Having significant trouble recruiting members for our student club

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I volunteered with several students to establish the first meeting for our college's chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. We created a Facebook page and sent out invitations. 34 students said that they would attend, but last Tuesday there were only 5 who showed up. :&lt;/p>

<p>Our faculty adviser mentioned that we might lose accreditation if we don't have enough members, at least 8-10 students. Our goal is to host career workshops, speaking events and other activities that will give the journalism students at our college an opportunity to learn more about the field and network. </p>

<p>What are some of the methods we can do to boost membership and get the student body interested?
I have tried the word-of-mouth approach with my classmates and they say that they'll attend but it never happens. And then there are the students who commute to school and work after their classes, which is another challenge. I've taken on the role of student outreach and promotions but I never realized how difficult this would be. </p>

<p>Thank you for your suggestions</p>

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<p>if you guys have a journalism major, make sure they know of this opportunity</p>

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<p>Solicit support for your club within the faculty of the Journalism department. Ask around to see if any of them would be interesting in co-sponsoring a “Journalism Open House” where journalism majors can meet other majors, network common interests, nominate favorite journalist heroes, explore the latest technology, etc. Depending on the ideological bend of the Journalism department, you could have a “wall of shame” of journalists who gave up ethics to defend illegal activities or repressive regimes and have an activist bent. Some faculty might be willing to give extra credit, again this depends on the university.</p>

<p>In the beginning I think it is important to have food, to reel people in. Have ice cream socials and movie nights to keep people interested, and also market the seminars and professional development events, emphasizing that it could help them find employment later. </p>

<p>Depending on the university there could be additional resources to market the club, like having events listed on an online calender, in a weekly newsletter, on campus lcd screens, etc. </p>

<p>I do not know much about journalism as a major, but if I were trying to start a club, I would incorporate hot topics in journalism as a field right now into a social with pizza and drinks. This is only possible if your university gives the club funding for events though.</p>

<p>I would also see if I could pass out surveys in person, or see if the department can send an email to all journalism majors, to see if afternoon or evening event times work better overall. </p>

<p>At the beginning I think you are going to have to entice the masses with food.</p>

<p>I do not know what the Society of Professional Journalists is, but do they have guides or someone you can contact for recruitment tactics and advice? I would search the internet for successful clubs and failing clubs within your field at different universities, and look for patterns on why some clubs are thriving and others are failing. Try to network with an established Society of Professional Journalists at another school to see if they have anything to say.</p>

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<p>How about taking trips to visit local newspaper, tv station etc?</p>

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<p>Thanks! These are all very good and feasible ideas. I will see if I can talk with my advisor.</p>

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<p>Yeah one of the main reasons I go to ASME is the awesome food they get for meetings.</p>

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<p>Thanks Thereisnosecret, stradmom and PurpleDuckMan!</p>

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<p>Can you try sometimes alternating the time you hold your meetings?
There are clubs my daughter would love to attend, but she has choir rehearsals and other things at the same time.</p>