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 
• Tips for welcoming people from different communities. https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/-/media/ResearchandEvidence/VH_Count-me-in_Tips-for-clubs_final.pdf

 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