Growing Membership with Women of Younger Generations

A large percentage of our membership is currently made up of "Baby Boomers”; those of us who were born between 1946 and 1964. And, yet, we have attracted Daughters from younger generations. When we asked what drew these younger women to join us, here is what they said:

• They see us as women who are faithful.
• We are women with a mission and a purpose.
• We are women who can be mentors for them.
• We are women who are spiritual.

When we asked what they feel have been barriers to attracting younger women, here is what they told us:

• We want meetings to be spiritually focused. Sometimes meetings are focused on meeting minutes and treasury reports. We want to be spiritually fed and are less interested in minutes and treasury reports.
• We need an understanding that many of us work full time and are juggling the responsibilities of career, family, and home. Our ability to” serve” may be different from yours.
• When we volunteer, we get frustrated when our ideas get dismissed by those who say, “We have always done it this way.”

So, how do we draw younger women to The Order? We can start with a willingness to be flexible and open to change. Think about the kinds of obstacles younger women face and address them. Be willing to change meeting times to accommodate working women’s schedules. Offer childcare to women with small children to enable attendance at meetings.

And, of course, reach out and invite younger women – warmly, personally, and individually.

As we speak to younger women, we can let them know that we have been where they are facing the stress of having no free time and the pressure of constant demands coming their way. We can offer them a listening ear, a calm and safe place to share, and quiet time with our Lord. They, too, can experience the peace, hope, joy, and love of Christ that we experience when we are together.

Let’s reach out and embrace younger women! May we learn from each other and grow together!



Nadine Craig

National Membership Chair