National Newcomer’s
Council of
2006 Annual General
Meeting
On behalf of my outgoing board,
sincere thanks go to Ruth Campbell and her wonderful crew, Pam LeMoine, Pam Byrtus and Sharon
Grant for their heroic efforts in hosting such a splendid and well attended
event.
The Friday evening get together was
at
Saturday’s meeting at the hallowed
Press Club went off beautifully. The
organization was flawless and Paulette Bourre as
Master of Ceremonies moved us along briskly and with great humour.
The Executive took the opportunity to
extend their friendship to the gathering and to report on their achievements
and responsibilities this past year. My
sincere thanks go to my wonderful support team, the 2006 National Newcomer’s
Council of
Mary Jane Maffini
provided insight into the life of an Ottawa area mystery writer, having us all
contribute to a hero and plot, perhaps for a future book?!
A band of traveling musicians
provided some delightful beauty for our listening pleasure and a memorable
anniversary wish for
We finished the full day on a high
note, introducing the new board members from
An invitation was issued to all to
join National at next year’s event in
Yours in friendship,
Past President
National Newcomer’s Council of
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1.One of the objectives of your club is to make sure members feel
welcomed. What tactics does your club use to ensure that your members mingle?
_ Arrange a buddy system to provide a
ride to Newcomers for their first outing
_ Have 2
Hospitality Greeters
_Jot in 2
evening dinner meetings for the year (different people might attend)
_Depending
on membership numbers, September’s meeting could be a pot-luck at a community
center
_Depending
on attendance for the 1st September meeting, assigned seating is the
rule
_Take a
number to sit at tables
_Each member
on the executive sits at different tables and is vocally identified
_Newcomers’
name tags have a red dot for their 1st year. This is announced to
everyone at all monthly meetings.
_ Newcomers
are introduced (name and where they are from) and briefly stand. Executive
makes the rounds to chat with them during free time.
_ Allot time
ex. ˝ an hour before scheduled activity . Purses can
be placed on chairs for reserved seating but an open space is provided for
standing and mingling.
_ Presence
of men valid for a few events
2. Which
activity in your club attracts members and why?
_ Fun
Lunches =variety of different foods and at times recipes are shared
_ Walking
Club = outdoor activity
_ Out and About = learn about the city
_ Stitch and
Chat = social time
_ Lunch and
Dinner Meetings = business , good speakers
_ Antiquing
= admire and learn about old objects
_ Welcome
Coffee = people are friendly
_ Scrap
Booking = no previous experience needed, learn new methods
_ Book Club
= variety of authors, interesting discussions
_ Gallery
Tour = new exhibitions
_ Bridge or
Euchre = social, activates the mind
_ Monthly
Saturday breakfasts or Monthly lunches = social, try out different venues
_ Pot Luck
evening = social, themed dinners
_ Theatre
evening = social, awareness of new productions
_ Sports’
Gatherings = bowling, golf, badminton, games night; in order to socialize
either as couples or as singles
3. Your
club promotes itself through numerous venues; discuss these venues.
_ Word of
mouth
_ Business
cards
_ Prepared
pamphlets
_ Paper
sections of: _Penny Savers , Local paper, “What’s On
…” , Magazine promoting the city
_
Businesses: City Hall , Welcome Wagon , Real Estate Companies , Grocery Bulletin
Boards, Tourist Bureau , Fitness Centers , Condominium Bulletin Boards ,
Local Malls
, Libraries , Radio Station , Television Station , Train and Bus
Stations
_ Web Sites : your city one
_ Other suggestions : Wearing badges or t-shirts promoting your club
4. As a
non-profit organization we do require certain funds to operate activities. What
would you recommend to raise money ?
_ 50 – 50
draws
_ 25 – 75
draws
_Special
activities such as selling tickets for door prizes
_ Silent
auction
5a) What is it about the club that has you coming back year
after year?
_ Friendship
_ Various activities; book clubs, dining out, walking group
etc…
_ Structure
to one’s life
_ Enjoy
different venues
_ Get to
know the city
_ Interesting
speakers
_
Entertainment groups
_ Meeting
new people
_ Meeting
other nationalities
_ Learning new things
_ First
contact in a
_ Enjoying afternoon or evening outings
_ New outings : Lobster evening, Wine and Cheese evening etc…
b) What do
you do to promote your club?
_ Word of
mouth
_ Website
address given
_ Let neighbors know about us
_ Let guest speakers know about us
_ Club
brochure left at different venues
_ Local free
advertising
_ Business
cards handed out
_ Approach city
councilors to advise them of the club and inquire if city can do something to
promote us
_If someone moving
elsewhere, offer them info about contacting club in that area
6. Discuss
the pros and cons in starting a REGOGNITION PROGRAM for years of Membership in
your city club.
Pros
Cons
_Record
keeping possible within own club _Record keeping not possible
for National.
_Honor the
person for length of membership _Someone may be overlooked
_Award a
pin, a certificate or flower at last June
_ Fund raising might
be
meeting.
necessary to cover cost.
_This
approved form follows you to your new club _ Not all clubs will have a
Recognition Program.
_Honor
someone who has done something special _ Guidelines would have to be
for the club.
established
_10 years
would be the grid to base one’s recognition.
_ Not each club would have the
This would
be membership of Newcomers plus Alumnae.
same grid.
_
Information appears on name tags ( year began in
the _ When do you start this?
city as a Newcomer member)
Retroactive for existing
or only new members?
_ Within the same club, long time members (30 years) _ How do you validate all
do not pay dues and receive honorary membership this?
_ Founding members
get an honorary membership _
Record keeping recorded?
_ Colored
name tags = 10 years _ bronze _ Who
will administer all this?
= 15 years _
silver
= 20 years _
gold
= 25 years _
honorary membership
7.
Attracting and keeping younger members is vital to our club. What are we doing
to address this?
-
“
The Young and The Restless Group” ( catchy title to attract younger women
reading
the newsletter ).
-
Consider
the 30 –40 age group as our younger members.
-
Activities
should be inexpensive.
-
Balance
of day and evening activities.
-
Include
partners at certain events.
-
Small
group situations are more welcoming.
-
Activity
co-ordination rotates among membership.
-
Try
to get a younger member on the executive.
-
The
community newspaper, word of mouth and e-mails are sources of
information to attract them.
Activities of interest that appeal to
younger people.
Suggestions:
Moms and Tots, Walking group, Movie Night, Bowling,
Barbecues, Pot Lucks,
Pub Night or Pizza Night.
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