Developing A Recycling Plan

THIS DOCUMENT WAS PRODUCED BY THE NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL LEADERSHIP
PROGRAM.  IT IS POSTED BY THE CENTER FOR RURAL STUDIES FOR PUBLIC
USE.  THE CENTER FOR RURAL STUDIES ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE CONTENTS.  FOR MORE INFORMATION, REFER TO THE USERS GUIDE.


                   DEVELOPING A RECYCLING PLAN

Along with the recruiting and orientation process goes a recycling
plan.  That is a plan to do follow-up and reactivate the inactive
member, the drop outs, and those who seldom show.  Some apparent
drop outs merely have become less active than before; some have
lost all interest in the organization and have no desire to
continue membership.  The fact that some members lose interest or
even drop their membership is not necessarily a sign of any failure
on the part of the organization.  The following conditions may
affect the interest and activity of any member within an
organization:

     þ    Changed interests
     þ    Poor health
     þ    New responsibilities
     þ    A general decline in membership in various organizations
     þ    Move to a new location

Every organization should expect some turnover of membership.  If
your organization wants to make a determined effort to re-interest
its inactive members, a subcommittee should review the membership
record of everyone who has dropped out entirely, or has shown
increasing dissatisfaction and lack of interest.  Do any common
factors point to sources of disaffection, loss of interest or
personal problems that led to the members dropping out?

To analyze the situation, discuss the matter of drop outs
thoroughly with inactive or former members.  It may be appropriate
to discuss with the friends or associates of members who have
dropped out the reasons these members have became inactive.

Keep in contact with members who have become inactive and
especially check or follow-up drop outs caused by personal
emergencies (illness, new baby, temporary absence, etc.).  Arrange
a personal interview with members who have dropped out of your
organization or who have become inactive, and keep a record of both
people who have dropped out and the reasons they have done so.  The
sample interview and the drop out record card printed on the next
page will suggest what sort of questions to ask and what sort of
facts to keep.

It must be remembered that to be worth the effort, the comments
from former members need to be applied.  Use this data to guide
training sessions and for organizational planning.



CREDIT: Robert C. Biagi, Cooperative Extension Service, University
of Massachusetts, Amherst.

• Lois M. Frey, UVM Extension, RR #4, Box 2298, Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 223-2389, email: lfrey@sover.net
• "Group Development: Creating Group Effectiveness" by Duane Dale, DFD Associates, 99 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138-3402 (moving to 764 South East Street, Amherst, MA 01022 after 8/1/98);
• Bob Biagi, 142 Cherry Lane, Amherst, MA 01002 (413) 549-1412;

Comments to: crs@uvm.edu
Reviewed as of 4/20/98