become an admin and select a state

RETAIN YOUR MEMBERS- Before focusing on how you can increase membership by recruiting new members, you should first focus your attention on the member that you currently have. Your membership will grow on its own if you provide needed information to those that have already expressed a clear interest in your organization. Having a loyal base of individuals interested in nursing home reform can be useful when it comes to acquiring new members, posting helpful nursing home information, taking on projects, public speaking, and it can be a chance for those involved to meet like-minded individuals and contribute to making life better for our residents.

FORM A BOARD FOR YOUR STATE/PROVINCE- It takes teamwork to make things happen.  Find members that would do an excellent job at being on your board  and select one to serve as your Membership Director. That individual would be the one to spearhead different ideas listed on this email along with your help and others.

YOUR PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS- Let your other media platforms know that you have become a member of an advocacy group for our residents in our LTC facilities of your state/province that advocates for nursing home reform. In that post put a link to your Dignity for the Aged site. Invite relatives and friends that are interested in providing better care to our nursing homes to join your site.

Partnering with local/state organizations allows you to expand your reach to audiences you may not already be in contact with. Partner with a local or like-minded organization so you can promote one another and make both communities larger and more diverse. Contact each of these groups. Find the email of their director and let them know that you would appreciate them posting the information about your Dignity for the Aged site on their site. Let them know that this should be extremely helpful for their members and the loved ones of their members. On their site look for contact person. Find out their program director and let them know you are available for programs.

A. Service clubs like Lions, Rotary, Civitan International, Kiwanis.

B. Retirement groups like, Teacher Retirement Organization, Federal Retirement, Law Enforcement Retirement Groups, Veteran Retirement Groups, etc.

C. Garden groups, Fitness groups and centers, Travel groups and many more.

By joining the local/state Chamber of Commerce your organizations information will be displayed on the Chamber site. It will also give you the opportunity to attend Chamber meetings, ribbon cutting events, and other community events sponsored by the chamber. At these events network with chamber members and let them know about the crisis in our nursing homes and give those interested the opportunity to become a member of Dignity for the Aged. The leadership of your community are often members of the Chamber of Commerce.

Visit the leaders at the meetings of your county/regional districts and your city council/municipal councils. Let them know of your concern and advocacy for our loved ones in nursing homes. A lot of them will allow concerned citizens to speak before the whole group.

OMBUDSMAN- Contact your ombudsman in your state/province and let them know that you have formed a Dignity for the Aged chapter to give support and help to residents and their families. Give them the link to your site and asked them to refer family members to you if they are interested. Some of the ombudsman may have the names of family members that have formed resident councils at different nursing homes. Click here for a listing of all Ombudsmans.  https://theconsumervoice.org/get_help?fbclid=IwAR09YbVKSiwZx2jqjf3e9kDnuD0oxcBVuCB5H49AdpOQI-06XCn3LoBVMx4

MEDIA- Visit your media organizations like print media, TV stations, and radio stations. Let them know the link to your Dignity for the Aged state or province chapter. Print off material that you can leave with them about the crisis facing our residents in Long Term Care.

LOCAL SOCIAL MEDIA GROUPS- Many communities have local social media groups where you can join and post. Do a search on the internet/Facebook for those groups on a local, and state/province level. Just put in on several search engines, social  media groups and the name of your community. Join and post information about your Dignity site. I am going to list a few of the sites that Lionel post to on Facebook so that you can do a search for these sites and have a better understanding, (Waxahachie talk, Waxahachie chit chat, Waxahachie Texas History, Waxahachie watch dog, Waxahachie talk, Waxahachie Buzz, Waxahachie Purely Positive and Ellis County community & crime). When Lionel makes a post on like the one Waxahachie Purely Positive, he puts in a lead like, there is nothing more positive then helping our loved ones in nursing homes.

FLYERS-BUSINESS CARDS- Create a flyer that your membership could visit various businesses and ask permission if they would mind posting one on their store front window. Leave a few business cards with your chapter information on the tables in beauty shops, doctor’s office, hospitals, dentist office, service departments of car dealerships, and pinned to various bulletin boards.

EVENTS-FESTIVALS-MALLS-GROCERY STORES- Ask permission to set up a booth. Have some of your membership behind a table that has a nice sign with your Dignity name. Talk to those that pass bye that have any interest in our Dignity advocacy. Give them a card with your information and if you can make flyers to hand out to each of them. Those at the table could be wearing Dignity hats and Dignity shirts that you have made for your organization that would be eye catching.

YMCA- Many YMCA’S have programs for seniors like exercise groups, dance groups, and travel groups. If you have a YMCA in your community, make a visit and meet the Executive Director. Inform him/her of your Dignity group and that you would like to be a help to the YMCA seniors. Many seniors are continually active and past leaders in the community. These members could be some continually active members for you. Also, ask the Executive Director of the YMCA if you could provide a short program to the YMCA Board of Management.        18. LARGE RETIREMENT COMPLEXES- Many communities have large retirement complexes. Visit the manager of the complex and explain your Dignity mission. Also, let them know that you would like to meet the residents or just leave your Dignity information with them. Also, you would like to post a flyer on their bulletin board.