Planning for Membership Growth
No matter what the size or personality of the group, every chorus wants to have a membership base that is large enough to allow it to perform well.
Every chorus wants to be large enough to share the organizational tasks, so that a few people do not bear the whole load.
Every chorus wants to build a quality musical product along with lasting friendships.
The goal is quality performance. A small chorus can provide excellent entertainment, with well-tuned harmony, energetic sound, and a smashing visual plan.
Size is not the most important factor to achieving the goal. However, difficulty may occur when the chorus loses a few members. Normal attrition is about 15 percent. In a chorus of 25, that means that three or four members may leave in a year's time. If those three or four members happen to be most of the bass section(or leads, or baris, or tenors ), imagine the challenge to the chorus sound!
Even without a goal to grow, a chorus must attract new members, just to keep up with the changes in members' lives!
Furthermore, growth in a chorus can be very exciting. New talents,new enthusiasm and new friendships build chorus vitality. To realize that our music is so exciting that others want to sing it with us is a source of confidence and pride for each of us.And that in turn makes our music even better.
The key to building and keeping chorus membership is to plan carefully and work together as a total chorus to make it happen.
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Growth Update
Chorus name & number of members; Last month/This month
Battle Creek 26/24
Calumet Corner 34/31
Choral-Aires 106/106
Edge-O-Town 29/29
Grand Rapids 80/79
Great Lake Sounds 19/19
Melodeers 139/138
Mid-Lakes 47/47
Midwest Crossroad 60/60
Prairie Echoes 37/30
River Bend 22/21
Riverside 17/17
Sauk Trail Sound 17/17
Spring Valley 26/22
West Shore 26/24
Western Lights 34/34
Prior Membership 743
Curent Membership 719*
Total Growth/Decay -24
International Ranking 19/20
Total # of Regions 30
Total International Membership 24,559
*Does not include CAL/MAL
We need your assistance to keep this up to date. Please send all updates or corrections to:
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"Who would not want to belong to this great organization? I have met the most wonderful and interesting women in Sweet Adelines!
I know I join many others who have found life long friends throughout the world because of my affiliation. Our choruses provide not only friendship, but the opportunity to sing together that can't be found in any other organization.
Congratulations to the RMT for focusing on membership growth and retention for Region #3!
Our music gives us a common bond - as singers, as members of our individual choruses, and as sisters in harmony in our region."
June Berg - Certified Music Judge, Certified Music Arranger, Certified International Faculty Member, Director, Spring Valley Chorus | |
Dear
Region 3 Member,
July brings with it an opportunity to enjoy beautiful weather, fragrant flowers, gorgeous songbirds and dazzling fireworks. It's also an opportunity for every one of us to use this time to share the gift of song with everyone we know.
If you have friends who enjoy coming to listen to your chorus, why not invite them to a rehearsal? As you know, it's much more fun to be singing than it is to be watching!
Have a fabulous summer, be safe, and take a breather.. using your diaphragm of course. =)
In Love and Harmony,
Penny Hock
Region 3 Membership Coordinator
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It's Time To Get Them Involved!
One of the most common reasons members make the decision to leave the chorus, or even the organization is that they lose interest. When member becomes dormant in her membership and has only the singing to keep her motivated, this can prove to be a difficult reason to stay, especially during contest preparation time.
As we all know, this is not the most fun time of the year. The rehearsals can be fatiguing and monotonous. It's no wonder we see the biggest decline in membership immediately following contest. Members feel a sens of oblication to remain in the chorus till contest, then see summer as an exit opportunity.
At this years Leadership Workshop, Toula Oberlies offered some fantastic suggestions in how to keep your member interested. Among these suggestion was the development of a task team. This group of women handles the week to week tasks that need to be done but are often overlooked. Examples of these tasks are:
- Mailbox stuffer
- Refreshment table
- End of night walk-thru committee
- Guest/Visitors chairs set up
- Directors table set up
- Agenda distributor
It only takes one task to make a member feel as though they have a purpose, this is a key element in satisfactory retention. And, as we learned last month, retention is crucial in maintaining numbers.
Use your task team, Board, or Management team to develop new positions that your existing members can fill. We cannot rely on new members alone, we need our seasoned members to teach them, guide them, and offer the chorus wisdom and knowledge. What are you doing to give your members purpose?
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International Involvement
Do you know what's out there?
In keeping with this months theme of getting involved, I have discoverd that many members do not utilize the International Website to it's fullest capacity. There is a ton of terrific informtiaon at our fingertips, including how to get more involved in the organization.
If you are a go getter, and you have enjoyed being involved in your chorus, try stretching your wings and check out what Sweet Adelines really does have to offer:
Director Certification Program (DCP)
The DCP is an educational home-study program designed to develop skills for Sweet Adelines International directors, potential directors, and musical leaders. Much of the information contained within the DCP Resource Modules is useful for ALL chorus members.
Contact: Contact the Music Services Department at international headquarters to apply for the program. Modules may be purchased through International Sales.
International Faculty Program (IFP) The IFP program ensures a high quality curriculum at international events. Each faculty member participates in a certification program that is designed to keep her current with the latest information and teaching techniques.
Contact: For information on this program, or learn how to apply, contact the Music Services Department at international headquarters.
International Judging Program (IJP)
This program assures members that contest adjudicators are qualified and produce work that is consistent with the standards set by the organization. Trial scoring,individual critiques and biennial education provide comprehensive training.
Contact: For more information, or to learn how to enroll, contact the Music Services Department at international headquarters.
International Music Arrangers Program (IMAP) The IMAP program provides in-depth training and certification for advanced arrangers and is a source of new music arrangements within the organization.
Contact: Contact the Music Services Department for more information on this program.
The Steps Program Administered by the Membership Department at international headquarters, the Steps Program assists prospective choruses through a series of steps to becoming a chartered chapter of Sweet Adelines International.
Contact: For more information on the Steps Program, or for information on starting a new Sweet Adelines chorus, contact the Membership Department at international headquarters.
Young Women In Harmony Program (YWIH) The Young Women In Harmony Program, sponsored by Sweet Adelines International, offers to music educators a means of including the study and performance of barbershop harmony in school music programs. The aim is to provide materials, training and performance opportunities for young women and to foster appreciation for this American musical art form. Free educator kits are provided to music educators. A YWIH Guide for Choruses is also available describing how to become involved in sponsoring a YWIH chorus.
Contact: For more information on the YWIH Program, contact the Education Department at international headquarters.
Copyright Sweet Adelines International
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