Throughout the summer, we've been learning from the leadership of Nordlyset 5-183 in Racine, WI about the changes the lodge has made that have allowed it to be one of the fastest growing lodges in the organization. A highly successful membership breakfast and a greater emphasis on programming that attracts members of all ages are both contributing factors to the lodge's [...]
With fall right around the corner and lodges beginning to meet more regularly, now is the perfect time to start planning events and programs, establish recruitment goals and develop new strategies for your lodge heading into the busy holiday season. Why now? Because the period between Thanksgiving and the New Year is when lodges typically attract the most new members. Is [...]
Is your lodge ready for the new year? If you recall from the October issue of R&R, elections are an important and exciting time for a lodge.This article discusses how mentoring newly elected leadership will help officers transition into some of the regular tasks and routines they will experience in their new role. So with transitions being so crucial to the [...]
This month's issue of the R&R Newsletter has an exciting new addition! We bring you a special report from Ralph Peterson, the Chairman of the Vice Presidents' Network*, about the progress we've made so far in the area of membership retention and challenges we still face in recruiting new members. Dear Sons of Norway Leaders, As an elected officer of your [...]
Did you know that over the summer months Sons of Norway's new member recruitment numbers decrease by nearly 40% compared to other times of the year? It shouldn't come as a surprise; the summer is a difficult time to recruit because your lodge has to compete with vacations, holidays, youth sports and more! Plus, as we discussed in June's R&R, some [...]
In last month's R&R, we discussed the various ways your lodge can help improve retention rates for members. While retention should be a constant goal, recruiting new members is different. For many lodges, it happens in waves with the late fall and spring being the busiest times of the year for recruiting. Converesly, summer is generally a low period. Some lodges [...]
Is your lodge looking for a way to spice up the Cultural Skills or Sports Medal programs? Consider following Edmonds' (#2-130 in Edmonds, WA) example. The lodge has challenged other nearby lodges to a competition to see who could collect the most medals. What resulted was an increased participation in the Cultural Skills and Sports Medal programs and a whole lot [...]
With the 2013 Recruitment Challenge well under way, April is a perfect time to discuss some of the ways your lodge can improve the new member experience, which in turn, boosts retention. It may not be as flashy as recruitment, but a lodge's ability to retain its members is the real key to growth. Remember, happy members are far more likely [...]
Many lodges raise money for worthy causes in their communities, but how many do so with something so simple as a rubber duck bath toy? One lodge in Norway, Dalbuen 8-22, has been having an annual “rubber duck drop” for the past 8 years to raise money for worthwhile causes in their community. The lodge, which is located in Hauge I [...]
As a fraternal organization, Sons of Norway holds volunteerism as a core value. In fact, our lodges give back to their communities with over 400,000 hours of volunteer service each year. With all these hours of service many lodges have great volunteer stories. If you recall from previous R&R Newsletters, throughout 2012 we will be highlighting lodges that have had positive [...]
