Your Voice, Your Solution for keeping your club alive

At 11:20AM on 24 September 2012, Alan Kusunoki wrote: When I joined Rotary in 1993, there was a membership category called "senior active", where a dues paying Rotarian was no longer held to the weekly attendance requirement, nor the make-up requirement. The rule of 85 ( age + years of Rotary membership equalled or exceeded 85) was used to qualify. Dues payment was still required. I've now heard that the designation has been changed to "exempt" or "exempt active". I've also heard that the 2001 Council on Legislation no longer recognizes these designations. What's the real story? I've tried, unsuccessfully, to search the Rotary website for an answer.

At 10:49AM on 16 August 2011, Carl Sccheppening wrote: I am President of Cape Town Rotary Club and the tips are excellent. We need to recruit younger members.

At 10:51AM on 16 August 2011, Somkiat Pongkanta wrote: As the Chair of Membership Committee for District 3350 in Thailand. I found the task very difficult but challenging. We have to do our job, keep searching for new quality and younger members, otherwise our Rotary wouldn't last..

At 9:24AM on 7 January 2011, Özcan Albak wrote: Full Attendance vs Participation in Projects. According to my experience a Rotarian who is participated to a Project and working at field is a better attendance than participate to a regular weekly meeting.

At 8:58AM on 1 November 2010, Bala Inuwa wrote: Intersting club programs, yes! Good Club president, Yes! These must be complemented by Good quality members who can meet their financial obligations by paying their par capita dues on time. Attendance to rotary club weekly meeting and adherence to the object of Rotary and four way test. Any member who is financially weak to meet his or her financial obligation cannot be a Rotarian. A hungry man can not effectively be a volunteer. Rather than contribute money to pay for a person who is financially weak to be a Rotarian it is more reasonable to help the person with the contribution to support himself. Rotary is for people who can take care of their families and other people in need, it is for people who can look beyond themselves. a hungry person cannot look beyond himself reasonably. A parasite Rotarian is not and cannot be a Good Rotarian. A good Rotarian is the one who can meet his financial obligation, attend club regular meetings and contribute meaningfully to the fulfulment of the objectives of Rotary and its programs. My fellowRotarians in Nigeria let us look quality members not parasites, not Jega Jega members.

At 1:40PM on 8 September 2010, Teresa Nounou wrote: PLEASE HELP EXPLAIN... I am secretary for our club and I''ve recently discovered there is such a thing as "Leave of Absence" for attendance and "Exempt". Can anyone explain the difference between these two? I understand that when a Rotarian has either of these designations, they are no longer included in the club's monthly attendance report. However, I don't want to abuse eithere of these simply to make it appear that our club suddenly has better attendance. I do belive though that our club has members that will qualify, I just don't understand which category to put them in for the report.

At 9:12AM on 14 May 2010, CP CHEW Ban Seng, Rotary E-Club of 3310 wrote: Many years ago, in our travels, we learned about "Rotary APPLE". I believe that we should promote the habit of eating an apple a day... as it keeps the doctor away! :-) A = Attendance P = Participation P = Pay your dues L = Learn from others E = Enjoy Rotary

At 1:38PM on 5 May 2010, Rosetta E Peters wrote: PROBLEM: Declined excellent committed MEMBERSHIP: Great project developers - through their spirit of "Service above Self" have been demotivated. Why: The club has been encouraged not to fundraise to keep members rotary dues paid up for those who are excellent workers with low incomes. Surely this should be addressed by the CLUBs by-laws and not a general directive of well-to-do rotarians? Your comments will be appreciated.

At 12:44PM on 15 April 2010, David Fish wrote: The comment about terminating membership for poor attendance is not living in the real world. People have to move for a short or long time, change working hours, so Rotary must be flexible. Perfect attendance has nothing to do with a good Rotarian!

At 9:30AM on 15 April 2010, Prakash Saraswat wrote: Attendance seems to be a global problem, but it needs local solutions. One size cannot not fit all. Each Club just needs to first terminate members whose attendance is below 25% (I know it is mandatory to have 50% as per RI rules) The rest will get a message.. loud and clear. If this is not possible, let us not discuss about attendance problems.

At 1:56PM on 8 April 2010, John "Hans" Trabandt wrote: I like Scott Mills comment. Being a senior fellow rotarian ( and very active in the past) I could never understand being honored for just perfect attendance.

