CPF BC & Yukon Conference 2011 - Building Your Base

Building Your Base
Membership & Recruitment for CPF
Chapters

Why did you join
Canadian Parents for
French (CPF)?

Common motivations for
joining CPF:

1) You want to support French Second
Language (FSL) education
2) You want a particular benefit for yourself
or your children
3) You are invited by someone you know

British Columbia & Yukon Branch

Where did you find
out about CPF?

Where to find
members:
* Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meetings
* Parent information sessions
* Advocacy events
* School functions
* Socio-cultural events
* CPF meetings
* At school
* Through friends


Why membership is important
MEMBERSHIP SUPPORTS YOUR CHAPTER…
Our members form our network. The information they provide about issues, trends, successes, and
failures is vital to our effectiveness. They give essential direction to our leaders about positions and
activities to be undertaken.

Our members give us a voice. The opinions of scores at the chapter level, thousands at the
provincial/territorial level, and many thousands at the national level count for more than the opinions
of just a few. Every brief, request, or position taken by CPF leaders is only as strong as the number of
members they represent!

Members bring new energy, new perspectives and new enthusiasm. We need new members to keep
CPF alive, vital, and relevant.

Our members are also our volunteers. Without them we are unable to create and promote
opportunities for young Canadians to learn and use French as a second language.

CPF is funded in part by its members, and the local chapter receives 80% of the membership fee.
These resources allow chapters to fund activities at the local level that would not otherwise be
possible.


CONVINCE WITH
CONVINCE WITH CONVERSATION:
the Basics
CONVERSATION!
a) Approach like minded FSL supporters

b) INSTEAD OF CRAFTING A SALES PITCH, TRY
HAVING A CONVERSATION!

Convince with Conversation

HOW TO USE THIS APPROACH

1) LISTEN
“Ask what they think works well
about FSL education, what they
want improved, and what they’d like
to see happen at their child’s
school…”




1) LISTEN “Share why YOU joined CPF and why
“Ask whatbelieve it’s works well
you still they think worthwhile…
comment on how their
2) SHARE about FSL education, what they
ideas connect to CPFs mandate.”
want improved, and what they’d like
to see happen at their child’s
school…”




Let them know that chapters across Canada are:
1) LISTEN “Communicate to YOU joined CPF and why
“Share why
 teaching parents on how to help kids succeed in French
them the great believe it’s worthwhile…
you still
 doingwork thatwork
advocacy CPF
comment on how their
2) SHARE  building community
does…”ideas connect to CPFs mandate.”
 hosting great FSL events
3) EXPLAIN Explain that the BC & Yukon Branch & National offices provide
support BUT your CHAPTER is made up of LOCAL PARENTS, who
work together to promote French second language opportunities
in your community.




Let them know that chapters across Canada are:
1) LISTEN
 teaching parents on how to help kids succeed in French
 doing advocacy work
2) SHARE “If you can
building community
participate we’d events
hosting great FSL
love to have you!”
3) EXPLAIN Explain that the BC & Yukon Branch & National offices provide
support BUT your CHAPTER is made up of LOCAL PARENTS, who
4) INVITE work together to promote French second language opportunities
in your community.
You might say:


Offer a membership brochure (the CPF – BC
HOW TO USE THIS APPROACH & Yukon Branch can provide these). If
possible, take the form and membership fee
and mail it in yourself.

1) LISTEN If they decline, promote how membership
supports your local chapter.
2) SHARE “If you can
participate we’d TRY SAYING: “If you can’t participate, but
love to have you!”you can contribute the $25 membership
3) EXPLAIN fee, that’s helpful, too. Our local budget
comes from those fees. Membership also
comes with benefits, like the ability to
4) INVITE register for BC Family French Camp…”
You might say:


What this approach is good For: This isOffer a membership brochure (the who – BC
a great way to connect with people CPF are
HOW TO USE THIS APPROACH &are most likely to join, come these). If and
committed to CPFs mandate. These people Yukon Branch can provide to meetings,
contribute their time. possible, take the form and membership fee
and mail it in yourself.
What this approach is not good for: Quick
1) LISTENYou won’t get mass publicityIfthe results! This approachlarge event, and not
and patience. they decline, promotea
takes time, practice
way you might with how membership
supports your local chapter.
everyone you speak with will want to sign up.
2) SHARE “If you can
Bridging the gap: Know that these conversations are never wasted. participate, but
participate we’d TRY SAYING: “If you can’t If you take the time
to engage with people, they’ll havegood sensecanwhat CPF does and be well-equipped to
love to get a you!”you of contribute the $25 membership
3) EXPLAIN Whether or not they fee, that’s helpful,to spread the word, and
spread the message. sign up, ask them too. Our local budget
comes from those fees. Membership also
encourage them to visit www.cpf.bc.ca to learn more. Invite them to find out about the
future meetings by contacting you, someone else with benefits, like or the Branch office
4) INVITE
comes from your chapter, the ability to
1-800-665-1222! register for BC Family French Camp…”
You might say:


WALK THE TALK:
SHOW THE VALUE OF
CPF

WALK THE TALK:
SHOW THE VALUE OF CPF:
SHOW THE VALUE OF
the Basics
CPF
a) Hold educational and entertaining events

a) Promote members-only benefits

Show the Value of CPF
a) Through Events…

Host an Information Event:
• Kindergarten or Late French
Immersion Orientation Use your Socio Cultural Events to
• Transition to Middle School/High promote CPF:
School event • Branch Socio-cultural grant
• Annual CPF Orientation/Social applications are open until
November 21!

