Five Tips for Welcoming New Coalition Members

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Hey friends.

It’s Girl Scout Cookie time!

Were you a girl scout? I was. From Brownie to Senior Scout.

Ms. Poulsen was an awesome scout leader. No hotels for our troop! No way. We learned all types of cooking and camped in all kinds of settings. Thanks largely to her leadership, I can light a fire, make an awesome campfire soup, the obligatory s’mores, and so much more using not much more than a match, some wood, and a Dutch oven.  From primitive backpacking to a cabin, and everything in between, our troop did it all.

No hotels for our group of girls.

Maybe that is why I like Fran Butterfoss’s  metaphor of a campfire in her book, Ignite: Getting Your Community Coalition Fired Up for Change! 

She advises coalition leaders to “Collect twice as much wood as you think you’ll need, or the fire will go out while you’re looking for more. Sort and pile it in increasingly large pieces in the order you will feed the fire.”

In my Ignite book club, we have been reading the book and putting into practice some of Fran’s advice.

Here is a book club question for you: Why might you want to collect more wood (coalition members) than you think you will need?

Well, often people will come and not get engaged. Others will come and stay for a time, then disengage. There are lots of reasons for these situations. Maybe they don’t feel connected to the cause. Maybe their boss sent them. Maybe they don’t feel welcome. Maybe they are just busy.

Some of these things you can influence. Somethings you can’t.

What can you control?

You and your coalition members can do a lot to help people get connected, feel welcomed, and engaged right away so that they become the wood that feeds your coalition’s fire for change.

Here are some strategies to help you build that fire once you have collected that all important kindling and firewood (people!).

1.       At every meeting, ask a few people welcome the new folks and introduce them around the room.

2.      Establish a membership committee that follows up with new members to see how their experience was, answer any questions they have, and help them find a place to contribute within the coalition. What is the skill or talent they bring? What contribution can their organization make to the work? What committee or piece of work are they most interested in?

3.      Create a membership packet that explains your mission and vision, your strategic plan or action plan (if you don’t have one- I can help with you that!). Include an MOU – a Memorandum of Understanding for organizations and individuals that explains expectations for members. Include your by-laws and any other information that will help them get orientated to the work.

4.     Consider having periodic training for new coalition members. Make it painless, by holding it at a convenient time, perhaps following your monthly meeting. It’s never too early to start having conversations about collaboration! Share your mission and vision statement and get them excited about what the coalition is trying to achieve in your community.

5.     Take special care to welcome community members into your group if your coalition is largely made up of community agency representatives. They may be nervous about joining a group of “professionals.” Help your professional members understand that community members voice is always the priority.

Building a strong coalition requires thought, time, effort, and commitment, but is important. Using some planning, you can create meaningful connections among your coalition members. Creating a welcoming space and helping folks connect with each other and understand the coalition’s vision for the community will serve you well when challenges come. You will be able to stoke that fire!

If you are a coalition leader or evaluator, what best practices does your community coalition use?

What questions do you have about welcoming new coalition members?

Take care- Ann

P.S. New around here? Check out our resources page. We are always adding new resources for you.

P..S. S. I am proud of Community Possibilities Podcast. Check out our last two episodes with Mary Margaret Mauer from Restoration Rome and Whitney Austin from Whitney Strong. Listen to them here.