Motivating Your Friends of the Library. Or From Fiends and Frenemies to Friends

Transcription

1 Motivating Your Friends of the Library Or From Fiends and Frenemies to Friends

2 Frenemy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Frenemy" (less commonly spelled "frienemy") is a portmanteau of "friend" and "enemy" that can refer to either an enemy pretending to be a friend or someone who really is a friend but also a rival. [1] The term is used to describe personal, geopolitical, and commercial relationships both among individuals and groups or institutions. The word has appeared in print as early as [2]

3 Fiend fiend noun \ˈfēnd\: an evil spirit : a demon or devil : a very evil or cruel person

4 Fiends and Frenemies? Have money, but won t give you any of it Spend meeting time criticizing library or staff Come up with projects they want to do that have nothing to do with your library s goals Won t volunteer to do anything Same group of people year after year Don t want to raise money????????????????????

5 Friends Understand their role Are positive supporters of the Library and staff Have specific jobs to do, and do them Raise money and fund projects that support the goals of the Library Look forward to meetings and events??????????????????????

6 It Begins With a Solid Foundation Have bylaws that establish term limits (ours are 2 three-year terms) Have a budget Invite each new board member to your office for an individual orientation Provide Friends with clear roles Have standing committees Create their meeting agendas

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10 Standing Committees Receptions (they arrange the cookies and punch for art and program receptions) Board Development and Nominating Committee (they find new board members and officers) Volunteer Recognition Committee (they read the nominations for volunteer of the year that staff have submitted, and select the winners) Membership Committee (Opens the membership envelopes and updates the member databases) Book Sale Committee (they call for volunteers to work at the book sale)

11 Reception Committee

12 Library Punch 64 oz or 2 quarts White Grape Juice 2 Liters Lemon Lime Twist Up

13 Reception Committee

14 20 Library Punch liters or 1 ½ bottles of 7 UP 1 can orange juice concentrate 1 can lemonade concentrate

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16 Make the Meetings/Events Fun Keep meetings short (have an agenda) Have food or pass Around a bowl of chocolate Give them your Advanced Reader s Copies of books How do you make Meetings fun????????

17 Membership Have a diverse group of friends board members Invite people who are new to the community to serve on the Friends board (new doctor, lawyer, teacher, etc.) Have a nominating committee Have membership materials available at all events, service desks, etc.

18 Keep them Involved Let them play a role in your strategic planning process They should have one major fundraiser each year in which every board member has a specific role Hold an annual meeting for all Friends that is a major event or party Give them sneak peeks or let them be the first to know Get them exhibit hall passes for ALA or PLA Invite them to attend grant award ceremonies and accept the awards on behalf of the Friends

19 Sneak Peaks

20 Annual Meetings Local Author (invite the author to dinner and invite your Friends President) Cultural Festivals (Latino, Japanese..) with activities for the whole family Food Events (and wine tasting) Historical exhibits with re-enactors (local history is particularly popular)

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22 Sake Tasting

23 Locavores and More

24 Wine Tasting

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27 Friends Sponsor High Profile Programs Clinton County Reads Children s Programs Author Visits Art Exhibits Art Classes Educational Events Music Events

28 The Friends Little Free Library

29 Youth Theatre

30 Inmate Art Exhibit

31 Music Down Under

32 Thank Them Over and Over Give them recognition on every flyer, program, press release, signage for events that they help to sponsor Give them photos and personal thank you notes from the programs they sponsor. If they are the major sponsor of an event, let them do the introductions

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36 AND keep thanking them Give them a small gift at Christmas, or send them a card on their birthday Recognize them publicly when their term ends and give them a special gift of thanks Recognize a volunteer of the year with a special award How do YOU Thank your Friends members???????????????????????????????????????????

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40 FUN Fundraisers Murder Mystery Dinners Book Sales Art Show and Sale Home Tour Signature Scent Candle Sales Plant Sales Butter Braids and Pizza Sales Concerts

41 Murder Mystery Dinner

42 Book Sales

43 Art Show and Sale

44 What Fundraisers do YOU do? Other Friends Ideas Questions

45 Contact Information Michelle Bradley Community Engagement Librarian MCLS