Tips

How to Recruit: Tips to Make it Easy!

Who to Approach:

• Friends you often hike with who are not current members
• A colleague who is interested in hiking
• Friends who frequently shop at the area's leading outdoor retailers.
• Family members who share your concern with environmental issues.
• Someone you've already discussed the Trail Conference with, or who expressed an interest in joining at an early date, but with whom you've never followed up
• Someone in your industry who recently gave you a business card
• Your doctor who can understand the health benefits of hiking
• Neighbors who are interested in discovering new family activities
• Friends who have read through your copy of the Trail Walker and have asked about the Trail Conference

As you can see, the prospects are limited only by your imagination.

What to Say:

Here are just a few good opening lines when you want to discuss the benefits of Trail Conference membership:

• "I think it's important that you join the Trail Conference, and I'll tell you why."
• "If you enjoy hiking, you should really be a member that builds and maintains all of the area trails – at no cost to taxpayers."
• "The Trail Conference is our advocate in Albany and Trenton on issues such as controlling illegal ATVs, limiting development close to established trail lands, park land stewardship, all issues that are shaping our future."
• "Have you heard of the trail conference, the caretaker of the area's hiking network?"
• "Joining the Trail Conference gives you big discounts to area outdoor retailers."
• "When you become a member of the Trail Conference, you have and a voice in government-immediately.”
• "Being a member of the Trail Conference pays for itself in the savings you get from area retailers."

Countering Objections:

Even with all of the great benefits of being a Trail Conference member, you're going to run into some people who have reasons why they are not interested. Here are some objections you may encounter, and the arguments that can help you convince them to join:

Objection: "I don't have time to join."
Response: Joining doesn't require you to volunteer to maintain the trails. In fact, joining the Trail Conference gives you access to our hiking maps and publications at a lower cost, which can help you plan your hiking activities and give you more time to enjoy your hikes.

Objection: "I can't afford the dues."
Response: Of all the sports and hobbies, hiking is one of the cheapest. By becoming a Trail Conference member, you are investing in the trail network in which you are able to hike for free. Besides, with the discounts members receive from area retailers, your membership can pay for itself in savings.

Objection: "I already know someone else who's a member."
Response: That's great, but wouldn't you like to receive your own Trail Walker subscription, take advantage of retailer discounts, and add your voice to the hiking community? When it comes to area hiking associations, you won't find better a better organization!

Sample email to help you recruit new members:

Dear [Insert name]:

I'm writing to share with you the incredible benefits I've received from membership in the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (NYNJTC). First of all, there would not be a blazed and mapped network of trails in the New York, New Jersey region without this organization.

The State, County, and Local governments don't plan, build, and maintain the area hiking trails – over 1,600 miles – they do.

My membership means a lot to me and I want you to be able to take advantage of the same benefits. Here are just a few of the tools you'll gain as a member:

- A subscription to the Trail Walker, the Trail Conference's newsletter that covers the latest hiking news and provides a calendar of hikes available around the entire region.

- Exclusive member-only discounts at area retailers like Campmor, Ramsey Outdoor, Gander Mountain, and a host of others.

- 25% member-only discounts on the leading hiking guidebooks and maps in the area, including the New York Walk Book and New Jersey Walk Book.

- Exclusive use of the Hoeferlin Library at the Trail Conference office that includes more than 1,000 books and maps covering hiking destinations around the world.

- The Trail Conference is a recognized voice in protecting and preserving this region's hiking resources. By maintaining strong alliances with the government, environmental organizations, and other associations, they ensure that you have a voice in the present and future of hiking in the region.

For more details, check out the Trail Conference web site at www.nynjtc.org.

Let me know when you're ready to join, so I can get credit for bringing you aboard. If you have any questions,
let me know and I'll make sure you have all the materials you need to join.

Thanks in advance for helping out!

Sincerely,
[Your name]

V3 Last updated: February 1, 2008   Copyright © 1996-2008  New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Privacy Statement.