This document outlines a course on achieving membership growth for local JCI organizations. The course covers preparing for recruitment, conducting effective recruitment, onboarding new members, and retaining existing members. Key topics include understanding the target audience, conducting outreach, providing orientation and mentorship for new members, offering development opportunities at all levels of the organization, and keeping members actively engaged through projects, events, and appreciation. The overall aim is to attract quality members and ensure their long-term commitment to serving the community through JCI.
2. Course Objectives
• Understand your Local Organization better
and prepare for recruitment
• Provide your Local Organization with tools
to conduct effective recruitment
• Turn potential members into active &
engaged members
• Learn how to manage and maintain new
and existing members
6. Who is the JCI target
audience?
Who do you believe are
the best candidates to
join your Local
Organization?
What qualities should
they possess? Make a
list in your workbook.
7. Ideal JCI Member?
18 – 40
years old
Educated Committed Experienced Dedicated to
make
change
Collaborative Leader Passionate Optimistic Able to pay
membership
fees
8. The ideal JCI member…
Is energized by the JCI
mission and purpose
Wants to grow and
expand their horizons
Is active in their
community
Is somewhat younger
than the average age of
current members
9. When joining JCI, members don’t
only contribute their time and efforts
to improve their community, but they
also gain valuable benefits.
10. What is expected from
members?
When someone asks
you what is expected
from JCI members,
what will you tell them?
In your workbook,
make a list of how
they can benefit your
Local Organization.
11. How do members benefit from
joining?
What opportunities
do active members
of your Local
Organization get?
In your workbook,
make a list of the
benefits members
gain from being an
active member.
12. What are your Local Organization’s
biggest achievements?
• Potential members generally get attracted by
tangible achievements of your Local Organization.
• It is recommended that you prepare a portfolio
presentation that you can use to showcase the
history of your Local Organization.
• In your workbook, list the topmost impactful
projects of your Local Organization or past
achievements of your members.
13. So that you can understand how to
attract more members to your Local
Organization and how to market JCI,
think about how young leaders get
exposed to JCI for the first time.
Make a list in your workbook.
How do people hear about
JCI?
14. What makes your
organization special?
• There might be a lot of competition in your
community from other volunteer or youth
organizations.
• Focusing on a niche that makes your
organization special can differentiate you from
your competition and attract young leaders.
• A SWOT Analysis helps you better understand
your competitors and sets you apart from them.
15. SWOT Analysis
SWOT analysis is a strategic
planning technique used to
help an organization identify
strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats
related to competition or
project planning.
16. In four groups, create a SWOT
Analysis for your JCI Local
Organization. Each group discusses
and presents one of the four
elements of the SWOT Analysis.
Teamwork Task
17. Assigning Responsibility
Your Local Organization
can assign the task of
recruitment & membership
management to a
committee or individual
in order to ensure proper
planning and execution.
Officer responsible for members
Officer responsible for Recruitment
and Organization Development
Officer in charge of membership growth
Recruitment committee
Membership growth committee
Role Suggestions
20. Recruitment for JCI can be as
important as recruiting for a job;
your Local Organization's continuity
depends on the quality, not quantity,
of your members.
21. Membership Application
Form
• Collecting data is important to understand who
your (potential) members are. Analyzing this
data can provide valuable insight such as what
type of activities to run based on the interest of
the majority.
• Create an application form where interested
candidates can fill in information that you need
to assess their candidacy.
22. In your group, decide on the most
important questions to be included in
the application form.
Teamwork Task
23. Membership Application Form
• Examples include:
• Personal information (Name, Gender, Marital Status, Children)
• Contact information (Phone, Email, City of Residence)
• Career and work experience
• Ideas for projects
• Time commitment
• Personal Interests
• SDG interests
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
• How would you like to be an active member?
• What do you want to learn from being a member in JCI?
• Permission to store their personal data and potentially posting
pictures on social media or marketing material
24. Where can we host the
application form?
On your local or
National Organization
website
Using Google
Drive/Google Forms
As an email
attachment
Online form builder
website (such as
JotForm)
Printed version to be
distributed at events
25. Which marketing channels can you
use to advertise your recruitment
application form? Make a list in
your workbook.
