How to Recruit Members

Recruiting new members can seem difficult, especially if you've just started a club. Here are a few tips:

1. Spread the word online. There are many sites available for groups who want to organize online (Facebook, MySpace, Yahoo Groups, Google Groups, Meetup.com, etc.) Use as many as you can manage. You don't have to use all of the services each provides, either. The goal is to show up in the results when someone searches for "Ayn Rand," "Atlas Shrugged," "Objectivism," or any other related term. You want those people to find you.
2. Show life. Instead of posting a flyer about your group that only states when you meet, also include the date of the next meeting, and post a new flyer after each meeting. If your group has a space on multiple social sites, update them all with the next meeting at the same time. These actions demonstrate that your group is active and alive.
3. Keep meeting dates and times consistent. One of the hardest tasks for a group organizer is finding the best meeting time. Everybody has different schedules, and it can be impossible to find a time that works for everyone. Ask your regular members for the days and times that work for them, find a consistent day and time that works best, and then stick with it. If you continually adjust your meeting to accommodate the schedules of a few individuals, you make it difficult for a potential member to know when you meet.
4. Involve yourself in relevant topics. Short letters to the editor or statements in the college student newspaper with your Objectivist group in your signature will bring exposure to your group and show how Objectivist ideas can be applied to current events. Keep your statement short and to-the-point, and treat it merely as a way to toss out a few ideas for public consumption.
5. Use the activities fair. Most schools have an activities fair once or twice a year for campus clubs to advertise themselves to students. Many students learn about clubs this way. Find out when the fair is, reserve a spot, and show up with information about your club and about Objectivism.

Gaining a new member has two sides: You reaching out to them, and them deciding to come to you. Many people with an interest in Objectivism are busy, goal-oriented people, so you might not see an immediate effect from your efforts. Consistent recruiting over time, however, does pay off and is the only way to build a club.

Darren Cauthon is the president of the Kansas City Objectivists.