1. Dale Charters District 6360 Membership Chair September 7, 2017
Membership Training
Dale Charters
District Membership Chair
September 7, 2017

2. Why Membership Matters Membership Statistics and Research
Agenda
Why Membership Matters
Membership Statistics and Research
Council on Legislation Changes
Membership Resources
Best Practices and Simple Ideas
Here are the topics that I’d like to cover in today’s session. I’ll begin by briefly talking about why membership matters to the success of the clubs in your district. Then I’ll talk about membership stats along with Rotary’s membership research findings. I’ll discuss some Council on Legislation decisions that affect membership. I’ll then highlight several key Rotary resources and tools that can help districts achieve their membership goals and end with some best practices.

3. WHY MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

4. WHY MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
Low(er) public image = Reduced interest in joining and declining membership
Most donors are members
Declining membership = fewer donors
Membership
Public Image
Foundation Giving and Programs
Let’s first discuss why membership matters.
It’s crucial to understand how Rotary’s membership trends affect the entire organization, including Rotary’s public image and Foundation giving and programs.
If you start anywhere on this chart, you can see how weakness in one area affects membership. Nearly all of our donors are members. So as membership declines, one of two things has to happen: Remaining donors have to contribute more to maintain current program funding levels, or if remaining donors are not able or willing to increase contributions, program funding wanes.
As program funding wanes, projects may not succeed. Members and beneficiaries lose enthusiasm and this leads to lower public image. Lower public image further hampers interest in joining, lowering membership further, and so on, and so on… It’s a self-reinforcing cycle.
This is why membership is so important at the club level. Clubs need more members in order to participate in all the activities and programs they wish to take part. With more members, there are more membership dues coming in. With more membership dues coming in, there are more funds available for allocation. That means more programs and services can be created at the club, district, and international level for members to get involved with. The more involved the club and club members are – the better our organization and respective communities.
Unfunded or poorly funded programs and projects = Reduced public image
Fewer donors =
Bigger contributions required to avoid funding shortfalls

5. MEMBERSHIP STATISTICS AND RESEARCH

6. MEMBERSHIP STATISTICS
Unfortunately, both our zones have lost a significant number of members in the last five years. Last year, 25 of 28 districts in Zones 28 and 29 lost members. You’re not alone; almost every zone in North America lost members. While there’s a lot of work to do to get the numbers up, I’m happy to say that 15 of the districts in Zones 28 and 29 are reporting growth since 1 July.
(Include membership stats for the district that you are presenting to.)

7. MEMBERSHIP STATISTICS
Female Members Zone 29: 31.03% Worldwide: 20.86% Members Under 40 Zone 29: 5.39% Worldwide: 4.52%
One of the membership areas where your zones are dong well is in diversity, specifically with gender and age. As you can see, you’re doing much better than the global average in female members. You’re also higher than the global average of members under the age of 40 (although only about 50% of members currently report age – you can help improve our records and possibly increase your average just by encouraging members to add their birthdate to My Rotary).

8. THE PRIMARY REASONS PEOPLE JOIN ROTARY…
Why did you initially join Rotary?
To positively impact my community
Friendship and fellowship
30%
Professional networking/ business development opportunities
To have a positive impact globally
20%
Potential for personal/ professional recognition
This slide is born out of research that we conducted to strengthen Rotary’s brand. As part of this process, we talked with thousands of Rotarians and non Rotarians to get a sense of what they new about Rotary. To get to the heart of who we are, what we do and why it matters.
So lets take a look at the primary reasons of why people join Rotary. You can see on the far right of this slide the two key reasons. First, to positively impact my community and secondly for friendship and fellowship that are born out of the enduring connections we make with each other.
What is interesting is when we ask the question Why do people stay? Watch what happens to these two columns.
Development and training opportunities
10% 0%

9. …ARE THE SAME REASONS THEY STAY ROTARIANS
Why do you stay with Rotary?
To positively impact my community
Friendship and fellowship
30%
Professional networking/ business development opportunities
To have a positive impact globally
20%
Potential for personal/ professional recognition
While they invert ever so slightly these are also the same two reasons people stay with Rotary year after year.
For “community” and “connection.” For the enduring relationships that are created through our membership.
I think something important to take away from these slides is that these are key benefits that many members (and even prospective members) look for in their Rotary membership. Community and connection rank very high, but as you can see, networking, global impact, recognition, and development opportunities are important as well. These are all things that can help you as you things about ways to engage your current and new members.
10%
Development and training opportunities 0%

10. THE PRIMARY REASONS PEOPLE LEAVE ROTARY
In a different survey a few years ago, Rotary asked former members why they left their clubs. The results were eye opening. I’ve listed the top 10 reasons reported here. You see personality issues at the top of the list, which may or may not be fixable (sometimes human beings have irreconcilable conflicts with one another). But any of these issues, such as club leadership issues (by better training of officers), unwillingness to adapt and make real changes (by being flexible and getting members feedback), volunteering or community involvement expectations were not met (by having an active club with engaged members), unable to meet participation expectations (by being flexible with attendance requirements), etc., can be changed.

