Hola! Gutag Tag! Hallo! Konnichiwa! Hej! Teve! Hei! God dag! Hello!
No matter how you say it, greeting members is an important ritual in our chapters worldwide. We all love to get together and share our great programs, projects and conduct the business of the Society. The question is, how do you communicate with members prior to and after your face-to-face meetings? How do you let members know that a meeting is coming up? How do you follow up with details and highlights or celebrations from those meetings?
Years ago, the common method of communicating was through mail sent via the postal service. With the advance of technology, “regular” mail has been replaced. The use of the internet for sending and receiving emails to personal accounts has become the most popular way to communicate. An email is received as soon as the send button is pushed. A response to that email can be sent back just as quickly. In addition, attachments or links can be included in emails which add to their usefulness. Multiple members can be informed quickly and efficiently with one email and attachment or link.
Some chapters have entered the realm of social media and use a variety of platforms to communicate with members. Facebook is a popular social networking service that is used worldwide. Other chapters have found the use of WhatsApp or Instagram to be helpful in communicating.
The rise of online invitation services has made sending event and meeting information convenient and efficient. Each of these online invitation services has its own unique features. Check out their pros and cons. Consider whether there is free usage or a cost involved. Our chapter used one of these services this past biennium. It was easy to see who had replied and how many to plan on for meetings or a meal. This also can serve to inform chapter officers of who might need a follow-up with an additional form of communication – an email, a text, a phone call.
Cell phones and even smart watches immediately alert members to communications that come from chapter officers. The use of text messages to tell members when a new email or online invitation has been sent can add another quick way to informing members.
Our chapters include members across the generations, so it will be important to find out how members prefer to receive their communications. Some members may be all in on using social media, while others are not familiar with those platforms. Education and mentoring for members may be a chapter program so that all may be comfortable with receiving and sending emails, using social media, or online invitation services.
What can be communicated?
Depends on the content and the situation, but here are some ideas:
- Meeting information – date, time, location
- Program information
- Project information
- Communication from chapter and state officers
- Photos from meetings, programs, and projects
- Messages of encouragement, especially for active educators
- Holiday greetings
- Notice of when publications from DKG debut (state organization and international)
- Celebrations of members
Consider using a variety
of communication tools to keep your chapter members informed. Regular communication can help to form
relationships and keep members engaged.
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