Growing and promoting your chapter, or in other words letting people know your chapter exists, is one of the most important things you can do as a chapter leader. Please don't shoot the messenger, but I am sorry to say it is also one of the most difficult things for a chapter leader to do! What most chapter leaders don't realize is that while the concepts on how to market and advertise your chapter can be pretty simple - the actual work and effort behind it is not.
There are some tried and true ways to let people know about your chapters. We are going to present a few of these here. Strangely enough, getting a front page article on stuttering, while good for educating people on stuttering, may not be the most effective way of bringing people to your chapter meetings. It is good, however, to educate the general public as much as you can on stuttering.
We want to highlight two very effective methods of finding and educating both people who stutter and the professional community.
The first method is: Posting flyers. Sounds simple doesn't it? Yet how many of us actually take the time to post flyers in your area every three months? They don't stay up forever you know. While the results may not be immediate, this may be your single most effective method of eventually getting new people to meetings.
The second very effective method is contacting SLP's in your area. How many of you have actually contacted local SLP's at schools, universities, hospitals or private practices? SLP's in private practices and hospitals are some of the best methods of finding adults who stutter. SLP's can be your best source of chapter participants. Most work with people who stutter on a regular basis. Many though are wary about support groups. Some feel that it will take away somehow from their own work. Education and trust here are the keys toward forming this relationship.
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS (SLP's): So how do we get in contact with SLP's? The NSA office has a list of board-recognized fluency specialists in your area. Your best local source, however, is your local Yellow Pages. Don't forget to include university speech clinics, hospital and school clinicians. You should be aware that there is a task force of chapter leaders just like you who are working on the issue of finding new members and growing your chapter. They recommend sending a letter to all of the SLP's in your area. What do we want to include in this letter? Well first we want to introduce who we are, give them some information on your chapter (times and location - describe what a typical meeting is like), and most importantly give them an offer. I bet you are curious as to what type of offer you could possibly make that would be of value to them. Offer to come to their place of work and offer a free ½ day (or 2 to 4 hour) workshop on stuttering. It will be fun for both you and them. After all, you are the expert and you may be surprised about how little exposure they have had to this subject. You are not offering them information on stuttering treatment, just a better understanding of stuttering in general.
POSTING FLYERS: As mentioned earlier, another proven method of attracting people to your meetings is the posting of flyers. Flyers can be posted at libraries, universities, schools, and public places such as kiosks at town centers. Other good places are shopping centers, laundromats, and universities. Be sure to check for and comply with all rules for posting of your flyers.
Flyers should be simple, easy to read, contain phrases like: "If you stutter…", "Do you Stutter?", etc. In general the word stuttering should be highlighted in your flyer to attract people who stutter or those who know people who stutter. Your flyer should also give clear contact information and meetings times and locations. A generic chapter flyer is included in this section to dowload (link on the right). It can be used as a template and modified for your specific chapter.
Finally, as with any marketing or advertising, the key to effectiveness is repetitiveness. For example, SLP's should be sent brochures and contacted at least once every four months. Flyers never stay up long and should be reposted every three months. A great way to do this is to have a 'flyer party'. Invite your local chapter to get together for four hours on a Saturday and assign them to an area of town to distribute flyers. Be sure to all meet back for lunch or dinner, or start with breakfast! Make it fun and have a little contest for who can 'post the most' flyers!!
As you can see, your personal effort counts when you want to grow your chapter. It is perhaps one of the most important things you can do as a chapter leader! All of the time you put in WILL pay off, but remember, it may sometimes take years (or at least months) to see the fruits of your efforts. SO PLEASE DON'T BE DISCOURAGED - think of your efforts as planting seeds that will grow in the future. PLANT SEEDS NOW! |
 |
|