At 11:15AM on 7 April 2010, Wayne Koppa wrote: The most important resource we have is our members. They join Rotary because of an anticipated received value they will achieve thru membership. We tell our new members that Rotary has done this and is doing that -- then we bring them into a structure that gives them the ability to participate in very little good works because out attendance structure encourages you to be at meetings -- not out performing individual service. Many people don't have time for both. Our club does run fund raisers and it does use it members for those events and give them attendance credit but the remainder of the year is meetings. A requirement that every club maintain a list of projects, both Rotary and non-Rotary that qualify for attendance make-up would be a move in the right direction. We should announce each week where any missing members are that are working on projects in lieu of being at a meeting -- thus encouraging others to say "I could help with that". We should not charge them for a meal not eaten while they are out working on that project. Not smart. To do this we need to have a program that does not just measure attendance at meetings but an individual's attendance or participation in a Rotary endorsed project. Some will quickly say we could do this now. You could -- if Rotary International (RI) said it was important. Many of the old hats will only pay attention to what comes from RI. What is the RI goal for working on projects or service projects? I don't think we have one. The culture and reporting requirements of Rotary places more emphsis on being there every week and not out doing something. What message does this send? Both should be equally important. This new generation wants to do something. Saying that members should have a goal of working on projects in lieu of at least six or twelve meetings a year would transform our image to one more of action and outside engagement. At the end of the year an active club would have a list of member involvement that would certainly enhance the Club's image within the community. What will this do for attracting new members? Thanks for letting me have my say.

At 2:35PM on 5 April 2010, Sue Fleetwood wrote: Some great ideas from Paul Kiser. I've only just discovered this site. Good to have a chance to see the views of Rotarians all over the world.

At 11:00AM on 5 April 2010, PDG RAJKUMAR RAJGARIA wrote: UNLESS AND UNTIL INTERESTING AND VARIETY OF PROGRAM ARE ORGANIZED AT RWM AT A GOOD VENUE, CLUBS CAN NEVER BE ALIVE

At 1:50PM on 1 April 2010, John E. Sekaggya wrote: Club Fellowship Attendance: Many clubs in District 9200 have low fellowship attendance figures. What do you think is the problem and solution?

At 10:53AM on 15 March 2010, Terry Bass wrote: Ask. Listen. Change.

At 10:52AM on 8 March 2010, Scott Mills wrote: Telling a prospective or new member all the things that are "mandatory" about Rotary is not the solution to effectively recruiting, engaging, and retaining members. Attendance will be high when we provide quality programs, good meals of reasonable value, excellent fellowship, service opportunities for those members who have that as an interest, and networking and personal/vocational development for those members who have those interests. We need to "feed the souls" of our members (i.e., we need to give good customer service and meet their needs). The needs are going to be different for different members, and we need to find out what each member is passionate about. Some may join for networking and personal/professional development, and they should not be shunned out of Rotary just because they joined with those objectives in mind. Other members may want to serve, and there is no better place to serve than in a Rotary club. Others may be interested mostly in fellowship and social events, and that does not make those members any less Rotarians for having those interest.s. I recently assisted as a District Governor's Special Representative in forming a new Rotary Club in a community of 75,000, where the average age (by US Census data) is 31. It was frustrating for well-meaning Rotarians to visit fellowship mixers and tell 28-year old prospective members they needed to maintain 100% attendance, and that they (the Rotarian) had 50 years of perfect attendance. To tell a 28-year old who knows little or nothing about Rotary that s/he must spend the next 2500 weeks going to Rotary meetings over a period that is longer than his or her parents have been alive is not likely to encourage a very positive response. However, to tell them that the fellowship and speakers at weekly meetings have been so good that you've never missed a meeting in the past 50 years creates a very different impression, without a boast or brag that is offputting or frightening to a prospective member. When we start feeding the souls of our members and meeting their needs, we'll start retaining life-long Rotarians.

At 11:03AM on 8 March 2010, Rotn. Amoo Taiwo(Abeokuta metropolitan,district 9110, Nigeria) wrote: Quality heads will do wonder in this regard. A president who can hold the fellowship very well in term of good presentation. He must be seen as a role model. When this is put in place the first hurdle in declining attendance is solved. Secondly, intending and new members must be educated on thier need to join rotary to contribute their qotas to the betterment of the society not for any social or pecuniary gain. Some people believed that rotary meetings are venues to settle business or political deals ? when they find contrary they decline from coming to meetings. Meeting should be made lively ,song sponsored, fundamental things discussed, andgood project executed. Member should be call atimes impromtu for task e.g S.A.A, or call upon to give brief five minute talk on particular relevant issue. it gives members sense of belonging. Time o f the meetings should not be in an inconvinient one.

