Our local TV exposure had been widely noticed by friends but did not produce a single new member. The best source of new recruits was the local press, particularly the local free paper which unfortunately is distributed only erratically over part of our catchment area. Our policy is now to concentrate on press releases marking every stage of our progress. This also linked in with our second radio interview. After that we held a summer barbeque to celebrate, which was supplied by and attended by virtually all our members.
Recruitment is about quality as well as quantity.
Yet at least three new members had for one reason or the other been unable to start cultivating their plots seriously, even when offered help, and our policy is always to suggest they give way to others on the waiting list who can begin growing produce. A policy of helping each other has to be combined with the realisation that we cannot carry passengers. This kind of active management of membership requires good communication, tact, and sensitivity to others needs. Above all it involves knowing members as well as possible personally, not just as names on the list. Of course it's easier with small numbers.