Promotional Idea
New members are the lifeblood of a garden club. FFGC has a membership information page with ideas for recruiting members as well as reports from the Membership Chairmen.* The National Garden Club is hosting "Membership Mondays," the second Monday of the month on zoom. Get some great ideas! See their Facebook Post to register for an upcoming session, or see the Membership Mondays link at the NGC Member Resources page and follow the registration instructions.
Below are more ideas from District IV.
Have a Community Presence
Plant Sale or Swap, or Open House events - be sure to advertise in newspapers and your social media, and have promotional material on hand
Hold a flower show exhibit, or exhibits featuring potted plants, or container gardening, etc. - use local news sources and your social media, and have promotional material on hand
Set up a club table with freebies and promotional materials at local events such as Arbor Day, Federal/State/Municipal occasions, events at UF/IFAS Extension Center, and county fairs
An FFGC matching grant can help defray expenses for outreach, education, or community enhancement. See the Awards page for application procedures.
Media
Create a trifold poster to display at your club's table for a public event. Showcase the club name, website/Facebook page, and decorate it with fun photos and newspaper/newsletter clippings. Consider buying a personalized banner for an all-weather advertisement.
Use newspapers and community newsletters to write an informational article, describe a recent event, or showcase local items of interest, such as a Yard-of-the- Month winner. Be sure to include your club's contact info and an invitation to the public to attend a program, etc.
Electronic newsletters and neighborhood bulletin boards like NextDoor, or community Facebook groups reach persons who share your interests. If your members are part of various social media groups, they can post your club's events and invitations.
Your club should have a presence on its own website or Facebook page or group.
Printed materials such as brochures can be left in libraries and bulletin boards at stores and restaurants. You can order FFGC brochures for a very nominal cost and personalize them with your club's information. The FFGC rack card lists the many benefits of membership. See the Facebook Video
Business cards come in handy. There are several printer businesses to choose from (Vistaprint no longer offers free business cards, but you can get up to 500 cards for around $20 if you order during a sale). When designing your card leave the back of the card blank so members can put their own contact information on the card. If you use FFGC rack cards you can staple your club's card to it for a professional looking package.
Meeting or event visitors should never leave a meeting empty-handed. A brochure or business card can help them remember you. You can also give them a bookmark from an organization you support such as MonarchWatch. Your outreach Chairman can also follow up with the guest to thank them for attending and to invite them to visit again. This is easy to do if you have them sign a guestbook and supply contact information.
FFGC and NGC offer awards for publicity materials and social media. See the Awards page for more information.
See additional pages in this section: Resources, Program Ideas, Meeting Archives, and Publications (which has our Membership Chairman's Membership Newsletter).
*Note: FFGC offers incentives for clubs that recruit the most new members; Award 9, Special Membership Incentive, is offered in even-numbered years (the first program year) and Award 61, Nell Coe is awarded in odd-numbered years (the second/last program year).