|
NEW MEMBERS MEETING This meeting usually takes about an hour and it can be helpful if it is held preceding a normal pub meeting (but is then likely to exclude people who dislike pubs, or course - being held in a member's private home can have its advantages). Interested people phoning in give their names to the telephone contact who, if he is confident that they are likely to benefit from IP, invites them to attend the new members' meeting ("which starts promptly at...") On arrival they are invited to complete a simple attendance form so that we know who has turned up. This would include name, address, telephone number, occupation etc. (see below). This is important because even if they don't join they will have had access to privileged information. During the meeting the host and hostess talk to the applicants as a group telling them about IP and how it works. The applicants are invited to tell the meeting about themselves by way of introduction. This can be a bit embarrassing for some, but usually in a friendly environment it's not too much of a problem, and helps others feel sympathetic to the new members. Application forms are circulated and applicants encouraged to join there and then. There is always the concern that given too much opportunity to think about it, their enthusiasm might wane, and the loss of a new member might occur. IP is good for single people, and it is a pity when suitable applicants shy away from the prospect of something which might change their lives for the better. They can attend meetings on a provisional basis for a month, but it is always better if they join on the night. Details of applicants attending meetings are kept, to give us the following information: |