A brand-new club walks into a club fair with one big disadvantage: nobody has heard of it yet. There are no older students vouching for it and no photos from last year’s events. The good news is that a clear pitch and a fast follow-up matter more than history. Here’s how to turn a folding table and a dream into real member sign-ups.
Before The Day
Write a one-sentence pitch. Say what your club does and why someone should care, in words a first-year student would use. If you can’t say it in one breath, it’s too long.
Set your first event date now. Sign-ups need somewhere to go. “First meeting is Thursday at 6” turns curiosity into a plan.
Make signing up fast. A QR code linked to a short form (name, email, year) works best. Bring a paper sheet too, in case the Wi-Fi fails.
Staff the table with at least two people. Ideally they’re from different years or programs, so more students see someone like themselves.
Making The Most Of Your Club Fair Table
Stand in front of the table, not behind it. Open with a question instead of a pitch, like “Are you thinking about a career in health?”
Show the work. Photos of members organizing events or working on projects say more than a poster full of text. You can even use photos of other chapters if you don’t have any of your own yet. Choose photos that showcase partnership: students working alongside community members, not posing with children or patients. Make sure everyone pictured agreed to it.
Be upfront about cost. When it comes to service learning trips, say what they cost and how members fundraise. Some students will walk away based on cost, and that’s fine. One new MEDLIFE chapter saw about 96 students at its first information session, and price was one reason many didn’t sign up. The 24 who did at least knew exactly what they were committing to.
Offer an easy first step. Not everyone is ready to commit to an international trip. A first meeting or a local service event gives people a low-pressure way to try the club out.
Hand them something. A small card or flyer with your first event date and social media handle keeps you in their pocket after they walk away.
After The Day
Follow up within two days. Send one short message with the first event date and what to expect. The longer you wait, the more names on your list go cold.
Make the first meeting count. Keep it short and social, and give everyone something concrete to do.
Focus on who comes back. Ten committed members will do more than a hundred names on a spreadsheet.
Ask how they found you. It tells you what worked for next year.
Being the newest table in the room is hard. Taking it one step at a time is the best approach. It takes time to build a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about global health and service. Through keeping a consistent approach and prioritizing event planning that brings people together you can gradually create a thriving chapter.
To learn how to start a MEDLIFE chapter on your campus today, fill out the form below or download our brochure!