Welcoming New Members

Purpose

Help new members feel welcomed and connected early.

Guiding Principle

First impressions shape long-term engagement.

Welcoming is about helping members feel seen, informed, and connected from the beginning.

Philosophy

• First impressions matter
• Personal contact is preferred over automated communication
• All members matter — including those who may never attend events
• Welcoming is a shared responsibility

Success is measured by whether members feel acknowledged and included — not by event attendance.

What This Means in Practice

A successful welcoming process means:

• New members receive timely contact
• Members understand how to engage locally (if they choose)
• Members feel included regardless of participation level
• Outreach is thoughtful and appropriately personal

Key Actions

Step	What It Means
Initial Contact	Reach out in a timely, personal way
Provide Orientation	Help members understand how to engage
Encourage First Connection	Reduce barriers to first participation
Build Early Relationships	Introduce members to others or mentors

TO DO: MERGE WITH BULLETS BELOW WITH LINKS

Make Initial Contact

• Reach out to new, reinstated, and transferred members
• Use personal, welcoming communication

See:

• New Member Contact Methods
• Accessing Reports (timing of contacts)
• Encouraging Attendance
• Making It Personal

Help Members Get Started

• Share relevant information and opportunities
• Provide guidance without overwhelming

Support First Engagement

• Reduce barriers to attending first events
• Help members feel comfortable and included

See:

• Encouraging First Event Attendance
• New Member Events

Build Early Connections

• Introduce members to others
• Support mentor or buddy connections where appropriate

See:

• Mentor Programs

Best Practices

It Takes a Team

Welcoming is not the responsibility of one person.

• Involve officers and experienced members
• Use name badges and clear identifiers
• Ensure new members are acknowledged at events

Common Pitfalls

• Delayed or no initial contact
• Overwhelming new members with too much information
• Relying only on mass or automated communication
• Focusing only on event attendance
• Leaving new members to navigate alone

Related

• New Member Contact Methods
• Welcoming Timing and Reports
• Making It Personal
• Encouraging First Event Attendance
• Mentor Programs
• New Member Events
• Templates and Samples