional one and therefore
design their classes to be less academic including bridge, crafts, etc.
If this population is rural, their interests should be assessed and served.
If it offers something that they want, they'll come.
From Martha Klee, Lifetime Learning Institute/NVA, Annandale, VA
We at LLI were having similar problems two years ago. We found the best
way to recruit members was using the one-time Elderhostel zip code labels.
We divided the list into separate areas and mailed out an invitation to
a kickoff before the fall semester. In the kickoff packet we included
our brochure, an abbreviated list of coming course/activities (not our
large catalog), a letter from the Board and a flyer of future day trips.
We mailed about 1500 invitations and approximately 150 attended the morning
kickoff. We served coffee/tea and goodies brought by our refreshment committee.
The events are held in the large Forum in the college cultural center,
but could be held anywhere.
For the kickoff, we put together exhibits and photos showing our classes,
day trips, etc. along with examples such as foreign studies artifacts,
baskets made in a class, Great Books display, etc. We had a short program,
introducing instructors and their classes, and our Board of Directors.
We encouraged Q&A, and the Board members circulated throughout the group,
wearing a different colored name tag, so people would know who they were.
Out of the 150 attending the kickoff, we acquired 25+ new members. Some
of those attending joined at a later date. We have had 4 kickoffs in the
last two years;, 2 fall, 2 winter/spring, using the same format for each
kickoff. The more we do it, the easier it gets to produce. Each time,
we have boosted our membership. We have gone from 70 members two years
ago, to 225 now and growing. We attribute most of that growth to our kickoff
efforts, and the word-of-mouth memberships they generate.
Our theory is that the new memberships offset the costs of the kickoffs
and adds to our publicity to get the word out about us and bring more
members in the future. We are already planning our kickoff in August for
our fall 2000 classes and hope to add more folks to our membership. We
have a great deal of competition for members, since we are in the Washington,
DC area, which has a very active, well-established LRI at a University
near us, as well as two more in DC, along with courses and trips offered
by the Smithsonian, Senior Centers and Counties, so we think we are doing
very well!
From Ruth Taber, Center for Lifelong Learning, El Paso, TX
When looking for ways to improve growth and publicity - it would be helpful
to know all about the community - what media exists there - is it a "one
corporation town" - farm community - what educational facilities exist
- religious organizations in town etc. Also the population demographics
- old and young. Not every PR plan fits every community. Word-of-Mouth.
From McGill LLI, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
"Word-of-mouth is the most effective way of publicizing MLLI: 65% first
heard about us by work-of-mouth as against 28% recruited by the media
(including 2 by Internet) and only 2% through Open House events and 4%
through our flyers." (from a member survey conducted in fall, 1999)
From Nancy Merz
Very interesting statistics that are borne out by what I've heard from
other LLIs across the country. Your members are your best resource. Somehow
you need to get them out there recruiting for you. Maybe you could sponsor
a "Bring a Friend to Class Day" with special events, lunch, etc. something
like that. Make it special, offer incentives, or courses with follow-up
activities.
From J. Delbert Wells, LIR, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO
"We select courses that can generate some interesting "follow-up" activities.
For example, our classes on Creative Writing have spawned a writing club
or two. Our course on Genealogy has developed several genealogy researchers.
Our classes on Finance and Investing for Seniors has spawned 4 investment
clubs and another is pending. Over 100 members are more knowledgeable
investors than they were before. We constantly run Beginning Computer
courses, etc." "Many persons come into LIR because we offer some activities
such as plant tours, etc, that are not part of a regular agenda." "We
have excellent support from both the local paper and a "Senior Times"
which publishes both pictures and stories as news."
Miscellaneous Suggestions From Quest, City College, New York City,
Bob Hartman
Newspaper articles advertisement in City section of paper advertisement
in give-away neighborhood papers and magazines, advertisement in current
issues of New York Review of Books. Mailed brochures offered through neighborhood
newspaper a free week of attendance at any of courses. Printed bookmarks
with phone number, fax, website & other pertinent info & left them at
libraries. Interviews on local FM radio station. Written editorial for
college alumni newspaper. Word of mouth seems most effective. Members
leave brochures in doctors offices
|
|
May 11, 2008
Bookmark
this site
|