Sustaining the Relationship and Supporting the Group

Three of the biggest problems that student groups encounter are (1) changes in leaderships, (2) summer vacation and (3) recruitment and retention problems. These issues can threaten to collapse a student group; however, the support a group receives through your relationship can help them to survive these troubles.

An additional problem facing students as individuals is staying involved after graduation. The vast majority of students involved in this movement cease their involvement after graduation. The relationship with your group can help keep alumni involved and active in the freethought movement.

Change in Leadership

• Encourage current officers to explain the collaborative relationship or network to their replacements.
• Contact new officers immediately to introduce yourself.
• Attend the first meeting of the year to re-introduce your organization and to re-establish relations with officers.
• Allow new officers to run the organization the way they see fit. Do not expect them to be the same kind of leader as the former officer.

Summer Vacation

• Develop a listserv so that members of both groups can keep in touch during the summer.
• Get new contact information from officers before they leave for summer break.
• Plan a big joint event to kick off the school year. Designate one or two individuals from each organization who will be in charge of planning it over the summer. This will keep everyone engaged and ensure continued contact over break.

Membership Retention and Recruitment

• Ask students how many members they have, and if they are having problems with recruitment and retention. Be sure to ask them if they would like you to help before you do anything!
• Encourage students to constantly recruit, even if they currently have 500 members.
• If numbers start to fall, put them in touch with the SSA. We have material specifically designed to combat membership recruitment and retention problems.
• Help the group throw a big event or bring in a well-known speaker. Events that get big publicity bring in big numbers. In the long run, this means more publicity for the group and more individuals who are exposed to the movement.

Alumni Development

• Talk to juniors and seniors about how they can continue their involvement after graduation.
• Help graduates find a local freethought group in the area they are relocating to. The SSA can help - ask us!
• Encourage students staying in the area to attend your meetings after graduation.
• Offer one free year of membership following graduation, or another incentive
• Send special invitations to alumni for meetings and/or events
• Give new alumni members important responsibilities. Encourage them to become officers in your organization.
• Encourage alumni members to keep in contact with their former student group.
• Encourage internships with national/international freethought organizations (the SSA offers internships every summer and sometimes during the school year as well), and tell them about job opportunities in the movement.

You Can Also

• Designate one or two people in your organization to be in charge of the collaboration program. Or, create an entire committee to help facilitate it. This way, students know who to contact and that this person will be knowledgeable and helpful.
• Engage in fundraising specifically for your youth programs.
• Let your members know how they can help out.