Chief Executive Officers

1. Don’t just add a new membership dues category and think they’re going to pay. Do accommodate them by lowering program and events registration fees and very clearly communicating the benefits and offerings for young people (different than seasoned professionals) 

2. And speaking about dues, consider an “add-on” retention tactic for your professional dues category, i.e. renew your member dues and automatically receive complimentary dues for one young professional or student.

3. Plan after-work events. If they’re in school, or new to their job, they’re not easily free to attend morning workshops or ½ day educational programs. If you can’t engage them in your networking events, you won’t get them back at renewal time.

4.   They don’t enjoy being the obvious “young people” in the room. They want to mix and mingle with people their own age too. Once you’ve set the plan in motion, advise and incentivize your leadership to bring young people with them to events

5. You can’t rely on just direct mail and email communications. Young members will be looking for your content throughout multiple social media platforms.

6. If you have an existing awards recognition program, add a young leadership or student category if appropriate. 

7. When you find that one passionate and committed young professional to lead the pack, invite him or her as a guest to the Board to represent the category, gain support and to help build the network.

8. Look for ways students and young professionals can volunteer for your organization. They can provide content for your newsletter or website or, in order to attend an event complimentary, they may gladly serve as greeters at your hospitality desk or convention.

9. Young people seek mentoring opportunities but launching a full-blown mentoring program may be unrealistic. Instead of recruiting for mentor/mentee matches, produce smaller events such as speed mentoring or career coaching roundtables.

10. Contact schools in your local community and look for ways to align with career development advisors and department chairs. Educators don’t typically have the budget to attend association events so reach out and invite them to attend your programs as a guest of the Board.

Holly Koenig, a member of the NYSAE Board of Directors, is Vice President of Kellen Company and is responsible for a number of professional societies and associations.