26. Recruitment Marketing
Channels
Online
(Social media,
website, emails,
messaging apps…)
Media
(TV, radio,
newspapers,
magazine…)
Outdoor
Advertising
(posters, banners,
billboards…)
Newsletters
(online or printed)
Partners
(3 sectors of
society, how can
they help you
spread the word?)
Word of Mouth Member Referrals
(ask each member
to refer at least 3
people they know)
Events &
Networking
(attend community
events and meet
like-minded people)
27. After people have filled in your
application form, what happens next?
28. Methods of Recruitment
What ways can you use to attract members?
• Invite guests to a monthly membership meeting (open
house)
• Create networking events for guests and members
• Hold a recruitment event and invite people who filled in
the application
• Invite potential members to local or national events and
workshops
• Connect with potential members frequently through social
media or messaging groups
• Ask members to choose two of their friends that they
would love to see as members, then call them after the
meeting
29. Recruitment Event
• Once you have received a significant number of
membership applications or a list of potential
members, you can invite them to a recruitment
event or an orientation session where they can
learn more about JCI and your Local Organization.
• Having several members join JCI at the same time
creates a bond between them and increases your
capacity to create bigger scale projects.
30. In your group, create a plan for
your next recruitment event.
Check your workbook for ideas
of things you should consider.
Teamwork Task
33. Membership Process
• Define the process of becoming a member of
your Local Organization
• Do you want every guest who attends your
recruitment event to become a member?
Or would they need to demonstrate some
commitment or achieve a task before they
are pinned?
35. Welcome Period
• In order to ensure that a candidate is a proper
cultural fit to your Local Organization, they
undergo a “welcome” period.
• During this time, they should achieve the
criteria set by your Local Organization and/or
have been committed and attending your
meetings for a period of time defined by the
Board of Directors.
36. Criteria for accepting a
member
What would a guest
have to do to become a
member of your Local
Organization?
Discuss the steps
that the guest has
to fulfill to become
a member.
37. Orientation Process
• During the welcome period, potential members
can undergo a series of orientation workshops
in order to understand JCI well and be able to
positively contribute to your Local
Organization.
• In your group, design an orientation program
for candidates to learn more about JCI.
38. Orientation Process
• During the welcome period, potential members can undergo
a series of orientation workshops in order to understand JCI
well and be able to positively contribute to your Local
Organization
• Recommended sessions include:
• JCI Discover
• Presenter
• Project Management
• Parliamentary Procedures, JCI Etiquette, Roberts’ Rules
of Order
39. Potential Member Interviews
• Local board members or the recruitment
committee can conduct interviews at the
beginning of or during the welcome period
to learn more about the potential members.
• Interviews can help you decide whether the
potential member’s goals and personality fits
with your Local Organization and help the
potential member decide whether joining JCI
fits with their needs and goals.
40. Discuss some questions that you
think will be valuable to ask the
candidates during the interview.
Make a list in your workbook.
Teamwork Task
41. Suggested Interview
Questions
• What are you interested in?
• How much time can you dedicate to JCI?
• How did you learn about our organization?
• Where do you see yourself in three years?
• Do you feel that JCI is relevant to your development? How?
• What can you contribute as a member of JCI (what can we
expect of you)?
• What projects are you interested in implementing in your
community?
• Have you ever spoken in public?
• Have you every been nervous giving a speech?
43. Joining a Project
• One way that a candidate can demonstrate commitment to
the Local Organization is by taking part in or leading a local
project
• During the recruitment event or membership meetings,
describe the ongoing projects and encourage candidates to
take part in those projects
• If a candidate is not interested in any of the projects,
encourage them to start a new small project that they are
passionate about
• Evaluate the candidate’s performance, compatibility and
commitment through their work on a project
44. Mentorship Program
• Senior members and senators
of your Local Organization can
be very beneficial through the
recruitment and membership
growth process.
• Such a program requires follow-
up and can be the responsibility
of the officer or committee who
is/are managing the members
as described in Module 1.
What would the role of a
mentor be?
45. Mentorship Program
• Senior members and senators
of your Local Organization can
be very beneficial through the
recruitment and membership
growth process.
• Such a program requires follow-
up and can be the responsibility
of the officer or committee who
is/are managing the members
as described in Module 1.
