A couple of months ago the Membership Committee, SPJ President Kevin Smith and some other volunteers began calling new SPJ members in our continued effort this year to make membership an even higher priority for SPJ. I’ve been calling new members in my own Region 3. I’ve left plenty of voice mails but at least folks are getting a welcome message and the name and phone number of someone to call with questions. I hope – and feel fairly certain – it makes an impact on our newest members.

Last week I contacted a new member in Florida who had a question about how to get involved with a local chapter. I was able to give him that chapter’s website and also sent his contact information to the membership chair of that chapter.

It likely that new member might have waited several months before connecting with a local chapter. By taking a few minutes to call these new members, I was able to help speed along that connection.

I urge individual chapters to take on a similar effort in contacting new members in their area, welcoming them to SPJ, answering questions, providing resources and inviting them to the next chapter event. And if your chapter already does this, that’s terrific. I’d love to hear some success stories.

Good work, Region 2 Director Brian Eckert, and plenty of members in North Carolina for getting the long-dormant North Carolina Pro Chapter up and running again! And, congrats to Lisa Towle, who has stepped up as president of the chapter.