When you need more people, thank the ones you have.  And here’s the key – thank them publicly.  I served on a conference planning committee for a year.  The conference was a success.  But we, the committee, were not mentioned.  A year of volunteer work and there was no time in the conference schedule for us to be introduced.  Our names weren’t listed in the program.  Later, we did receive an email thank you (when we were being asked to come to another meeting.)

Don’t misunderstand.  The chair of the conference is a wonderful guy.  He just missed an opportunity to attract additional support.

A sage once asked, “What is a human beings greatest support?” 

The answer was “Gratitude.”

So if you need support, express your gratitude VERY PUBLICLY.  It is an easy way to get more people to participate.  When you publicly thank those who do support you, new people want to get involved. – Shar McBee