11. COUNCIL ON LEGISLATION MEMBERSHIP DECISIONS

12. COL MEMBERSHIP DECISIONS
Flexibility in meeting frequency, format, and attendance
Flexibility in membership types
No distinction between e-clubs and traditional clubs
Dual membership for Rotaractors
As you know, last April the Council on Legislation met and approved changes that give clubs greater flexibility in when, where, and how they meet and the types of membership they offer. Through research and experience, Rotary, Rotary has consistently found that when a club has more freedom to determine how they hold their meetings, who they invite to membership, and what defines engagements, the club is more vibrant and more able to grow. The approved changes include:
Flexibility in meeting frequency, format, and attendance
Flexibility in membership types (such as corporate or family membership)
No distinction between e-clubs and traditional clubs
Dual membership for Rotaractors
It’s important to note two things. First, clubs that wish to follow their traditional requirements for meetings, attendance, structure, and categories of membership may continue to do so. Second, to be counted as an active member by RI, (eligible for holding office, receive Rotary awards, and counted in membership statistics) individuals must pay dues to RI.

13. COL MEMBERSHIP DECISIONS
2016 Council Grants Clubs Greater Flexibility information sheet
Videos on membership types and meeting flexibility at
Membership Best Practices Discussion Group in My Rotary
Revised Recommended Rotary Club Bylaws
Our Membership Resources team is busy putting together new resources to help Rotarians navigate these membership changes. The two-page 2016 Council Grants Clubs Greater Flexibility document goes into more detail about the changes. So do the downloadable videos on membership types and meeting flexibility available on Vimeo.
Membership Resources is currently creating a guide to best practices in meeting types and flexibility. Until then, many Rotarians have been sharing their experiences with flexible membership in the Membership Best Practices Discussion Group in My Rotary (with over 2200 members). Finally, Rotary has revised the Recommended Rotary Club Bylaws to account for the new membership possibilities. The revised bylaws can be download from the Governance Documents section of the Rotary website.

14. MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES
Rotary has developed a range of resources over the last few years to support and strengthen our clubs, our members, and Rotary’s image. We’re going to review a number of them this morning, starting with new resources that have come out in the last calendar year.

15. MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES Membership Leads
Express interest in joining a Rotary club, changing clubs, or making a membership referral
Filter leads through RI database for transmission to districts and clubs and facilitate follow up and conversion tracking
Direct inquiries other than those interested in joining a club to the appropriate staff teams for follow up
We’re really excited about the Membership Leads tool which launched earlier this Rotary year. Membership Leads enables prospective members and current Rotarians to express interest in joining a Rotary club, changing clubs, or making a membership referral. We’re then able to filter leads through Rotary membership database and onto districts and clubs for follow up and tracking. Other kinds of inquiries (such as scholarships and youth programs) are directed to the appropriate RI staff.
Within My Rotary, district and club leaders are then able to view, manage, and redirect or assign leads. The district membership team determines if the candidate is a good fit for any of the clubs or programs in their district. Once assigned to a club in the district, club officers are able to view and manage assigned leads.
Since Membership Leads launched last year:
400% increase in submissions
Top 5 countries: US, India, Brazil, Canada, France
33% female (current women in Rotary 20%)
Largest age group 30 – 39 (34%)
Top interest sources: family member or friend, media
Membership Leads only works if they’re being acted on by the district, so encourage districts to check their Leads Management pages (50% have not). Also be sure to encourage districts to include rotary.org/join as the call to action in their public relations efforts.

16. MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES
District governors and district membership chairs get an automatic alert through when RI staff assigns a lead to the district; and the club president, club secretary, club membership chair, and club executive secretary gets automatically alerted about new leads when the district assigns a lead to their club.
But all Rotarians can also use the tool, if you are relocating to a new community, you can use it to get connected with a club that fits your needs.
And if you meet someone who you think could be a great Rotarian, even if not in your club, you can use it to refer them to Rotary, and we’ll connect them with a club that may be right for them.

