Find resources for strengthening your membership, greeting and hospitality. This page is a work in progress – make sure to connect via Facebook and Twitter to receive updates. Have a related resource to share or recommend? Use the comment feature on this page.
Visitor to Member Handout (PDF)
This is a one page handout summarizing the four stage membership process outlined in my “From Visitor to Member” presentations. Permission granted to copy and share this resource within local congregations.
UUA Resource Pages
Membership & Growth Case Studies
- Interview with the Rev. Nate Walker (MP3) of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia.
- Welcoming and Integrating New Members (Recorded Webinar) with Rev. Justin Schroeder of the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis.
UUA Membership Email Discussion Lists
- Memb-l Discussion of UU membership and growth issues
- Memb-Pros Discussion for paid membership professionals in UU congregations
- Directory of UUA Email Discussion Lists
Book Recommendations
There a vast number of books that influence my approach on hospitality, membership, outreach and growth. For membership volunteers and professionals I would highly recommend the book Fusion: Turning First-Time Guests into Fully-Engaged Members of Your Church. It focuses in great detail on improving visitors pre-service experience and discusses what guests need from a congregation in order to come back and become a member. It is a very quick, accessible and worth-while read.
Popular Survey Tools
- Google Forms, part of Google Docs — Free.
- Survey Monkey — Low volume for free, pay for additional service.
- Constant Contact, a popular email marketing tool, now offers surveys. — Starting at $15/mo.
UU Association of Membership Professionals Resource Page
http://www.uuamp.org/resources
There are many great resources on the Member Professional’s resource page. If you work with membership you will appreciate that they have many links to full samples from various congregations. The following are the categories of resources listed.
- Orientation Samples
- Position Descriptions
- Recommended Books
- Sample Visitor Questionnaire
- Welcomer/Greeter Training
- Integrating New Members
- Committee Information
- Job/Position Descriptions
- Online Workshops/Podcasts
- Membership related sermons
- Small Group Ministry
- other misc. resources
Go to resource page
The Membership Professionals resource page also includes a growing list of online workshops/webinars including the following. Note some are presented with audio and visuals using Slideshare, others are video.
- Welcoming and Integrating New Members by Justin Schroeder
- Getting ready for fall
- Volunteer Management and Recruitment
- Using Social Media to Fuel Congregational Mission
- Exploring the Gifts Among Us
- Hospitality 202
- What Happens When We Grow?
- Websites Webinar
- Marketing Ideas to Help Your Congregation Grow
- Introduction to Social Media and Public Relations
- Advanced Social Media
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