I am looking for some advice on how to attract new members to our group.  Any suggestions would be welcome.  I apologize if this should be posted in another folder.

Private Joseph Eversole

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--Last edited by oldkingcrow on 2008-02-13 16:13:08 --

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OldKingCrow wrote :  I would round up a small medium and large of trousers, shirt, jacket and hat of your main impression...and a rifle and leathers....ANY spectator who shows an advanced interest ask em if they want to fall in right there on the spot today... offer the loaner kit...you will be amazed at folks who are into CW that show up to view an event when asked will jump on the oppty...then assign your most socially adept troop to mentor the fish and get em in the ranks safely...boom instant convert

Chris,

My Unit used to do exactly that, but we had to quit. Up until a couple of years ago, we could buy a couple of "John Doe" insurance policies that would cover people we pulled off the street. You can't get them anymore, so we've stopped dressing up spectators. We have a strict policy, if you aren't insured, you don't play.

We now have a Membership Committee. We get the name, address, and telephone number of anyone who shows an interest. We send them a "Recruit's Guide" and hook them up with a member who lives nearby. Our goal is to have the "Fresh Fish" ready for the very next local event. In many cases, we actually bring them to the event. We can completly equip two "Fish" from the loaner box. Old farts, like me, can equip more, if needed.

At the end of one event, you know if the person is interested in us. Equally important, we know if we are interested in them.

Get yourself a civilian contingent made up of young single girls.. and you will get the young blood to join up..  

Actually I would agree with the idea of first know what you want in your recruits.  Do you want people who are like minded or do you just want bodies to fill the ranks?

For our unit, we made up business cards that can be carried in our wallet and if we find someone who is intersted in learning more about us, we can give them a card which directs them to our website.  There they can see who we are and stuff like that.

We also do keep loaner equipment with us, but we don't kit someone up there on the field.  We typically will bring someone new to an event with us, after one of the senior members of the group has drilled them or worked with them at home on the school of the soldier.  Our bylaws require 4 hours of drill minimum before you can take the field in our unit and particpate in a battle.

Go to events and steal them.  No, I'm not kidding. I used to go to all the living histories in Gettysburg, on the battlefield, almost every weekend. The NPS at one time had pretty strict standards as to who they'd allow on the field. I'd find the guy(s) with the "material culture" our group demanded, chat with them, and, invite them to events. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. That's the way sales works.

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--Last edited by oldkingcrow on 2008-02-13 16:13:45 --

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OldKingCrow wrote : I am guessing your insurance doesnt cover the man anyways it indemnifies your charter org or corp from claims.

Chris,

No, our insurance covers the individual reenactor and his family, if they participate. Frankly, I wouldn't get within a quarter mile of a reenactment site without liability insurance.

Grumpy,

Don't laugh too hard. I know of at least two groups who still do that at G'burg just about every weekend they can get out and hit the three LH points. Let me tell you they were definitely in force at Spangler's Spring last September recruiting, or as Doug Oakes would say, "rifle robbing." Didn't hear anyone mention a signing bonus.

Bill,

Our group is by invitation only, and per the bylaws prohibited from soliciting aka "wallpapering the waterfront." Rarely do we have someone come in off the street, although a good number of park visitors do inquire about the hobby. Although an invitation isn't difficult to get, I wouldn't mind seeing this change, and may ask for this to be a minor agenda item in May. After 8 years of averaging 30 to 35 members, maybe it's good not to fix something that ain't broke, too.

In terms of insurance, being a member of an incorporated group is a good thing, having individual reenactor insurance is generally a good thing, and the last claim in the battalion was in 2001, if memory serves me, and having event insurance is a good thing. From looking at the meeting notes from some of the larger organizations, some of whom have been around for decades, the trend appears to be heading towards a sole source, or nearly so, insurance provider. For the purpose of competition keeping the premiums reasonable, I'm not so sure I'm all that comfortable with that, since prices have gone up about 250% in ten years -- roughly speaking. On the other hand, the new opportunity with event insurance should save approximately $7,500 per year, so that may make us smile a little, and the savings translates into more money for preservation.

