Non-member spouses. Experience shows that the best supporters are couples where both are members.

Present members. Presumably they are pleased with their Chaîne experience and know the kind of person who would be a good member.

Ex-members. It is often worthwhile spending time to find out if former members would like to be reinstated, especially if their reasons for resigning are no longer valid (such as time conflicts, special diets, etc.).

Referrals. If referrals come to you from other cities, follow up on them promptly. (By the same token, if a member knows a good candidate who lives in another city where there is a Chaîne chapter, encourage them to give you the candidate’s name to pass along to the national office or directly to the appropriate Bailli.)

Have outstanding Chaîne events. Be sure your events stand out and that guests are made to feel welcome.

Careful seating of prospective members at events is important. Try to see that prospective members meet as many of the bailliage’s officers as possible during an evening. All guests should be introduced to the Bailli.

Have an active chapter of Societe Mondiale du Vin. Membership in our wine society is considered an important enhancement to Chaîne membership, and the existence of a local chapter is frequently cited as a major motivation to join.

Sponsor community outreach programs. They demonstrate the Chaîne’s commitment, at all levels, to the education of those in the culinary arts, viticulture, and the hospitality industry. The existence of a formal program at the local level creates a strong bond between its professional and non-professional members, and between a community and the bailliage.

Be sure your membership, and especially your Board, knows you are looking for new members and knows the procedures required to propose someone for membership.

Bailliages looking to increase their memberships sometimes limit the number of times someone may attend as a guest, thus giving the perennial guest an incentive to join.

Think of professions to consider. Ask your physician members to refer other physicians, etc.

Does your bailliage need a good writer to serve as Vice Chargé(e) de Presse? Someone good at handling the bailliage's financial records? You may want to recruit people specifically to fill posts important to the bailliage.

Consider contacting hotel and restaurant associations, restaurateurs, club managers, wine shop owners, and gourmet food store owners and asking them to promote Chaîne membership by handing out the Chaîne's full-color brochure to suitable prospective members. Be sure to provide a local contact and phone number.

When you are scheduling an event, consider asking the host establishment to let you add their regular customers to your invitation list.

Encourage your officers to be members of other food and wine organizations. Members of these organizations may be prospective Chaîne members.

Provide potential members with copies of Chaîne materials that publicize the benefits of membership. Materials might include the full-color promotional brochure and copies of back issues of Gastronome. If a chapter has an archivist or historian who keeps a scrapbook of past events and memorable occasions, these might be shared.

Acquaint prospective members with our national Website.

Make sure prospective members know that members are welcomed as friends at thousands of Chaîne associated restaurants and hotels, both at home and abroad.

Note: You need to make clear the financial obligations of belonging to the Chaîne, including the cost of bailliage events. You will then avoid having someone drop out at the end of the first year because they are unclear about these costs.