Advice on Keeping Members

Diane Levin at the Mediation Channel has posted an open letter for ADR professionals everywhere, with some advice on how to keep, not drive away, members:

• First, provide your members with useful information that helps them do their jobs;
• Second, provide value for those membership dues with regular programming in a variety of locations;
• Third, make sure that any increase in dues is fair;
• Third, provide discounts and services;
• Fourth, communicate with members regularly and reliably;
• Fifth, respond to member inquiries, questions, and concerns promptly; and
• Sixth, show appreciation to volunteers.

Do these things, Levin says, and members will renew and encourage others to join. (Mediation Channel.)

Although Levin's thoughtful letter is aimed at organizations for mediators/arbitrators (e.g., The Association for Conflict Resolution), it offers some valuable reminders for organizations that serve Ombuds too.