Orienting new members to the buying club is the single most effective way to:

• keep your group operating smoothly
• satisfy members
• make sure members understand and fulfill their responsibilities

It's the best thing you can do to avoid hassles and misunderstandings!

The purpose of an orientation is to clarify what the buying club expects of a member and what a member expects from the buying club. During the orientation, tell new members what the goals of your group are, how it functions, what they can expect as members and what will be expected of them. Equally important -- ask new members about their needs, interests, and special skills. The orientation is an opportunity to create a firm foundation so that everyone knows what membership really means. This is the opportunity to build involvement from the start.

Topics to cover with new members

• What buying clubs are all about
• What are the purposes and goals of your buying club
• Ask what they think the buying club is and what they expect and want from it.
• Communicate your purposes and goals and how these are put into practice. Discuss how and why the buying club was started.
• Talk about the camaraderie among your members and how it has come about and how to support it.

Jobs and member skills:

Ask what talents and skills the new member has to offer. Maybe this member can offer something your group has been needing (a newsletter, expertise with produce, carpentry skills, computer skills, etc).

• Explain your operations and work cycle. Discuss how the workload is organized and divided among the members.
• Arrange for on-the-job training for the new member. Good training is essential to the smooth operation of your buying club.

All about ordering:

Hand out a New Member Information Sheet (a sheet including information on what is involved in processing an order) and your buying club's handbook. Review the ordering procedure, order forms and important dates.

• Have your coordinator contact United Natural Foods to set up a pricelist subscription for your new member.
• Give the new member a current copy of the buying club pricelist and explain how to read the pricelist.
• Explain that occasional out-of-stock products, mispicks, etc., are to be expected when buying directly from a distributor.
• Explain what to when there is a problem with a product.

Membership and fees:

Explain the buying club's needs and goals and how they are financed. Explain refundable and non-refundable fees and charges.

Make up a New Member Packet and include:

• A friendly welcoming letter
• New Member Information Sheet with ordering information
• Your buying club handbook (with job descriptions, member list, member policies, etc.)
• Buying Club Pricelist
• Current and past copies of your newsletter, if you have one
• Schedule of upcoming deadlines and distributions
• Member list and Job descriptions, if not included in your handbook