Young Professionals Forum August 8, 2013 Attracting Young Professionals Part 2 – Identifying Solutions 10 Tips to attract, recruit and retain younger members

Tip 1: The first place to look is right under your nose

Consider all those who have been touched by your club in the last 10 years… Exchange Students Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN) National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) Ambassadorial Scholars Peace Scholars Indigenous Medical Scholars Group Study Exchange Team Members Rotaractors

The ones that didn’t get away

Put them on our mailing list Invite them to special events (changeover, Christmas dinner) Ask them to help at service projects Ask them to like your club Facebook page Keep your warm contacts warm! Hold a dedicated alumni night It’s important to build a relationship before you ask them to join!

Tip 2: You have to be easy to find online Tip 3: You have to be easy to understand online

Does your club have an independent, tailor made website? YES NO Does your club have an active Facebook page? YES NO INACTIVE

Online Challenge: Ask a young (under 40) friend, relative (someone who doesn’t know much about Rotary) to see how easy it is to: 1. Find your club online 2. Discover your club’s service priorities 3. A reason to get involved 4. How to get involved 5. Contact details Ask them to do it in front of you.

Your club’s service priorities 3. A reason to get involved 4. How to get involved 5. Contact details If your club website has NOTHING else on the home page, make sure it CLEARLY articulates these four items:

Tip 4: Go where the young people are

Business Networking Groups Libraries Universities Shopping Centres Welcome to Australia events Citizenship Ceremonies Cultural & Ethnic Groups Partner with other charitable causes and events Community Concerts Royal Adelaide Show – Country Shows City to Bay Fun Run Sporting Clubs & Events Careers Expos Ask your kids or grandkids for ideas

Tip 5: You have to listen

Tip 6: Show them the Big Picture

Tip 7: Ask them what they are passionate about

Tip 8: Manage conflict

Tip 9: Avoid Turnoffs

BEFOREAFTER Tip 10: Make Meetings Attractive

“If our meetings are not interesting to them, why would they attend?” Holly Ransom Inspirational Speakers Topics focussed around Leadership and Personal Development Mentoring & Networking Opportunities Less formal, more energetic Intergenerational mix-up games One “Action” meeting per month Breakfast meetings cheapest, easiest, punctual

Traditional Rotary Club Meeting Structure Business Announcements Committee & Board Meetings MealGuest Speaker

Traditional Rotary Club Meeting Structure Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Fundraising Projects Training Socialising

The Rotary Club of the Future Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 What about all those announcements?

Traditional Rotary Club Meeting Structure Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 The Rotary Club of the Future Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10

As a membership organisation, it’s incumbent upon us to make the change, because we’re the ones wanting the members. Holly Ransom