Rotary’s Global Quest Rotary’s Global Quest Keys to Recruiting and Retaining Members

Over the past 96 years, Rotary Clubs have covered the world

Rotary Membership increased dramatically during the last century

Membership declined for the past 3 years Rotary International Membership Change Worldwide for the Past Decade -40, , , , ,000 20,000 30,000 40, Charter MembersExisting Clubs Net Growth

What excuses do we hear about meeting the Membership Challenge? l Recruiting has been difficult l Younger people don’t seem to have the time available for Rotary l Changing economy l Membership attrition l Recruiting has been difficult l Younger people don’t seem to have the time available for Rotary l Changing economy l Membership attrition

Do we spend enough time and effort Recruiting New Rotary Members and Retaining Them? l In business we spend a significant effort in recruiting and inducting new staff members l We also invest a lot of time and effort in recruiting new customers. l In business we spend a significant effort in recruiting and inducting new staff members l We also invest a lot of time and effort in recruiting new customers.

Let’s meet the Membership Challenge with proven formulas...

membershipmembershipmembershipmembership = E + 3R = E + 3R E xtend E xtend R ecruit R ecruit R etain R etain R evitalize R evitalize = E + 3R = E + 3R E xtend E xtend R ecruit R ecruit R etain R etain R evitalize R evitalize

Extend: Form New Clubs Opportunity for more people to participate in Rotary by offering more options in your community: k Time of day k Day of Week k Location k Club Size k Open Classifications Opportunity for more people to participate in Rotary by offering more options in your community: k Time of day k Day of Week k Location k Club Size k Open Classifications

Recruit New Members lSet a challenging goal for your club: k How do you feel when you see a low or no growth goal? k Do you feel energized and really challenged? k How about a goal of 3%? 6%? 9%? 12% 15% more?? lSet a challenging goal for your club: k How do you feel when you see a low or no growth goal? k Do you feel energized and really challenged? k How about a goal of 3%? 6%? 9%? 12% 15% more??

Recruit New Members Recognize the urgency of Rotary Membership “We’re either Expandable or Expendable” -Robert Schuller Utilize a “fireside chat” to brief entire family before induction Recognize the urgency of Rotary Membership “We’re either Expandable or Expendable” -Robert Schuller Utilize a “fireside chat” to brief entire family before induction

Retain Your Current Members k Members are the life blood of a Rotary Club k Your club’s most valued asset is its members k Nurture and grow your membership! k Members k Members are the life blood of a Rotary Club k Your k Your club’s most valued asset is its members k Nurture k Nurture and grow your membership!

Orient the new member properly lMember and spouse if possible lEvening of Rotary orientation k Club History and Projects k Four Avenues of Service k Rotary International k The Rotary Foundation lMember and spouse if possible lEvening of Rotary orientation k Club History and Projects k Four Avenues of Service k Rotary International k The Rotary Foundation

Induct new members properly l Significant ceremony with spouse l Provide (options) k Four Way Test k Object of Rotary k Rotary Basic Library k Certificate of Membership k Pin, Badge, Banner k Publications l Significant ceremony with spouse l Provide (options) k Four Way Test k Object of Rotary k Rotary Basic Library k Certificate of Membership k Pin, Badge, Banner k Publications

Educate the New Member lMany members of a typical club may know very little about Rotary lSome members who leave were never really knowledgeable Rotarians lMany members of a typical club may know very little about Rotary lSome members who leave were never really knowledgeable Rotarians

Educate the New Member lRotary program once a month lgood Rotary speakers lslides and videos about Rotary lAmbassadorial Scholars, youth exchanges, RYLA participants, GSE, Rotaract, Interact,... lRotary program once a month lgood Rotary speakers lslides and videos about Rotary lAmbassadorial Scholars, youth exchanges, RYLA participants, GSE, Rotaract, Interact,...

