Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Public orientations 2

[David G Adams (dadams]

> This is the second plea for tips for conducting orientation sessions for n
> members.  What works for your group?
> --J Solso, PHOENIX COHOUSING GROUP
> 
Cornerstone orientations:

* Prospects usually call ahead and are entered in the database, or they can 
be "registered" at the door.  We take general address / phone / how you 
heard about us type info.

* We have a potluck dinner; folks show up over 30 minutes or so.  The 
dinners tend not to be as complete as or general meeting potlucks, so we 
supplement by purchasing a few pizzas.

* Dinner is a chance to talk 1 on 1 or in small groups.  Usually, the member 
who chats with a prospect at dinner becomes the "membership maven" for that 
prospect.  Mavens call before each general meeting, update prospects on 
breaking news, and get info on the prospect's interest level / any questions 
that need answering.  The mavens also ask prospects when / if they are ready 
to join committees, pay dues, and eventually, become full members.  We try 
to make this non-coercive, non-est-like.  It's easier and better to have 
members coordinating with specific prospects.

* After dinner, a slide presentation about cohousing in America is 
presented.

* Then there's a brief talk about our group, where we are at, and what we're 
about.  Then we open the floor to questions.

* At the end, prospects are given the chance to officially become 
"prospective members".  This requires that they sign a form.  The new 
prospectives get a folder full of good stuff compiled by our membership 
committee.  Later, prospectives are assigned to a maven.

Oh, our orientations are held at The Cohousing Center, which has everything 
we need in one place. 


Marketing Cohousing:
A marketing consultant looked at our early results and helped devise a plan. 
 Generally, there's something of a formula, something like this:

1/2 the people who call come to an orientation.
1/2 of these start coming to general meetings.
1/3 of these become associates (on committees, paying dues)
1/2 of associates actually buy into the group

So something on the order of 1 in 25 people who express interest in the 
group eventually join.  That means you have to get the word out everywhere 
you can.  It takes upwards of 1000 inquiries to fill an average sized 
community.  Plan on spending 2.5 - 7.5% of your _entire_ budget on 
advertising and outreach.  

Dave Adams

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