Blooming Buddy Program 

(A very successful membership program for 20 years for the Harrisburg Chapter #18)

Mission Statement: New member(s) must be made to feel welcome and comfortable.

Blooming Buddy Chair

• Thank the recruiter - The recruiter is the member who brought in the candidate.
• Call and email new members with the following information:

• You will be assigned a mentor who will be known as your “Blooming Buddy.” She will guide you.

• Locate a mentor (Blooming Buddy which should be someone other than the recruiter), Share the new members contact information.  Ask the Blooming Buddy to make an initial welcome call and collect the following information from the mentee (new member).

• Street address
• City/State/Zip
• Email address
• Phone #
• Tell them when the next meeting will be (date, time, place)

• The Blooming Buddy committee will bring a welcome pack* for the new member to their first meeting. The Blooming Buddy is responsible for going over the information in the welcome package.

Blooming Buddy Mentor

        Call the Blooming Buddy and give her the contact information of the new member.

        The Blooming Buddy should receive the following instruction:

• A quick phone call to the Blooming Buddy should be made to ensure they have all the new member information and to assure them that the committee is there to assist them in any way.  Also, thank them again for doing this important job for the club.

• Ask them to call the new member in a timely manner as you have already identified them as their Blooming Buddy. They should identify what the new member expects and correct any misunderstandings.
• Sit with your Blooming Buddy at meetings for the 4 or 5 meetings to be sure she feels welcome and has the opportunity to ask questions. Then encourage them to sit with another member. All members should be encouraged to try to sit with a new member at least once in the new year.
• Tell Blooming Buddy you will share kenzans (frogs), vases, clippers until she can get her own.
• Introduce the Blooming Buddy to the schools available in your chapter and to all the chapter sensei.

• Encourage sensei to offer a free lesson or free observation of a lesson or workshop.
• Invite your Blooming Buddy to accompany you to a lesson

• Tell the advantages of membership:

• Increased knowledge of Japanese Flower arranging
• Development of an appreciation for Japanese culture
• Friendship (Ikebana people LOVE to share and will never criticize)

• Discuss “Ginza.” What it is and when they are available. Explain how it operates.
• Encourage your new member to attend all meetings and encourage her participation.  Consider offering to pick her up and drive her to the meeting.

• Perhaps she would like to do a “small job” after a couple of meeting

• Take workshop funds, proof a newsletter, bring a hospitality treat

• Talk about other ways to obtain materials (catalogs, teachers, internet).
• Double-check the accuracy of her contact information.
• Prepare a brief introduction of her to give at the first meeting. This let’s the group know you are her Blooming Buddy and that you will be introducing her to members today.  Also give a call for any beginner materials that the club would like to give or loan until she is fully outfitted.

• Include some memorable and different facts about her such as -
• Other interests, places travelled other than Japan, career, other talents, live events

• Navigated the Amazon River
• Solo flew a single engine plane
• Saw Elvis while gambling in Vegas
• Taught ironing in summer school
• Met a president
• Has had 3 holes in one

• Prepare a biography and ask for a photo to be placed in the next newsletter.
• After a few months check to see if they are happy and see value in their membership. Please (re)confirm that their membership and opinions are valued. 
• Be sure they are receiving their Ikebana International Magazine.

*Note: The welcome package should include: the current membership directory, links to I.I. Headquarters website, your chapter website and email address, A former copy of the I.I. Magazine so that the new member looks for it in the mail, the most current Chapter newsletter, the Blooming Buddy contact information, and a personal note of welcome.