17. Connect to Membership Leads
5/29/2018
MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES
Connect to Membership Leads
For club and district leaders
Explains how membership leads flow from rotary.org to clubs
Details responsibilities for managing leads
Links to how-to guides online
Club and district Membership Leads video is also available at
The Connect to Membership Leads guide provide greater details on this flow from the Rotary website to the club, details the responsibilities for managing leads at the district and club levels, and provides links to downloadable “how to” guides for district and club leaders. There’s also a 3 minute video available for viewing and download on Rotary’s Vimeo page.

18. Understanding Membership Reports
5/29/2018
MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES
Understanding Membership Reports
Lists all membership reports available, and what information each contains
Explains where to find reports and who can access them
Intended for strategic membership planning
It’s critical for clubs and district to utilize the membership reports in My Rotary to track, understand, and act on their membership statistics and trends. To make the process easier, we’re creating both written and video guides to the reports. The new Understanding Membership Reports Guide lists all the current membership reports, the information contained in each report, and where to find them in My Rotary. The first video will focus on the Member Viability and Growth report.
Please know that alumni reports are not included in this guide, but they’re a great resource for increasing the number of young professional members in your district. A link to the Alumni Report Guide is included in the Membership Resources Guide that I’ll talk about shortly.

19. Prospective Member Brochure
5/29/2018
MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES
Prospective Member Brochure
Explains Rotary’s local and global impact
Differentiates Rotary from other service organizations
Regional versions available
Available for purchase on shop.rotary.org
A new Prospective Member Brochure explains how Rotary is different from other service organizations and the impact Rotary clubs are having at the local and global levels. Like some of our other membership resources, there are regional versions of the brochure, so you want to make sure to pick up the North American version. It’s available for purchase at US$1.25 for a pack of five from shop.rotary.org.

20. Membership Assessment Tools
5/29/2018
MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES
Membership Assessment Tools
For club leaders to use for a more focused membership approach
Includes diversity and classification assessments, member satisfaction and exit surveys, and more.
Membership Assessment Tools helps club leaders develop a more focused approach to membership and reveal opportunities to add more value to the club experience. It contains 6 tools, including sample assessments on classification and diversity, a current member satisfaction survey, and an exit survey for departing members. The tools vary in length from 2 to 8 pages and can be adapted as club leaders see fit. Member Assessment Tools is available as a free PDF from the Rotary website or for purchase from shop.rotary.org for US$ We’ve also created PDFs of each individual tool along a Word version of the members satisfaction survey to easily copy and paste into a club’s survey software.

21. Rotary Club Health Check
5/29/2018
MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES
Rotary Club Health Check
Tool for club leaders to take their club’s pulse
Includes checklists to quickly diagnose what needs extra attention
Suggests resources and ideas that can help remedy problem areas
Just as routine doctor’s visits help us identify health risks before they become serious, Club Health Check will allow club leaders to quickly diagnose problem areas in the club and suggest resources and ideas to help remedy them. Areas covered by the tool include the club experience, service and social activities, membership, public image, and club operations. Club Health Check is an online only publication available at

22. Introducing New Members to Rotary
5/29/2018
MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES
Introducing New Members to Rotary
Guide for club leaders
Suggests content for new member orientation
Includes best practices from Rotarians around the world
New Member Orientation has been replaced with Introducing New Members to Rotary. The guide is geared toward club leaders and suggests content for prospective and new member information programs. It includes sample program outlines, worksheets, and resource listings and is available as a free PDF from the Rotary website or purchase for US$1 from shop.rotary.org.

23. MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES Proposing New Members Be A Vibrant Club
5/29/2018
MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES
Proposing New Members
Be A Vibrant Club
Connect for Good
Strengthening Your Membership: Creating Your Membership Development Plan
New Member Welcome Kit
Proposing New Members
It’s everyone’s responsibility to attract new members to the club. The one-page Proposing New Members document may help members feel more comfortable doing so by providing commonsense tips for working with prospective members. It also encourages members to use their club’s process for proposing new members. It’s available as a free PDF on the Rotary website.
Be a Vibrant Club
For club leaders and members, this 8-page guide includes 10 ideas to enhance a club’s structure, activities, and culture. It also includes a brief case study of a club that reenergized itself and began to grow its membership. As membership best practices differ around the world, there are regional editions of the guide, so be sure to choose the North American version. Be a Vibrant Club is available as a free PDF from the Rotary website or as free hardcopies from shop.rotary.org.
Connect for Good
This colorful 8-page guide inspires prospective and new members to make the most of their membership. It highlights ways to get involved at the local and global level and encourages members to connect with other Rotarians worldwide for greater impact. Connect for Good is available as a free PDF from the Rotary website or for purchase at shop.rotary.org for US$1.00.
Strengthening Your Membership: Creating Your Membership Development Plan
Aimed at clubs leaders, Strengthening Your Membership outlines steps to create a membership development plan. It also provides strategies, best practices, and tools clubs can use to attract and engage members. The publication is available as a free PDF from the Rotary website or for purchase at shop.rotary.org for US$2.50.
New Member Welcome Kit
The kit is great way to get new members informed about what Rotary does and how they can participate beyond the club level. The kit includes the Connect for Good brochure, “What's Rotary?” card, Rotary International/The Rotary Foundation annual report, and Proud Member window cling (there’s a cling in your blue folders, too). The kit allows for customization with club information such as a list of officers, upcoming service projects, or additional Rotary resources like the Every Rotarian, Every Year brochure. The kit can be purchased at shop.rotary.org for US$4.95. (The Proud Member window cling is also available separately from the online shop in packs of 5 for US$5).

24. Membership Resource Guide
MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES
Membership Resource Guide
Listing of Rotary membership publications and resources
Links included
Updated quarterly
If you only have one resource, it should be the Membership Resource Guide. It not only lists the various publications, reports, tools, and other membership resources Rotary has to offer, but includes hyperlinks that take you directly to those resources on the Rotary website, My Rotary, or shop.rotary.org. The document is updated quarterly. The new fall edition is about to be sent to the DGs, DGEs, DGNs, and DMCs in the monthly Regional Membership Officer . If you’d like to receive the PDF version of the guide via , please let me know and I’d be happy to send it to you.

25. MEMBERSHIP BEST PRACTICES

26. MEMBERSHIP BEST PRACTICES
Follow up on Membership Leads
Ensure awareness of the membership tools available from Rotary and that membership information is reported promptly to RI
Encourage development and implementation of new flexible membership options
Focus on innovation, diversity, and ways to engage members in your Rotary club.
You and your district membership committee members have a critical role. To be effective and give the clubs in your district the best chance to attract and engage members, I encourage you adopt these best practices:
Be sure to review Membership Leads frequently (DG and DMC will receive notifications when there’s a new lead) and assign leads to the appropriate club.
Make sure clubs promptly follow up on leads. If they don’t, they’re not only hurting membership efforts, but also Rotary’s public image.
Ensure that clubs are aware of the many membership tools available from Rotary and that membership information is reported promptly to RI
Encourage clubs to develop and implement flexible membership options
Finally, meet with clubs and talk to them about innovation, diversity, and ways to engage members.

27. “ATTRACT” Membership - Simple Ideas
ASK!
Handout Cards – hand out for a free lunch, post on bulletin boards
Create a list of potential members. Each current Rotarian submit at least 2 names, do it a couple times a year. Sources:
Any new businesses or organizations in town to target
Track a list of former guests/speakers/programs
Diagonal Slice of classifications – who haven’t you got or need more of?
Friend, Spouse, Children, Relative,

28. MEMBERSHIP - Simple Ideas
Work at home people
Parents of Interact Students, former Interact members
Former Members
Be able to explain what Rotary is: “International Organization of people who share a passion for service in the betterment of mankind”
Ask for “HELP” not volunteer

29. MEMBERSHIP - Simple Ideas
Sell Benefits of Rotary – Positive Impact, Business Connections, Global Network
Get new members engaged in the club, activities, and fundraising.
Orientation of new members Rotary 101 is a must.
501 Meetings – Social Environment
Corporate Memberships
ASK!

30. Be a Vibrant Club ! Have an established 3 – 5 year plan. (Vision)
Set Goals and Revisit them regularly
Club Socials
Try new idea’s
Train people to be leaders – next level
Everyone needs to get involved
Survey members – like vs. dislikes
Engaged in projects & Fundraisers

31. Be a Vibrant Club ! Good Public Image Chair – Social Media
Facebook, Webpage, Blast, Twitter
Millennials & Women
Accept Absences
Evaluate – meeting times, venues, frequency, costs, meeting types
Engaged in projects & Fundraisers
HAVE FUN!!!

32. THANK YOU!