Develop relationships with other
community groups, local
Francophone organizations, etc.
Maybe they host events that your
chapter can participate in to
promote CPF or even co-host

a) Through Events…

Host an Information Event:
• Kindergarten or Late French
Immersion Orientation Use your Socio Cultural events to
• Transition to Middle School/High promote CPF:
School event • Branch Socio-cultural grant
• Annual CPF Orientation/Social applications are open until
November 21!

Develop relationships with other
community groups, local
Francophone organizations, etc.
Maybe they host events that your
chapter can participate in to
promote CPF or even co-host.

b) Promote members-only benefits

In addition to membership benefits listed on the website www.cpf.bc.ca, consider your
chapter design it’s own!

Maybe you could:

* Create a scholarship that only the children of members receive. Establish clear,
unbiased, structured criteria.

* In addition to membership drive prizes available at the Branch level, consider extra
incentives for new members who join.

* Require membership for particular events or services. Remember: your event must
be very appealing and cost effective



In addition to membership benefits listed on the website www.cpf.bc.ca, consider your
In addition to concrete benefits, proactively
chapter design it’s own!
communicate the valuable work your chapter has
been doing and wouldn’t have been possible
Maybe you could: without CPF. Have a CPF table or bulletin board in
your schools. Take time at each meeting to take a
* Create a scholarship back only share with new members receive. Establish clear,
step that and the children of arrivals the great
unbiased, structured criteria.
work your chapter has done in the last month.

* In addition to membership drive prizes available at the Branch level, consider extra
incentives for new members who join.

* Require membership for particular events or services. Remember: your event must
be very appealing and cost effective


What this approach is good for: This is a great way to get your name out
there. It gives people concreteconcrete benefits, proactively is doing valuable work.
In addition to
evidence that your chapter
It also lets you combine recruitment with thingsyour chapter has
communicate the valuable work you already wanted to do! Even if
no one buys a membership, yourwouldn’t have been possible
been doing and chapter made a contribution to FSL education
that wouldn’t have happened without you. or bulletin board in
without CPF. Have a CPF table
your schools. Take time at each meeting to take a
What this approach is and share with newUnless you great special efforts to
step back not good for: arrivals the make
work your chapter has done in the last month.
recruit events are usually ineffective ways to generate new memberships and
encourage people to volunteer. Even people who are genuinely interested and
grateful will rarely take the initiative and contact you after an event.


Bridging the gap: Make a group announcement at events, but also talk to
What thisask them to sign up individually. a great way to get your name out
people and approach is good for: This is
there. It gives people concrete evidence that your chapter is doing valuable work.
It the format ofcombine recruitment consider taking these steps:
If also lets you your event allows it, with things you already wanted to do! Even if
• Have a friendly CPF member greet parents at contribution to if education
no one buys a membership, your chapter made athe door and askFSLthey are
that wouldn’t have happened without you.
members.
• Invite parents to leave their contact information for future events. Circulate a
What this approach is not good for:later to ask for their feedback andto
volunteer sign-up sheet. Contact them Unless you make special efforts to
recruit events are your next CPF meeting. to generate new memberships and
invite them to usually ineffective ways
• Set up apeoplewith membership forms and a CPF members. At the end of the
encourage table to volunteer. Even people who are genuinely interested and
grateful will rarely take the initiative for all its efforts and pointevent. table. Try to
event, have a speaker thank CPF and contact you after an out the
place the table in a place that parents need to pass on their way out..


LET YOUR NETWORK
DO THE WORK

LET YOUR NETWORK
YOUR MEMBERS ARE
DO THE WORK
YOUR CHAPTER’S BEST
ASSET!

Let your network do the work

Members are
recruiters…
Each member brings to your chapter a network of other
potential members and useful contacts: their friends, their
children’s teachers, their children’s prior teachers, the parents
of their children’s friends, French tutors, PAC presidents…

Ask them to bring one extra person to the next meeting. Bring
one extra person yourself.

Ask them if they know any well-placed contacts who can help
spread the word about CPF.

Contact dormant members, ask them if they can tell a friend
about your next meeting.

Let your network do the work

Members are
What this approach is good for: This approach is far more reliable a way to increase
recruiters…
your meeting turnout and Each member brings to your chapter little written other
active membership than sending out a network of
communication to strangers. It can get impressive results contacts: their little effort.
potential members and useful with relatively friends, their
Ironically, this is such a simple method that several chapters don’t bother with it. parents
children’s teachers, their children’s prior teachers, the
of their children’s friends, French tutors, PAC presidents…
What this approach is not good for: Your network is limited by your existing
Ask them to bring one extra person to the next meeting. Bring
connections. There are only so many people you can ask before you need to move on to
one extra person yourself.
strangers. This approach can also limit your chapter’s exposure to different demographics
and ideas.
Ask them if they know any well-placed contacts who can help
spread the word about CPF.
Bridging the gap: Instead of asking everyone in your members to ask every one of their
acquaintances to join CPF, Contact dormant members, ask them if they can tell a friend
keep this commitment small: every person simply brings one
new face to the next meeting, and asks onemeeting.contacts to spread the word. This will
about your next of their
help prevent burnout and resentment – and potentially double you numbers.

MERCI
!
Thank you for your time… Contact Info:
Erika Rosales, erosales@cpf.bc.ca
Chapter Support & Outreach Officer
CPF – BC & Yukon Branch
Phone: 778-329-9115 – ext. 315
Toll free: 1-800-665-1222 – ext. 315


Understanding Retention:
1) How did you become involved in your
local chapter?

2) What keeps you committed at the
chapter level and in CPF?

3) What skills and experiences have you
gained from your time with CPF?

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