What would the role of a
mentor be?
• Sharing their JCI experience with
the candidates
• Continuous following up with
candidates (monthly follow-ups
by phone, social media or
meeting)
• Guiding and making sure that the
member does not lose interest
• Providing connections and
support for local team leaders
or projects
46. Becoming a Member
• Once the candidate has fulfilled the
membership requirements or once the local
Board of Directors is satisfied with their
performance, invite them to the next
membership meeting to be officially pinned.
• Make sure that the candidate has fulfilled all
the requirements of your Local Organization
which may include payment of membership
fees.
47. Pinning and Oath
The Local President,
a visiting National or
International Officer
usually administers
the oath.
It begins by asking the
new members to raise
their right hand and
repeat:
“I do solemnly swear that I will
faithfully serve as a member of
(name of the Local
Organization) and will, to the
best of my ability, serve as a
living example of this
organization’s philosophy and
beliefs and will uphold and
enforce the Constitution of the
Local Organization, the
National Organization and JCI
at all times”
48. Membership Kit
• Provide the new member with:
• A silver JCI member pin
• Membership kit (available on the JCI Library)
• Certificate of Membership signed by the local president
and JCI Secretary General
• Copy of the mission, vision and values
• Welcome letter from JCI Secretary General
• Copy of the local constitution and member’s
handbook
Make sure the new member
registers on www.jci.cc
51. In your group, recall instances
where members you know have left
your Local Organization. What were
the main reasons that they left?
Why do members leave JCI?
52. Now recall the most active members
in your Local Organization. What
keeps them motivated and committed
to your organization? As a member,
what makes you stay?
Why do members stay in JCI?
53. Discussion
Keeping in mind your
answers to the previous
two questions, think of
ways that you can motivate
and engage your existing
members to stay active in
your organization.
What are ways you can
keep your members
happy?
54. Motivating members to stay
active
Giving them
more
responsibility
(delegation)
Project
directors and
committee
members
Gamification
Awards
Program
Attending
national
events
Attending
international
events
Adding value
to their
personal lives
55. Development opportunities on
all levels
What are the different
levels in your Local or
National Organization?
How can you create
development opportunities
for each level?
58. Development Paths
• So that new members feel that
their development in JCI is
organized, create development
paths that are relevant to your
members and are distributed
among four areas of
opportunity.
• For each path, create tangible
and specific objectives that a
member can achieve to
become an expert in that
specific path.
60. Development Paths
Example of a detailed path:
• Project Management
• Attend a JCI Project Management course
• Organize social gatherings in your local chapter
• Participate as a project member in a local project group
• Attend Conference Organizing (CO) Academy
• Lead a JCI local community project organized
• Lead an internal JCI project
• Be the national TOYP coordinator
• Be the national award coordinator
• Be project manager for the National Convention
• Lead a national community project
62. In your group, choose one
development path and create an
outline of the objectives or tasks that
your members can aspire to achieve.
Teamwork Task
63. Conflict Resolution
• Part of managing your
members is managing
arguments and conflict.
• Conflict resolution is a way
for two or more parties to
find a peaceful solution to
a disagreement among
them.
What would you
do when a dispute
arises between
your members?
65. Why is it important for the local board
to conduct team building exercises?
Team Building
66. Reasons to Conduct
Team-Building Exercises
Communication and working better together
Collaboration and fostering of innovation
and creativity
Collaboration, team spirit, fun, and motivation
Competition and bragging rights
Teamwork and boosting team performance
Networking, socializing, and getting to
know each other better
67. Discuss with your group some
team building activities that
can be implemented in your
Local Organization.
Teamwork Task
68. Discussion
To keep your members
motivated, they have to
be constantly engaged
with your Local or
National organization
activities.
How can you keep your
members engaged?
Use the ABC Avalanche
method to come up
with ideas.
69. Engaging New Members
Understand new member aspirations
Show opportunities for involvement
Allow new members to choose their path
Turn aspirations into action
Empower positive change
73. Key Takeaways
Prepare well: target
audience, expectations &
benefits, strengths &
weaknesses
Be creative in
recruitment
Provide development
opportunities and
manage your
members well
Engage potential
members until they join
