Identify the best prospects. Review your network of professional colleagues and identify those who could benefit most from IECA membership. Your co-workers, young professionals, and professionals new to your field are all great prospects and will appreciate that you have gone out of your way to help them with their careers. When meeting new individuals, consider asking whether or not they are a member of the IECA. If not, tell them about IECA.
Post announcements of IECA events on your office bulletin board. Postings provide a great opportunity to explain the value of IECA at an appropriate point in a hallway or break room conversation. Or Keep an issue or two of
IECA Environmental Connection magazine out in your office where it will catch your colleague’s eye. You can reference a headline or article that would be of general interest or specific help with a project.
Know the benefits of membership. IECA provides a wealth of valuable resources to our members. The more familiar that you are with these benefits, the better equipped you will be to discuss them with your colleagues. Try to remember why you first joined and how you have come to value new benefits as your career has progressed. For a complete list of benefits, visit
http://www.ieca.org/benefits
Keep membership materials close. Always keep IECA membership brochures and applications on hand in your office or when attending a professional event. Need membership materials? Contact the IECA membership department to request that we send you membership brochures and applications.
Share your enthusiasm and give examples. Provide your colleagues with examples of how your IECA membership has benefited you in your career. A positive testimonial can be one of the strongest tools when recruiting new members. Recall any special experiences and relate them with energy.
Invite a colleague to attend an IECA Chapter meeting to experience first-hand the professional benefits of IECA membership. This is a great chance for your co-worker or peer to experience both the educational and networking aspects of IECA up close and personal.
Focus on their needs. Each individual has different needs regarding their professional development. Ask questions about their professional goals and what information they are looking for. Based on their answers, identify and highlight the benefits will be of greatest value to them.
Close with plan of action. After discussing the value of membership and your experiences with the IECA, walk them through the process of applying for membership. Provide them with a hard-copy of the IECA membership application. Always refer them to the IECA website, www.ieca.org, so that they can browse the site and get more information following your conversation.
Follow-up. Check back in a few weeks to politely inquire about whether or not they’ve joined and to ask if they have any additional questions. If they haven’t already joined, this follow-up can serve as a reminder for them to do so. Tell them about IECA’s many benefits and how member discounts and networking opportunities easily justify the annual dues.
Thank them. Send them a short message or e-mail, thanking them for considering IECA membership and supporting the stormwater, erosion and sediment control industry. This expression of appreciation for their support of the IECA community puts a professional polish on your recruiting effort.