Communications is Key*

Communications IS the key to USY. Without it, where would USY be? USY probably wouldn t exist! When there is a program people find out through word of mouth, a flier, or a phone call, which is also known as communicating. This is how events have participants. Here are some ideas to getting the word spread successfully!

First off, a phone tree is a definite. Take your phone list and split it among the board or your phone committee. Every time a call needs to be made, rotate the list so everyone gets a different person each time. That way, your members will meet more than one person in the chapter. Be friendly on the phone, and get to know the person. Talk about school, if they enjoy USY, etc. Phone calls sometimes don t work. So, be persistent! Don t make just one call a week; call twice! Once to tell them about the program, and the other time to remind them.

After a phone tree, get a mailing list going. Ask your advisor or director for all USYers names and addresses. After that, ask your temple office for all teens' addresses and phone numbers. If they don t want to be on the list, they will tell you! It doesn t hurt to try! Now, what are you going to do with this mailing list? Well, it s going to get lots of use! First, every time you have an event, get a flier out as soon as possible. Make it "funky": use tie-died, bright or pre-decorated paper, unique fonts, and maybe even some color (yes, it s expensive, but having people show up at events is worth it!). If it is way too expensive, ask your local copy center if they would like to donate the copies.

So, you ve sent the fliers, you ve made the phone calls. People still aren't showing up. KEEP TRYING! An idea is starting a newsletter. Make up a really cool name, and try to match it to your chapter mascot. If you don t have a mascot, take the first letter of your chapter, and then think of another word that would go with it for the title. For example, my chapter is Midbar Kodesh, and our paper is called the Midbar Minute. In this wonderful paper, include current events in your chapter and in your region, summer program information, board bios, artwork, pictures, jokes, quotes, stories, etc. Make sure to contact your temple s newsletter editor and start a USY column for those teens who aren't on your mailing list.

Web pages are great. On it, you can include e-mail addresses for your board, advisors, etc. I suggest phone numbers also. Let s say there is a Jewish teen surfin the web and they land on your page, who s to say he/she won t call for info? The page doesn t have to be fancy at all. Just have all the information needed for someone to join USY.

And lastly, word of mouth sometimes works well. If you go to school with a USYer or see them randomly, just say "Hey! How s it goin ? USY is having an event on Sunday and we'd like you to come. It will be fun. Here's the info. Also, make announcements at services about USY. If these don t work, it s obvious that the person is too busy to have fun in USY! You tried, but don t ever give up (unless they say stop!). Make sure to talk to all of the USYers in your chapter, and make them feel comfortable. But most of all, make sure they have fun!

*Written by Farrah Kaye