Membership Officer - Working with Area Coordinators
Area Coordinators extend the reach of the Membership Officer.
Supporting them effectively increases local engagement and reduces central workload.
What Success Looks Like
- Area Coordinators are active and supported
- Local events occur in multiple areas
- Members feel connected beyond the main group center
- Responsibilities are shared effectively
Best Practices
- Make it easy to host events
- Reduce administrative burden
- Support first-time efforts
- Encourage collaboration between ACs
- Define and follow a regular communication system with the ACs
Common Pitfalls
- Overloading Area Coordinators
- Lack of communication or follow-up
- Unclear expectations
- Treating the role as formal rather than flexible
- Recruiting an AC and not contacting and supporting
Purpose
Guide how Membership Officers recruit, support, and collaborate with Area Coordinators.
When to Use Area Coordinators
Area Coordinators are useful when:
- Members are geographically dispersed
- There are clusters of members outside the main area
- Travel limits participation in central events
Recruiting Area Coordinators
- Identify engaged members in local areas
- Look for members who are welcoming and reliable
- Start with small responsibilities
See:
Supporting Area Coordinators
Help Area Coordinators succeed by making it easy for them to participate.
- Show Area Coordinators how to access member information and other Local Group resources. See National Tools and Resources.
- Share sample outreach messages and welcome templates. See Area Coordinator: Making First Contact.
- Explain what Local Group National Tools and Resources are used
- Suggest Ideas for Local Group Activities that work well for small groups and first-time hosts.
- Review any Local Group policies and practices relevant to the role.
Defining the Role
Discuss how the Area Coordinator will participate within your Local Group.
Consider:
- The geographic area they will serve
- Whether they will focus on welcoming, activities, communication, or a combination of these
- How they will communicate with members and leadership
Keep the role manageable and aligned with the volunteer's interests and availability.
Area Coordinators contribute in different ways, and the role can be adapted to fit local needs.
Communication and Coordination
Establish a regular communication pattern with Area Coordinators.
This might include:
- Sending updates when new members join their area
- Ensuring they receive Local Group communications about events and activities
- Checking in before and after local activities
- Asking for feedback about member interests and local needs
- Recognizing successes and sharing ideas among Area Coordinators