Welcoming Strategies
The following simple actions can make all the difference to people coming to your club for the first time. Having welcoming actions in place also says a great deal about your club's interest in inclusion. Practical resources to make implementation easier can be found using the links below:
- Having a designated Welcoming Officer, Meet and Greet Attendant - Sample Role Description
- New member induction to show newcomers around and introduce them to others - Sample Checklist
- Provision of a Welcome Kit - Ideas for your Wecome Kit
- Welcoming signage - Sample Door Sign
- Welcome sign in different languages
- Use this Welcoming and Inclusive Club Logo on your letterhead and written material
Other ideas:
- Holding a welcome to new members, volunteers and sponsor social function e.g. afternoon tea
- For club functions have a number of "Meet and Greet" officers on hand to introduce people to other members and to look out for anyone who looks alone, displaced and go to talk to them
- Establishing a mentoring system for new volunteers, committee members
- Team new members up with someone who can support them and show them the ropes
- Placing an official welcome to newcomers in the club newsletter, and or website
- Emailing new members to welcome them personally
- Developing a club postcard to send to new members
- Have the Welcoming Officer follow up anyone who fails to show up without explanation to make sure everything is OK
- Develop club apparel that people can purchase to build an affiliation with the club