Drive Your Club Membership
Becky Masterman & Bridget Mendel
Becky Masterman led the UMN Bee Squad from 2013-2019. Bridget Mendel joined the Bee Squad in 2013 and has led the program since 2020. Photos of Becky (left) and Bridget (right) looking for their respective hives. If you would like to contact the authors with your own bee club storied or other thoughts, please send an email to
mindingyourbeesandcues@gmail.com
Beekeeping sure isn’t the same as it used to be. We’ve all heard that sentiment and even brand-new beekeepers are nostalgic for the good old days before mites arrived and landscapes diminished their floweriness. Let’s face it, mites, increased costs of beekeeping and a global pandemic have impacted the membership rolls of beekeeping organizations. Club membership is paralleling bee management to the point that intervention is necessary to keep it healthy.
Beekeeping has changed, but beekeepers have not. We are people drawn in and fascinated by this incredible animal, all of us with a deep love for our bees no matter what else we do or don’t have in common. For both this constancy, and for all the complicated changes, we need each other. That’s why bee clubs still exist.
They exist, but how? Are our beekeeping clubs as robust, exciting and useful as they could be? Are memberships and meeting attendance up? If you think your club is thriving, send us a note, and meanwhile, we’ll tell you about ours, and how we are thinking about possible ways to increase their popularity.
Take a look at your club mission statement. Does it reflect the current issues facing beekeepers today? Know where you have been, currently are and are going? Do beekeepers possibly need different things than they did when your organization was founded 100 years ago? Can you revisit the goals of your organization while celebrating its history instead of embracing traditions that no longer serve members? Has your organization found a way to support backyard, sideliner and commercial beekeepers so that your membership supports the diverse industry needs, thus allowing for everyone to work together to support bee health?
We* have reported the work of the Minnesota Honey Producers Association (MHPA) in past Bee Culture articles as they have made some important changes that address the changing needs of beekeepers and bees. The MHPA ended their Queen Program in favor of an Ambassador Program that encourages broad participation of people skilled in bee education and promotion. They also started a Habitat Program where promotion of habitat for honey bees and other pollinators addresses a critical need for the industry and environment. Check out this recent Beekeeping Today Podcast Episode where these two programs are discussed: https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/minnesota-honey-producers-ambassador-program-and-more-s5-e16/
Looking for opportunities to expand membership by bringing in new and lost members is a task best brainstormed by both club leadership and interested members. You might be surprised at how easy it can be to generate renewed enthusiasm for your club. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Driving club membership, like beekeeping, is best done when you make the membership experience a priority. Photo credit: Alpha Stock Images
http://alphastockimages.com/
Engage Your Current Membership
- Thank and acknowledge your current members. The Texas Beekeepers Association (https://texasbeekeepers.org/), as reported by MHPA past president, Dan Whitney, has an excellent system for recognizing member contributions. Invest time in making sure that your members know you appreciate them.
- Offer your lapsed or renewing members a deal that they can’t refuse.
- Consider a ‘benefits package’ for members who serve on your board or volunteer for your club. A free membership, cool swag or a comped convention fee might go a long way in incentivizing membership and participation. Before you start complaining about how service to your club should not be compensated, know that for some, even a low membership fee payment might be a significant part of the week’s grocery bill.
- Send a survey to current and former members and ask the tough questions about your club. What are you doing right, what can you do better and where did you go wrong?
- Engage your board in membership development. Build a strong membership committee. Consider a hospitality committee. Are you making all members feel welcomed? Make sure that you encourage your leadership and members to introduce themselves to anyone they don’t recognize. Keep contact lists updated. Circulate the list of lapsed members at your next board meeting. Is there anyone your leadership could personally reach out to and ask why they decided to leave the group and ask them to return?
- Speakers. Nothing is better than a great speaker at your meeting to draw a crowd. Make a list of current issues that face your bees and beekeepers and then brainstorm guest speaker ideas. Plan ahead to book speakers and if they aren’t available, offer them another time slot. In demand guests often book out their calendars a year in advance. Take advantage of this opportunity and line up your speakers into the future!
Encourage New Memberships
- Make a list of why someone would want to join your group and then add to it. Once you have this list, advertise it.
- Estimate how much you spend per member or ask what is your carrying cost per member. Add up postage, facility rental, coffee, etc. and divide it by your membership. Look to this number when making decisions about membership promotions as they likely will provide a great return.
- Keep underserved community members in mind. Consider offering the first year’s membership free to these groups and provide an ongoing discounted membership.
- Don’t be shy about inviting new members to serve on committees. Let people know that the strength of your club depends on their participation.
- Check your website and social media channels and make sure you have up to date information. Is the information easy to access?
Are there other language options that might help you reach out to local beekeepers? Make sure your contact information is current and works. Eliminate dead links. - Have a calendar that current and potential members can visit to learn about the opportunities you offer and keep it up to date. Use social media (we find that Facebook Events are a great way to advertise offerings) and find someone to monitor it.
- Evaluate your resources and education. Are you offering support to beekeepers who need help? Do you offer monthly management at meetings, a time for new beekeepers to ask questions (the Southeast Minnesota Beekeepers Association (https://semnbeekeeping.com/) offers an early meeting start time to new beekeepers to discuss management and issues), demonstration hives, a library of beekeeping books, resources for planting bee habitat, classes for new and advanced beekeepers, etc.
- Check out other beekeeping groups for ideas (and always credit them when used).
Joshua Muñoz, the first Minnesota Honey Producers Association Ambassador, speaking at the 2022 MHPA Summer Convention. Photo credit: Rebecca Masterman
If you made it this far and aren’t a member of a beekeeping club, we ask you to reconsider your choice. Joining a beekeeping club is a proven way to become a better beekeeper and network with other bee enthusiasts. Many successful beekeepers are members of multiple local, regional and national beekeeping organizations. While members benefit from club education and community, it is also an excellent opportunity for you to give back to the colony of beekeepers who are supporting the industry.
*Bridget and Becky are both members of the Minnesota Honey Producers Association.
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to thank Dr. Marla Spivak for helpful edits and suggestions.
