By Anna Flanagan
One of the privileges of being involved in Celebrants Aotearoa at a national level is getting to hear directly from our members. We can plan, develop resources and create opportunities for members to learn, connect and grow, but nothing quite replaces a genuine conversation with a member about their experience of our Association.
One of the things I’ve particularly enjoyed recently has been taking part in our new member phone call initiative.
There’s just something about picking up the phone and having a conversation. It’s given me the chance to welcome some of our newer members personally, hear about their experience of joining Celebrants Aotearoa, and ask what’s working well, what could be better, and what would help them feel more connected and supported.
While everyone’s experience is different, there have definitely been some common threads.
Connection matters. Members value opportunities to connect with other celebrants, particularly locally and face-to-face. For someone new to celebrancy, simply knowing who their people are and having someone they can ask a question of can make a real difference.
Support needs to be easy to find. We already have a lot available, but the conversations have reminded me that having support and making sure people know where and how to find it are two different things.
And there’s so much value in personal contact. An email, resource or Facebook post can share information, but sometimes it’s simply having a good conversation with someone who takes the time to listen that creates a real sense of connection and belonging.
There have also been some great suggestions and ideas along the way, which we’ll continue to feed into our programme of work.
Most of all, I’ve loved having these conversations. They’ve been a great reminder that behind every membership number is a celebrant finding their feet, building their practice and becoming part of our community.
