Greetings,

I'm responsible for recruitment for our local WMS. We have a large church membership but our WMS membership is comparatively small.

I'm looking for ideas for recruitment and retention and I'm especially interested in the Young Women's Initiative. Can anyone send suggestions, examples to help us get started. Thanks and may God bless you.

-- Anonymous, May 07, 2003

Answers

HAPPY Mothers day to you and all of the mothers who share the successes, joy,peace happiness, burdens and stresses of our children, and our neighbors children. I am a mother, grandmother, and long time missionary worker. God has blessed me to serve in many capacities in the misionary society and I count it all joy. Just a few people can get a job done if we stay focused onChrist. I recommend that you pray, use resources such as the Constitution and By Laws book, a MMissionary Handbook, Yearbook and study Guide, launch a Recruitment Reception and invite all WMS AND PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS, ASK FOR SUGGESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS, HAVE A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IN YOUR CONGREGATION COORDINATE A HEALTH FAIR, START A SOUP KITCHEN, CLOTHES CLOSET, CAN GOODS DRIVE, ATTEND MEETINGS AT OTHER MISIONARYSOCIETIES AND SHARE IDEAS, HAVE A CAPING CEREMONY FOR NEW MEMBERS, CORDINATE A FIFTH sUNDAY SERVICE-ASK MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MORNING WORSHIP sERVICE, VISTI THE NURSING HOMES-COORDINATE QUARTERLY bIRTHDAAY pARTIES IN THE nURSING HOME FOR mEMBERS OF YOUR CONGREGATION-ASK THE ACTIVTIY director in the Nursing Home to give you the names of the members in the nursing home, Make a resource Guide of services in the city-example: social services, employment, etc.,by all means put the young women to work but prepare them or they will get frustrated and quit. The Quarerennial Convention is scheduled for August 3, 2003 in Dallas,Texas (my home state), ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET TOGETHER ANDMAKE PLANS TO ATTEND THIS CONVENTION.eMPOWER THEM BY TELLING THEM THAT THERE ARE BENEFITS IN SERVING BUT THEY MUST BE COMMITTED TO BEING ON gOD'S PROGRAM, HAVE A FASHION SHOW AND TEA-ASK THE yWI TO COORDINATE THIS EVENT, HAVE A PRAYER BREAKFAST AND ASK THE YwI TO COORDINATE THE EVENT, PLAN AND IMPLEMENT A WORKSHOP ON STANDING COMMITEES,SOLICIT THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS TO PARTICIPATE IN AA FORUM-HEALTH TOPICS SUCH AS BREAST CANCER, PROSTATE CANCER, COLON CANCER, NUTRITION, DIABETES, CHOLOSTEROL, HYPERTENSION. Contact your local healthdept. for resources, start a brown bag lunch for street people-=aThe Salvation Army is a good place to go to deliver sack lunches to include sandwiches, chips, fruit and water, scripturres or tracts to be included.Have your group to volunteer for various activities, follow- up of group assignments, set goals, time lines. Have an A

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2003

HAPPY Mothers day to you and all of the mothers who share the successes, joy,peace happiness, burdens and stresses of our children, and our neighbors children. I am a mother, grandmother, and long time missionary worker. God has blessed me to serve in many capacities in the missionary society and I count it all joy. Just a few people can get a job done if we stay focused on Christ. I recommend that you pray, use resources such as the Constitution and By Laws book, a Missionary Handbook, Yearbook and study Guide, launch a Recruitment Reception and invite all WMS AND PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS, ASK FOR SUGGESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS, HAVE A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IN YOUR CONGREGATION COORDINATE A HEALTH FAIR, START A SOUP KITCHEN, CLOTHES CLOSET, CAN GOODS DRIVE, ATTEND MEETINGS AT OTHER MISIONARY SOCIETIES AND SHARE IDEAS, HAVE A CAPING CEREMONY FOR NEW MEMBERS, COoRDINATE A FIFTH SUNDAY SERVICE-ASK MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE, VISIT THE NURSING HOMES-COORDINATE QUARTERLY bIRTHDAAY PARTIES IN THE NURSING HOME FOR members OF YOUR CONGREGATION-ASK THE ACTIVTIY Director in the Nursing Home to give you the names of the members in the nursing home, Make a resource Guide of services in the city-example: social services, employment, etc.,by all means put the young women to work but prepare them or they will get frustrated and quit. The Quarennial Convention is scheduled for August 3, 2003 in Dallas,Texas (my home state), ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET TOGETHER AND MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND THIS CONVENTION.EMPOWER THEM BY TELLING THEM THAT THERE ARE BENEFITS IN SERVING BUT THEY MUST BE COMMITTED TO BEING ON GOD'S PROGRAM, HAVE A FASHION SHOW AND TEA-ASK THE YWI TO COORDINATE THIS EVENT, HAVE A PRAYER BREAKFAST AND ASK THE YwI TO COORDINATE THE EVENT, PLAN AND IMPLEMENT A WORKSHOP ON STANDING COMMITEES,SOLICIT THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS TO PARTICIPATE IN A FORUM-HEALTH TOPICS SUCH AS BREAST CANCER, PROSTATE CANCER, COLON CANCER, NUTRITION, DIABETES, CHOLESTEROL, HYPERTENSION. Contact your local health dept. for resources, start a brown bag lunch for street people-=atThe Salvation Army is a good place to go to deliver sack lunches to include sandwiches, chips, fruit and water, scriptures or tracts to be included.Have your group to volunteer for various activities, follow- up of group assignments, set goals, time lines. Have an An Awards Day or Awards Banquet and honor the members for volunteer services. Use the PME DIRECTOR TO HOLD MINI WORKSHOPS FOR THE MEMBERS. HAVE A CALLING COMMITTEE TO REMIND MEMBERS OF DATES OF DIFFERENT ACTIVTIES. SOLICIT A HOSPITAL CALLING COMMITTEE FOR MEMBERS, COLLECT OLD EYE GLASSES FOR THE LIONS CLUB OR SOME ORGANIZATION THAT NEEDS EYE GLASSES, COMPLIMENT, EMPOWER BUT MOST OF ALL PRAY FOR STRENGTH, WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE TO DO GOD'S WILL, CHURCHES AND GROUPS ALWAYS NEED PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN CAMPAIGNS SUCH AS RELAY fOR LIFE, DIABETES WALKS ETC. START AN ALZHEIMERS DAY GROUP, ARTS AND CRAFTS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, TELEPHONE CARE CALLERS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, EASTER BASKETS, MOTHER'S DAY BASKETS, MENTOR A CHILD, SPONSOR A dEBUTANTE OR mASTER FOR THE GENERAL CONFERENCE. DO YOU HAVE A CHRISTIAN DEBUTANTE Master Commission in your church ? Find out more about this commission on the web site (www.ourchurch.member/d/dmc Hope this info will help. God bless you and may heaven keep you. LorettA Hill

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2003