2007 Honorable Mention: Ready, Set Grow

Objective

In response to a decline in membership over the last five years, The Junior League of Saint Paul created a three-year rolling plan to grow and develop its membership. The goal was to find new, dynamic women and to develop internal nurturing and retention practices, while meeting the mission and not compromising on standards.

Strategy

For the five years preceding the project, League membership declined by 50 percent. In fact, there was more than a 50 percent drop in Active Members.

The Membership Committee met monthly and put together a recruitment program called "Ready, Set Grow." Ambitious goals were established; to achieve an active membership of 125 by May 2009, with annual new member classes of 30 to 40. The program included: