Best Practices for Engaging Your Members

Relevance: Engaging members at all stages of their membership will help them maximize their Rotary experience and continue to find value in it

Learning Objectives At the end of this session, District Membership Chairs should be able to help clubs: 1) Use Rotary tools and resources to understand why members leave 2) Develop strategies for engaging members at different stages of their membership

Surveys & Action Plans Members are particularly vulnerable to leaving during two phases: before their third year and again after their tenth. But members can leave or become unhappy in Rotary at any time. Encourage clubs to: Learn why members leave by interviewing them, and asking them to complete the exit survey in Understanding Why Members Leave Learn what their members like and dislike about the club, using the membership satisfaction survey in Enhancing the Club Experience, then develop an action plan

Maximize the Rotary Experience Implementing results from a member satisfaction survey demonstrates to members that their input is valued Clubs should strive to find ways to engage your members at all stages of their membership to help them maximize their Rotary experience

Discussion Questions

Engage All Members What are ways clubs can involve members who avoid projects, activities, and leadership roles?

How can a club maximize its members’ collective talent? Member Interests What if a club’s activities don’t reflect the skills and interests of your members? How can a club maximize its members’ collective talent?

How can clubs engage members who are at different stages of Engagement Stages How can clubs engage members who are at different stages of their membership?

How can clubs recognize members for their efforts? Member Recoginition How can clubs recognize members for their efforts?

Change Management What did you learn from the last member who left your club and what changes has your club made as a result?

How can clubs promote or change their meetings to get members Club Promotion How can clubs promote or change their meetings to get members excited about coming?

Divide into five groups based on these membership stages: Less than one year 1-2 years 3-5 years 6-10 years 10 or more years

My Rotary Resources Best practices for engaging members Strengthening your membership: creating your membership development plan Membership assessment tools: Improving your member retention: retention assessment and analysis Enhancing the club experience: member satisfaction survey Understanding why members leave: exit survey Be a vibrant club Get more out of membership: connect for good Rotary club health check Understanding membership reports: getting started Rotary club central reports: Member viability and growth report & Membership termination profile