None of this really helps with the initial question of how to recruit for Co. K, 28th Mass. in New England. Say hello to Pam and Todd for me.  The CWRTs are good sources, the visitors at various events, and don't forget the age old advertising opportunities in the 4 to 6 major hobby publications. I find people with a history bug tend to want to dabble with living some of that history, but that isn't always the case.

Nobody has yet mentioned their group's website as a recruiting tool.  We get more initial contacts from ours than any other means of recruiting. Of course, the follow-up contact is key and we work hard to mentor our new recruits. We also have 3 sets of loaner uniforms and equipment that we are quick to offer whenever someone first contacts us.

Phil McBride
Co. K, 6th Texas Inf.
The Alamo Rifles

The website is indeed a useful tool but more importantly is the response if you make an inquiry through it.

I've only been involved for just over a year and it was through websites that I found out about reenacting, various units throughout the country and then narrowed down my search to units close to home (Cincinnati at this time.)

I eventually narrowed it down to two units and both were very responsive to my questions and such but I settled on the 6th OVI for a couple of reasons:
1.  They are based out of Camp Dennison Ohio which is less than 30 minutes from where I live
2.  I heard from no less than two members of the unit who were very helpful and informative without me feeling totally lost.
3.  They invited me to the company meeting (January 2007) and to a man I was made to feel welcome, no questions were considered silly.  Expectations were very clearly explained and help in all areas were offered.  
4.  I joined immediately and have never felt anything but that I had always been a part of the group.

The website can certainly be the beginning step of the recruitment process but it's what takes place with the human contact that "seals the deal" and gets the new recruit to enlist...in my not so humble opinion.

There's many keys to successful recruiting...most have been mentioned...but I did not see anyone mention a "dynamic program".  Having a well-balanced calender with Living Histories, Reenactments (of the hardcore variety or not), and Preservation oriented activities...will all help in recruitment/retention.

Most people (hardcore/mainstream) who get into the hobby are looking for some sort of experience, don't want their time wasted, and want to be apart of something awesome.  By having a "dynamic program" that meets your units goals is a sure way to recruit and retain membership.

Paul B.

[quote]You've made additional valid points Paul.  I believe that is one of the reasons I appreciate the unit I joined.  My first exposure included a good bit of history about the 6th Ohio, where they originate, how, etc.

I was clueless until my first company meeting and to hear that we did training, reenacting, living history and battlefield preservation (Perryville) was exciting to me.  I'm 57 and joining the hobby late in life but everything that was offered appealed to me.

Certainly, as with most "hobbies" if there is not a sense of enjoyment, fulfillment and a feeling that the time you spent was worthwhile then you'll not stick around long.  Variety, they say is the spice of life.

BY the way, the quote from the tombstone of Capt. Willet is a verse from an Issac Watts Hymn "Teach me the Measure of my Days."

One of the other things you need to consider is how quickly you want to try to grow your unit.

We have learned with our group that we can handle about 2-3 new guys per year.  Anything more than that unless they are coming from another group and have established kits, will tax our loaner equipment.

Our bylaws state that at no event should the number of new members exceed 50% of the membership.  This way you have mentors to help those who are new both on and off the field.  

I wonder if anyone has had any luck with trying to recruit at gun shows or by putting a table in a mall and talking to passer byes?   When I was with my infantry unit we tried the gun shows and I don’t remember having gained even one member with this method.

Good question you've posed Major.  I would imagine the best method for recruiting is one-on-one although there are many ways to reach many people.

I've persoanlly invited at least a half dozen to check out getting involved in reenacting (including my two sons who have no thoughts of intentionally sleeping on the ground!) targeting those that I know are interested in the CW.  No takers as yet.

I know if I had gone to an actual reenactment 20 years ago I'd probably now be in my 20th year as I'm sure I would have signed up on the spot.  I would imagine that the actual site with visitors coming through the camp would be great opportunity as well.