District 5870 Rotary

RI President Bill Boyd has said, “So much has been said about membership in Rotary. Building membership is, of course, critical to building Rotary. Rotary is nothing without its members and its clubs, and as members age, we must find new ones to take their places. More than that, we must always be growing in order to meet the many new needs that arise in our communities every day.

But I believe the best way to strengthen our numbers isn't by focusing on our numbers-it’s by focusing on our clubs. A truly strong club is tremendously attractive. A strong club offers opportunities for friendship, fellowship and meaningful service. It offers new connections within a community and a chance to meet like-minded friends, the kinds of friends who will still be close decades from now.

Again and again, we find that successful clubs have certain features in common. Together, you might think of them as a “to-do” list for clubs that need a boost.:

1. ASSESS. Listen to each other, and find out what members want.
2. EMPHASIZE. Accent the social aspects of Rotary. They are the glue that binds us.
3. MARKET. Don’t sell your club as a product - market it. Find out what people want, and do your best to give   it to them.
4. INDUCT. Bring new members into your club with dignity and class.
5. INVOLVE. Make the whole family part of Rotary. Don’t let it be another commitment that takes members   from their spouses and children.
6. MENTOR. Make sure that a seasoned Rotarian helps new members get started and stays involved for at least   a year. Newcomers can get lost easily.
7. EDUCATE. Provide education continuously, but give a little at a time. There’s a lot of learn about Rotary   and it can be overwhelming.
8. ENTHUSE. Show enthusiasm openly! Rotary should be fun.

Membership comes down to one simple statement: Strong clubs lead to a strong Rotary. ”

We are half way through our Rotary year, how many new members does your club have?

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October 2006

The Membership Minute
Vol. 3, Ed. 3 The Changing Landscape of Volunteerism

As the world's first service club organization, Rotary has been offering people volunteer opportunities for more than 100 years. However, today's social, political, and economic circumstances have changed the landscape of volunteerism considerably.

People seeking volunteer opportunities can now choose from organizations connected to very specific causes, such as cancer research foundations, child advocacy groups, and housing and shelter organizations. Many groups also offer short-term options, allowing volunteers to sign up for projects that require only a few weeks, days, or even hours of work instead of a long-term commitment.

And modern technology makes finding these opportunities easier than ever. Organizations now communicate their missions and projects through Web sites and TV and Internet ads. Busy professionals can search and sign up for various volunteer opportunities online in a matter of minutes.

Understanding these changes can help Rotary clubs gain deeper insight into attracting and retaining members. By staying aware of current volunteering trends, clubs can ensure that Rotary's important work will be embraced and carried out by new generations.

So what can your club do to keep up with the changing landscape of volunteerism? Consider these ideas:

Create or enhance a club Web site, including information on how community members can get involved.

Appeal to prospective members with short-term projects.

Research specific volunteering trends and opportunities in your area.

Assess club projects to make sure they meet the needs of your community and are interesting to prospective and current members.

Publicize club projects and volunteer opportunities in your community.

With prospective members, focus on the benefits of membership that set Rotary apart from other volunteer organizations, such as:

Regular fellowship

More than 100-year history of service

Variety of projects offering hands-on involvement

Professional development and networking opportunities

Sustainability of projects due to Rotary's continuing presence in the community

Rotary's vast international network

RI rolls out 2006-07 Public Relations Grants As part of the campaign to improve Rotary's public image, the RI Board of Directors has established the Public Relations Grants program to assist clubs in their local media outreach efforts. With the funds, clubs are encouraged to promote Rotary by putting up Rotary billboards or placing Rotary ads, supplements, and public service announcements with their local newspapers and TV and radio stations. Each club can apply for a grant up to US$3,000. Applications are due by 31 October.

Check out Effective Public Relations at www.rotary.org for more information.

Rotary Basics for 2006-07 now available The 2006-07 version of Rotary Basics (595-EN) is now available. This eight-page brochure provides a great overview of Rotary for both new and prospective members. It can be ordered for US$0.50 or downloaded for free at www.rotary.org.

Editor:
Jana Bodensteiner, senior coordinator, Membership Development
Learn more about Rotary membership development at http://www.rotary.org/membership/index.html

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FOR A CLUB TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, YOUR CLUB MUST:

· Have a goal: Minimum - one net new member

Best - have the membership decide what size the club needs to be to do all

the projects, fellowship, fund raising, etc. without burning out your members.

· Discuss membership and your goal at every meeting.

· Quick follow up on leads from the RI website

· Under the new club structure, every club should have a board position for your chair of

membership.

· Have an professional orientation Copies of Mexia’s PowerPoint presentation are available from

Bcurlee@austin.rr.comor reprice@glade.net. It is a very professional presentation that can

customized for your club.

· Help the new members select a meaningful assignment (one where they have an interest)

immediately and give them support.

· Use the RI website to get membership ideas. www.rotary.org

· Have our district membership committee present a program for your club: “Why in the world

would anyone want to join this Rotary Club” or “Ideas on Retaining Members” given by our own

district membership committee. Contact bcurlee@austin.rr.comto schedule a program. Over

30 clubs have had programs given by the district membership team.

Ask your President or District Governor how important membership growth is. Hint: It’s major!

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A ROTARIAN’S RESPONSIBILITY

Here’s the scenario. You’re in a regular meeting of your club surrounded by your fellow members, a few guests, and several visiting Rotarians. Following lunch the president sounds the bell to begin the meeting, the invocation is given, the Pledge of Allegiance is recited, and you await the introduction of visitors to the meeting. Instead, you’re puzzled by a brief period of silence, and then the president says, “I want our visitors today to know what kind of Rotarians we are. Being mindful of the 4-Way Test, let me see by a show of hands which of our members have never sponsored a new member.” Then the president waits while everyone looks around the room to see whose hands are raised and whose are not. How would you respond? Would you have to raise your hand? If so, would you feel embarrassment? If you felt no embarrassment, would you feel any concern that you hadn’t achieved all that was expected of you as a Rotarian and as a member of your club?

Strangely enough, most Rotarians don’t sponsor a new member, leaving membership development to no more than about 10% of their fellow Rotarians. Because of this, Rotary must continually emphasize membership development in order to facilitate growth. Imagine the impact on your club if each member this Rotary year recruited just one new member! Except for attrition, the size of your club would double, and its effectiveness would astonish even its own members. Rotarians can never be fulfilled unless they SHARE ROTARY, not only with other Rotarians but also with others who may be qualified for membership but have never been offered an opportunity to join. Membership development is the responsibility of every Rotarian. Recruit a new member, help your club, and experience fulfillment in Rotary.

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