This book is about successfully organizing any association, club, society, or project that you and your friends want to found or revitalize.

The techniques described here will work for any organization that requires a corps of volunteers or members. We are assuming that you want to pull together like-minded people for some worthy purpose. Therefore in this text, while we may talk about clubs and societies, as well as members and volunteers, the distinctions are not important: they are all organizations of volunteers that may or may not have staff support.

Over the years Robert Ballantyne has been drawn to participate in leadership roles in support of tourism and civic boosterism organizations, professional societies, astronomy clubs, educational institutions, and environmental organizations. Along the way he was able to observe and work with some amazing organizers. This book began as a collection of practical processes that he  learned from them, or discovered from making his own mistakes. Sherry S. Jennings joined this collaboration and brought her own wealth of experiences.

As this was being written governments everywhere were withdrawing support for many of the programs and institutions that we value to provide the quality of life that we wish to enjoy. The conclusion is that more and more we are counting on our nonprofit facilities and organizations to fill that gap. We need you to learn how to be successful with your project. This book is a collection of sharp tools that produce real results.

Related website and blog: http://worthyorg.com

Contents

Read This First — 1

Your Role, Your Passion — 7, Mission & Vision — 10, The Leadership — 17, The Champion — 22

Member & Volunteer Recruitment — 25

Prospecting – Step 1 — 31, Making the Case – Step 2 — 31, Ask The Person to Join – Step 3 — 32, Objections – Step 4 — 32, Complete the Recruitment – Step 5 — 33

Public Events and Members’ Meetings — 34

Regular members' meetings — 35, Major events — 38, Greeting, and Follow-up — 39

Volunteers — 45

Who is Responsible for the Volunteer Program? — 46, Why people Volunteer — 48, Finding and asking for Volunteers — 50, Volunteer training and record keeping — 52, Rewarding Volunteers — 54

The Newsletter — 56

The official communication for your association — 56, Quantifiable evidence of a successful newsletter — 59, Use lots of photos & Mention Names — 60, Editorial Style — 62, Reporting — 63, Features — 64, Amusing — 65, Pictures — 65, No wall of type — 66, Bylines — 67, Incisive Journalism — 67, Additional Newsletter Content: — 68, A source of useful reference — 68, List names of: — 68, How-to Articles — 69, Events — 69, Issues — 69, Make the Newsletter Timely — 70, Do Not Beg for Volunteers in the Newsletter — 71, Newsletter Format — 72, 

Programs, Courses, and Meetings —  75

Suggested format for regular meetings of members — 75, Public events — 80, Courses — 80, Projects — 83

The Organization — Getting things done — 84

Evolving from Startup to Good Governance — 87, Meetings — 98, The Power of the Chair /Agendas /Minutes — 98, Consensus vs. Parliamentary Decisions — 107, Role of Committees —  116, A Suggested Format for Committee Terms of Reference — 118, Financial solvency — 122

Fundraising — 130

Logic Model — 130, Sponsorship — 131, Grants — 136, Donorship — 140, Major Gifts —140, The Ongoing Relationship — 144, Other Elements of a Fundraising Program — 145, Planned Giving — 147, Membership fees — 147, The War Chest, Nest Egg, Rainy-Day Fund, or Reserve — 148

Public Visibility — 149

Public Relations and Promotion — 149, Media Relations — 150, The News Release — 156, The Media Conference — 160, The Media Interview — 168, A Final Word About Damage Control — 180

Some last thoughts — 181

A Word Of Advice To Members Who Have a Long Service Record — 181, A Word To The Acknowledged Leaders in Your Community — 182, A Word to Board Leaders about Succession Planning — 184

Acknowledgments — 186