New Member Badge lGive a Red Badge and a list of requirements to meet before being given a Blue Badge being given a Blue Badge lPotential requirements: k club attendance; serving as sergeant-at-arms, greeter, song leader, club committee member; presenting programs; making up; attend board meeting; club social activity and/or fund raising event; district event attendance raising event; district event attendance lGive a Red Badge and a list of requirements to meet before being given a Blue Badge being given a Blue Badge lPotential requirements: k club attendance; serving as sergeant-at-arms, greeter, song leader, club committee member; presenting programs; making up; attend board meeting; club social activity and/or fund raising event; district event attendance raising event; district event attendance

lClub Committees lFund Raisers lBoard Meetings lClub Meetings lClub Social Activities lClub Committees lFund Raisers lBoard Meetings lClub Meetings lClub Social Activities Involve the Rotarian in:

Assign the new club member as a delegate to the district conference and have them report to the club as a delegate to the district conference and have them report to the club

lto find two or three other new members from among his/her peer group Ask the new member

What can be done for small clubs? Continue with current recruiting/retention approach? Merge with another club? Give up Charter and Disband? Answer: Revitalize! Continue with current recruiting/retention approach? Merge with another club? Give up Charter and Disband? Answer: Revitalize!

Revitalize a small club lEvaluate current logistics lDraw up a demographic profile lCompile a classification survey listing business and professional activities in your community lAre you making full use of all types of membership? lEvaluate current logistics lDraw up a demographic profile lCompile a classification survey listing business and professional activities in your community lAre you making full use of all types of membership?

Revitalize a small club lInvigorate Programs and Activities k focus on service projects that make a vital contribution to the community k establish good working relationships with the local media lWhat are your club’s best assets? lUse methods similar to new club extension where existing nucleus is weak lInvigorate Programs and Activities k focus on service projects that make a vital contribution to the community k establish good working relationships with the local media lWhat are your club’s best assets? lUse methods similar to new club extension where existing nucleus is weak

membershipmembershipmembershipmembership = E + 3R = E + 3R E xtend E xtend R ecruit R ecruit R etain R etain R evitalize R evitalize = E + 3R = E + 3R E xtend E xtend R ecruit R ecruit R etain R etain R evitalize R evitalize

Why Join Rotary? Rick King, President of Rotary International gave 20 answers to this question...

Why Join Rotary? 1. Friendship 2. Business Development 3. Personal Growth and Development 4. Leadership Development 5. Community Citizenship 1. Friendship 2. Business Development 3. Personal Growth and Development 4. Leadership Development 5. Community Citizenship

Why Join Rotary? 6. Continuing Education 7. Fun 8. Development of Public Speaking Skills 9. Citizenship in the World 10.Assistance When Traveling 6. Continuing Education 7. Fun 8. Development of Public Speaking Skills 9. Citizenship in the World 10.Assistance When Traveling

Why Join Rotary? 11. Entertainment 12. Development of Social Skills 13. Family Programs 14. Vocational Skills 15. Development of Ethics 11. Entertainment 12. Development of Social Skills 13. Family Programs 14. Vocational Skills 15. Development of Ethics

Why Join Rotary? 16. Cultural Awareness 17. Prestige 18. Nice People 19. Absence of “Official Creed” 20. Opportunity to Serve 16. Cultural Awareness 17. Prestige 18. Nice People 19. Absence of “Official Creed” 20. Opportunity to Serve

Who Touched You? And made you a Rotarian?

And Who Will You Touch?

How can we meet the Membership Challenge? We Must Lead. Rotary Club Officers are Leaders of Leaders. Leaders Like to be Led. We must also Lead by Example.

When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he tried over 2000 experiments before he got it to work...

“I never failed once. It just happened to be a 2000-step process.” - Thomas Edison

An example of leadership… Edison NJ USA Rotary Club July 1997: l18 members November 1998: l58 members lSponsored a Rotaract Club lSponsored Seven Interact Clubs

Light up your club with new members!

Taking Action on the Membership Challenge Taking Action on the Membership Challenge Additional resources are available at on task force web pages and discussion forums

Presentation developed by Robert W. Nelson Stanmore Drive Potomac, MD USA