The Membership Committee plans and implements a range of activities designed to create a welcoming place for guests, assist new people in identifying small groups that may help them connect to the UUCT, and provide opportunities that encourage current members to become engaged in congregational life in a more meaningful way.

Over the past year, the Committee has researched strategies other congregations have used to improve the ways in which they welcome guests and retain members. In addition to reviewing literature regarding effective membership practices, they interviewed Membership Committees from two other Florida UU congregations and had two “secret visitors” come to the church anonymously and provide feedback to the committee. The process was very productive, and the Committee has identified several strategies that may be useful in three key areas identified in their research.

1. Welcoming Guests
In order to help guests feel more welcome and learn ways they can become involved at the UUCT, this year the Committee developed “Welcome Gift Bags” to be distributed to each first-time guest. The colorful gift bags provide basic information about our congregation, as well as fun gift items that reflect our UU principles and contact information for our small groups. Approximately fifty bags have been handed out so far with positive informal feedback. A postcard survey for guests to complete and mail back to the church was recently added so the committee can hear directly from our guests about their visits.

2. Helping New People Get Connected
The research conducted this year stressed the importance of getting new people connected to small groups or people with similar interests. Although the current classes for new people (Pathways to Membership and Building Your Own Theology) are very effective in this, additional strategies to get new people engaged in small groups are needed.

In an effort to address this need, the Membership Committee has begun asking the entire congregation to help provide a welcoming environment, especially during our social hour after the Sunday service. A colorful flyer with reminders of how everyone could be involved was developed and included in the Order of Service periodically throughout the year. And the Worship Committee will begin displaying some of the key ways we can welcome guests on the new worship screens over the next few weeks. Over time, the announcements have resulted in several new-comers sharing feedback about how to better connect new people.

Another opportunity for the entire congregation to be more involved in welcoming guests is being implemented with our next New Member Sunday. In the past, there was a small new member reception hosted and attended by the Board and the Membership Committee members. An all-church reception for new members will be added this year to allow everyone in the congregation the opportunity to get to know our new members a bit.

3. Getting and Keeping Existing Members Engaged
The Membership Committee is also trying to develop effective ways to get a greater number of existing members more actively involved in the ministry and activities of the church. However, with approximately eighteen new members in the past year alone, it is no longer possible for leaders to know everyone personally. So the committee decided to expand the types of information collected for the member database.

In addition to basic family and contact information, the new data will include members’ interests and skills. As members join, the Membership Committee will be able to identify established groups or individuals that may be of interest to each new member. And when committees or the Board need people to assist with a specific project or committee, reports from the member database can be used to identify potential candidates. The format for the new data collection has been drafted and is scheduled to be implemented in the next few months.

The Membership Committee also recruits, trains, and maintains a schedule for approximately twenty ushers and greeters and provides an appreciation luncheon for them once or twice a year. They assist the minister with the new member ceremonies, gather background information about new members, maintain nametags, organize new member receptions, gather attendance data, help coordinate the Pathways to Membership Class, and occasionally host luncheons for long-time members. The committee consists of six to eight very active, creative members who are dedicated to identifying and incorporating new ways to strengthen our membership.