Member renewals for makerspaces: fewer emails, fewer lapses

Renewal season is the most stressful time of year for many volunteer-run spaces. Here's the setup we recommend after watching dozens of makerspaces go through it.

Pick one renewal date, or go rolling

A single date is easy to communicate and easy to celebrate. Rolling renewals, where each member renews on the anniversary of joining, spread the admin across the year. Both work in Tidewell. The important thing is not to mix them.

Let the reminders do the chasing

• First reminder 30 days before
• Second reminder 7 days before
• A friendly note on the day it lapses, with a one-click renewal

Keep inductions when members lapse

If a member lapses for a few months and comes back, they shouldn't have to redo every induction. Tidewell keeps induction records separately from memberships, so returning members pick up where they left off unless an induction has expired.

Finally, ask why people leave. A one-question survey when a membership lapses gives you the honest answers that never come up at the AGM.