Onboarding and retaining members in climate groups
Getting people to join climate groups is difficult and retaining members can also be a struggle. Here is a list of suggestions about onboarding and retaining members based on the experiences of activists who have worked in a variety of climate groups:
How groups can effectively onboard new members
Be welcoming and inclusive. Make sure new members feel like they are part of the group, that their ideas and feelings matter, and their contribution is important.
Educate. Offer education about the climate and ecological crises, why we need urgent action, and how your group takes action. It might be helpful to have reading material available about the climate emergency and the specifics about what your group does to push for individual and/or system change.
Offer hope. It’s easy for activists to give up when they hear about the severity of our planetary emergency and how little governments and big business are doing to address it. Make sure new members understand that climate scientists report that there is still time to act, and that all of our actions count to make things “less bad” for ourselves, our children, and all forms of life on earth.
Create a team environment. Activists need to understand that solving the climate and ecological crises is about collective responsibility and that we are in this together. It’s easy, with so much being online these days, for activists to feel disconnected from the group. It’s important to check in through email, text, and offer in person gatherings to maintain connectedness and a supportive community based on mutual care.
Have a clear first project. Help new members get involved so they know they have a purpose that will make a difference. Try to avoid feelings of “what should I be doing?” and “what’s the point of this?” from arising in new activists.
Contact person for support. New members should have at least one contact person who they can turn to with questions and for support.
Assign tasks with written or visual instructions. Give new members instructions and procedure docs for tasks and be available to answer questions until they ‘learn the ropes’ and can confidently branch off on their own.
How groups can maintain solidarity and retain active members
Supportive community. Since most activists don’t get paid, it’s important to create a supportive working environment and express gratitude for each other's time, energy, and work. Holding gatherings where members can casually check in, outside of the stress of work/activism, and sending thank you notes are two ways that groups can maintain a regenerative community.
Check in. Stay in touch with each other to ensure that no one is taking on too many responsibilities, and that everyone is feeling heard and supported.
Transparency and accountability. Any conflicts that arise should be handled with respect and consideration for everyone involved. Consider offering training in nonviolent communication so members learn how to communicate in ways that consider everyone’s point of view and end with a compromise or a solution that feels comfortable for all.
Maintain equity. Be aware of maintaining equity when it comes to gender, race, class, sexual orientation, etc. and including the voices of people who tend to “step back” so more dominating personalities who are accustomed to taking charge, making decisions, and leading don’t take up too much, or all of, the space.
Clear decision-making procedures. Let new members know how decisions are made. Is your group a hierarchy or is it a democracy? If you make decisions by majority, can one member block the decision if they are very strongly against it? Make sure it’s easy for members to feel that their voice is both being heard and has the power to affect decision making.
Offboarding. Hold a quick exit interview when members leave to figure out why they are leaving - whether it’s for personal reasons or has to do with how the group is operating.