Kleagle members were typically paid by commission and received a portion of each new member's initiation fee, Informal ways Klansman recruited members included "with eligible co-workers and personal friends and try to enlist them". Protestant teachers were also targeted for Klan membership. Bloc recruitment refers to "the way in which social-movement organizers often recruit members and participants among groups of individuals already organized for some other purpose." Members of organizations like churches and fraternal lodges, were easily accessible by Kleagles or Klan recruiters because they were already socially active in public issues through their involvement in these organizations. These recruitment efforts were very successful, so Klan membership soared. A primary recruitment leader during the 1920s, Edward Young Clark, reported that the Klan had gained 48,000 members in just three months.
Charity work and recruitment To offset violent acts, the KKK participated in charitable activities. In 1922, the Klan "contributed $25 each to the
Volunteers of America and to the
African Methodist Episcopal Church, an offer which Webster said proved that the Klan was not anti-black". The charitable activities demonstrated that the KKK was committed to the welfare of the nation and also "served as an effective public relations device by creating a more favorable opinion of the secret order and attracting new members".
Other recruitment factors The allure of the "invisible empire" and its public anonymity were also appeals for potential Klansmen. In addition to the empowerment of membership in an empire that was secretive, Klansmen also enjoyed a kinship bond from membership. The activities and events of Klan members were impressive to future recruits as they included family picnics and other social events that built solidarity. ==Notable Kleagles==