2009 spring retreat recruiting
From EcoReality
Our current recruiting strategy is primarily one of public relations, involving the following aspects:
- Keep EcoReality in the news by having something worth reporting in the local papers at least once per month.
- I need significant help in doing this that hasn't been available for a variety or reasons.
- We also try to cluster on-site outreach activities around the members' weekends, both to avoid burn-out in-between, and to have the most members involved.
- Maintain a presence on various web directories, such as ic.org, Global Ecovillage Network, etc.
- Adding comments to blogs, etc. regarding our activities.
- Articles in target demographic publications and websites, such as Communities Magazine, Permaculture Activist, Energy Bulletin, etc.
- Publishing our monthly newsletter.
- Hosting potential members for extended periods.
- Attending, boothing, and speaking at appropriate conferences.
- This has been supported by my own dime in the past, and I can no longer afford to do this on my own.
- This has brought us two members, so perhaps it should be re-emphasized and funded.
What we have not tried, which might happen if it looks like our balloon payment is in trouble:
- Hiring recruiting/fundraising help.
- Advertising
- We've done small amounts of advertising, with totally zero results. For advertising to work requires a campaign and a hefty budget, not one-off ads here and there.
Of the non-founding-members and prospective members:
- two came as a result of Jan's & Carol's participation in the documentary film Escape From Suburbia.
- two came as a result of Jan's & Carols' self-funded participation in a Northwest Intentional Community Association conference.
- three came as a result of finding the EcoReality website via Google.
Of current Advisory Council members,
- over a third came via some electronic means, typically via our website
- about a fifth came from personal contact
- about a sixth came from events, such as the mentioned NICA conference, and events held at O.U.R.
