Building culture
Supporting the development of existing members is very important for the association to function well. You need to build a sense of community and a strong culture, and make everyone feel like part of a team. Regardless of the association’s size or purpose, this is essential for maintaining its operations.
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Get to know each other and build security in the association
Everyone needs to feel seen, included and valued. When we feel a sense of belonging, we also feel more inclined to contribute and participate actively. To achieve this, do not underestimate some simple and basic activities.
If you do not know each other before, "getting to know" games can be a great start. Make it simple and fun! For example, have a name-calling game where everyone says an animal that starts with the same letter as their name. Or try speedfriending, where everyone gets a few minutes to talk to each other. Feel free to provide some help along the way, such as specific questions to ask or topics to talk about.
When members know each other well, it becomes easier to say what you think and make suggestions. That is why it is important to spend time getting to know each other.
Identity markers
You should spend time building an identity for the members of your association. Do you have a logo? Can you order cups, t-shirts or stickers with this logo? Maybe you have a song that is special to the association, or perhaps written specifically for the association?
All such identity markers help build a clear profile. It is easier to feel a sense of belonging to a clear profile, and it can feel somewhat exclusive to know songs or own previous merch from an association you were a part of.
Collaboration for the benefit of all
Your association should have a strong relationship with your purpose. It is clear who you are, what you usually do and which members you are looking for. Limitations on how big you are, or what type of activities you arrange yourself may be appropriate in order not to stretch yourself too thin. By collaborating with similar associations or associations that you see as natural to collaborate with, however, you can achieve larger, more affordable or completely different activities than you otherwise do. Therefore, be open as a board member and leader to establish ties and look for ways to offer more activities to your members.