Hello folks,
Included in this message is a very thoughtful question by longtime member Bob Patros who gave me permission to share the question and response from the AAW Exec Director, Gretchen Wilbrandt.
I share Bob's concerns and have also watched the membership dwindle significantly since Covid as many clubs have. Many of those members have simply moved on to other interests, became physically unable to continue or became disillusioned. Some of the most engaged club members of the club have died, leaving a huge void. However, many clubs have found their way and bounced back stronger than ever. Please read on, give it some time to percolate, and respond if you feel so inclined.
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Question to AAW, Gretchen Wilbrandt, Executive Director by CRW club member Bob Patros.
At one time we had about 100 members in our club. With Covid and other factors, the number is roughly half presently. Any thoughts on how other clubs have revitalized their membership?
Gretchen’s response:
Possibilities to reinvigorate a turning club. Research from AAW executive director.
I think there are a lot of different tactics chapters can try/use. I don't think there is a one-size fits all answer I can give you unfortunately. It depends on who you are trying to attract (identifying the audience), if your club atmosphere aligns with folks that are coming in (or what are you doing to attract your audience), and what are the needs in your community and are people finding them in other places (who is your competitor), what is your goal (retention, new members, a mix of both) and what are the marketing & communication pieces you will utilize to meet that goal?
I did a quick bit or research to see industries in Lacrosse that might align with a hypothetical audience:
Emerging Makers/Trades People
UW-La Crosse/Viterbo University - outreach to art/design, architecture, biology/sciences departments to see if they'd be interested in getting their departments involved from both a professor and/or student perspective. Could combine or build into curriculum.
Western Technical College - outreach to programs/educators/students in the trades. Direct correlation with trades and utilization of a lathe in certain industries.
Business Professionals/Upcoming Retirees
Kwik Trip/Organic Valley/Mayo Clinic/La Crosse Tech, etc. - See if you can post information or partner with these companies to offer woodturning for their employees and/or engage in woodturning acts of service (turning pens for vets, wig stands, other neat service oriented projects!). Additionally, you could work with their HR professionals and provide woodturning opportunities for mental health/stress relief, zen, etc. as well as team building opportunities (turn bowls with your team!). I'm sure they have both young working professionals as well as folks that might be looking more towards retirement, so providing them intro opportunities for engagement could be a great step in the door.
Social Engagement
Local Breweries/Libraries/Maker Spaces - I'm not sure about this zany idea, but when I worked at an organization that offered adult paddle-making classes I had SEVERAL breweries reach out to see if we could do a done-in-a-day paddle or cutting board project in their brewery space. It was a private room off the main brewery space. Essentially spend X hours making something, then afterwards everyone enjoys a beer or two. It would require bringing lathes to a space so ideally it would be starting small. Alternatively see if you can demonstrate in their brewery sometime as a way to promote the activity and your club.
One of the clubs in my community has weekly open turning at a maker space open to all ages and experience levels and pairs with a mentor. It's a great way to try with guidance and/or feed the desire to turn without the investment in the space and equipment.
Ultimately determine who you want to be in your club and if you have a great product to pitch (club membership!), it's working with new networks and partners via relationship building, to get them to spread the word about your work and offerings.
I know this is a very broad list, but hopefully a few of these ideas will be useful!
Thanks,
Gretchen
Gretchen Wilbrandt
Executive Director
American Association of Woodturners | AAW
Woodturner.org
Direct: 651-444-1201 Office: 651-484-9094
75 5th St W | 220 Landmark Center | St Paul, MN 55102
Thank you, Bob and Gretchen.
Bob (RG) Raasch