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Last updated
8 Nov 2001
How many times today have you said thank you to someone? How many times has someone thanked you for something you did recently? Do you reserve thanks for special occasions and extra-ordinary efforts? Do you think for a thank you to be effective it needs to be provided with something tangible like a plaque, card, a raise or bonus, or a special ceremony? Do you think thanks will get worn out and ineffective if overused?
A thank you can be one of the most effective and least expensive ways an association can make a positive impact on many problem areas it faces. This includes member recruitment and retention, board and committee participation, funding, vendor support, and public awareness and recognition. Of course not just any thank you will do. In order to be effective the most important consideration is that the thank you be sincere. Then it must be appropriate to the situation and the individual or entity involved.
Consider the following ways associations can say thanks. Does your association utilize any of these methods? What ways does your association say thank you? To whom? Why? How? When?
> When sending out dues renewal notices include a statement about the achievements of the association and thank the members for their participation which has helped make those achievements possible.
> Send a thank you letter and/or certificate to members when they renew their membership.
> Contact members who do not renew. Thank them for their past support, let them know they are welcome back, ask them for feedback on how the association might have done better to encourage their participation or meet their needs.
> At the end of their term of office, thank the board members for their efforts on the associations behalf. Mention specific achievements or efforts of the individual.
> Encouragement goes a long way towards enhancing the success of a long term project. As an example consider the planning committee for a major association event. Recognition from the association leadership along the way can help keep the committee involved and enthused. When a specific goal has been reached, developing the event registration brochure or confirming the presenters, let them know their work is appreciated. Attend a meeting, send a letter, call the committee chair, or surprise them by sending each committee member a small token commemorating the achievement.
> When local media attend your association's meeting or event and get something in the paper or on television, send a personal thank you letter to the representative who attended.
> If your association utilizes any outside vendors such a a print shop, advertising agency, or materials supply sources, send a thank you letter. Acknowledge their prompt attention to your requests, support of your association, and assistance in helping the association to meet it's goals. Be specific. Name any individuals who were especially helpful or any situations that made a specific impact.
> Make thank you an attitude in your association. Include an appropriate thank you in telephone conversations and correspondence. Put a thank you for your participation on the bottom of forms, surveys, evaluations, and other documents that need input or a response. When you welcome people to a meeting or event include a thank you for their participation. Inculcate thanks in your members. It is just as important, if not more so for peers and associates to thank each other as it is for leadership to say thanks.
A sincere thank you has a way of mushrooming, especially if used as encouragement and support. For instance if you have someone who took on a project or got involved on a committee a little hesitantly or maybe didn't fulfill their commitment as completely as expected thank them for what they did do, even if it was just showing up at all the meetings. This will often give them the needed motivation to try harder in the future or enhance their enthusiasm for more active participation.
An appropriate thank you stays in people's memory. It gives the recipient the feeling that the association recognizes them as an individual not just another name on the roster. It says their contribution, support, and participation is important and appreciated regardless of the size, type, or extend of that effort. Recognizing individuals and their contributions goes a long way toward building a strong and vital association.
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