| This post was kindly contributed by Key Happenings at support.sas.com - go there to comment and to read the full post. |
Each time I attend a users group event, I’m amazed at the high caliber event that can be acommplished by volunteers in their spare time. I learned during a NESUG panel discussion that finding and motivating those volunteers may sometimes be difficult. The panel’s original discussion topic was successes, but thankfully it was sidelined by the first audience question, “How can I get my group restarted?” I say thankfully because the information they shared in response to the question can be used by most SAS users.
I think you will find that you can use these tips to revive or start any group, team or committee:
- Get to know your constituents. Learn their strengths before asking for help. And then ask them to help in an area where they will be happy.
- Speak face-to-face. Don’t spray your entire e-mail list asking for volunteers; those e-mails are too easy to turn down or put off until later.
- Be specific. When you ask, try something like: John, I have found that your advice (organizational skills, expertise, SAS skills, etc.) to be extremely valuable. I’d like for you to consider filling the role of ….
- Define the responsibilities and the time frame within which you’d like for things to be done.
- Use proximity to your advantage. After an event where you know interested parties may be present (SUG steering committee candidates are likely at SUGs, LUGs or SAS Global Forum), hold a planning meeting where you will determine duty owners and deadlines for the next meeting. Walk away with responsibilities.
- Make it fun. Know your audience through surveys or polling and provide them with the speakers who will draw the crowds.
- Give them food. Even light fare is appreciated if work is involved.
- Look through past conference proceedings. You may be surprised to find that you have a SAS super star on your door step who is more than willing to speak for FREE.
- Learn from success. Look to other users groups (or teams) and follow their paths to success. Get to know their present and past steering committee members.
- SAS. Take advantage of SAS support.
The panel consisted of steering committee members from some of the largest, most successful NorthEast LUGs (Local User Groups):
- Joseph Guido from GVSUG. The Genesee Valley SAS User Group has a large average number of participants, but not so large that they won’t fit – for FREE – in the local Barnes and Noble meeting room.
- Elizabeth Axelrod, President of BASUG. The Boston Area SAS Users Group has four annual meetings and is dipping its toes into the social media realm.
- Parag Shiralkar, Steering Committee member from HASUG. The Hartford Area SAS Users Group has four annual meetings with 70 to 80 members at each event. HASUG is unusual in that it has a benefactor and does not require any membership dues. All expenses are covered by the benefactor and an annual raffle.
- Shan Ali Rasul, Executive Committee member from TASS. Toronto Area SAS Society has 200 plus members and normally has to split its events into night sessions. They have four annual meetings and are actively engaged in social media.
- Bruce Peel, Secretary of SUGME. SAS User Group Maine usually has 35 to 50 members per meeting.
This was a great session where everyone could have talked for far longer than the allotted hour. I’d guess that there are many more tips than the 10 that I have collected here. Do you have a suggestion for getting a group off the ground or ensuring great turnouts? Tell me your suggestions. How do you ensure that you have the correct speakers at your meetings?
| This post was kindly contributed by Key Happenings at support.sas.com - go there to comment and to read the full post. |