At 8:49AM on 4 March 2010, sukhminder singh(R.C.Bardhaman Heritage) Dist 3240 wrote: Pre Induction is not done properly in most of the club. Personal choices are given priority other than the club's classification requirements. We are inviting you to join what you can do for the community or for the club is not asked to anybody. Have you time ? can you serve ? Do you enjoy fellowship ? Are you eager to share ? These questions are necessiory at the time of pre induction. So far i feel membership recruitment is very vital & after that a good quality meeting should be held for 30-40 min every week & members should realise that they have spend a quality time in every weekly meeting. Give responsibility to every member to conduct the programme of the meeting alongwith the President & sec & rotate it . Thus every member will get a chance to give a variation .

At 4:54PM on 2 March 2010, Roy Hardy wrote: The key is to make the Club Meetings interesting and the attendance will follow. Certainly we do not have a problem with attendance in our Club, Lewes Castle, Sussex, England. However, I attend other Clubs in our District and they can be a 'turn off'. Get the right atmosphere and Members will want to come along.

At 9:01AM on 2 March 2010, Rtn.Sanjay Salvi wrote: at the time of induction, one should be told tah it is mandatory for every member, that he attends atleast one meeting in a month.The frequency of finding new members in this case will might reduce but we can be assured that who soever joins will attend regular meetings and will take active part in the projects.

At 9:01AM on 2 March 2010, PDG Prof. A S Chandrashekar wrote: We are puting our friends relatives, colleuges and neighbours into Rotary. But later on we have failed put Rotary into them. as a result the members donot know the history and phylsosophy of Rotary.The club leaders fail to involve the new members in the projects.Only attending the weekly meetings has become a ritual. thus members have lost interes in Rotary.and absenting for the meetings. Further we forcebily put the members into Rotry. alternativelysuppose we invite a friend to Rotary meeting one or two times, and invite for project work and later propose to join Rotary. If he find rotary is interesting he will join otherwise let us not force him to join. But things are not happening that way A member who know the history and philosphy of Rotary and got happiness in involving in the service projects, even if you wnt him to leave Rotary he will not. So in short We have to put rotary in to the members and involve in service projects. More of persuation is required from the leaders.

At 8:50AM on 2 March 2010, César Moura D4410 wrote: I believe, everyone must be involved. Having all the comissions active and having all members alocated in them, gives a certain responsability and one feels useful. The president, has to call for results and weekly follow up participating everyone of the comissions work.

At 5:09PM on 1 March 2010, Rtn Paul D.Gyang (Chief) wrote: We are trying rotation of our venues of the meetings/fellowshipping at least once in a month i e from one member house to the other, believing that the concept will kind of give members a sense of belonging. This is apart from the used of our normal venue. it also promote integration acquaintance. Golfing tournaments is also used to canvas for membership and this gradually paying off. Rayfield Golf Club (The oldest Golf Club in Nigera) is the current venue for Rotary Club of Jos South

At 4:05PM on 1 March 2010, Bill Sauber, Asheville, NC wrote: I am trying to use our website and social media to keep our members interested by frequently posting photos of the projects we do and members as they are working (or playing) at these events. I also sendout emails to members to let them know about the photos. Seeing their organization at work making a difference in the world and in our community not only helps stimulate our members to participate and support TRF, it also helps convince prospective members that we have lots to offer them.

At 4:13PM on 1 March 2010, Terry Ziegler wrote: The two quickest solutions are to work to increase the quality of your club programs (speakers) and next to adopt one or more service projects for which your members have a passion (or ones you can create a passion for).

At 8:50AM on 4 March 2010, Paul Kiser wrote: STEP 1. SELF EXAMINATION: Examine your public image. What do non-Rotarians think/know about Rotary and your Club? Have every member find three people who are business professionals (of every age and gender) and ask them five questions about Rotary (e.g.; What qualifications do you think you have to have to join Rotary?, What does Rotary do?, Describe the typical Rotarian?, Why would you be interested/not interested in joining Rotary?, Do you have to belong to a political party to be a Rotarian?, etc.) NOTE: THIS IS NOT A RECRUITMENT EFFORT, ONLY FACT FINDING. Document the answers and discuss them at a Club Assembly. What are the impressions non-Rotarians have about Rotary/the Club and what issues keep potential Rotarians from being interested? STEP 2. BRANDING: Armed with a better understanding of the public image determine a) how you can respond to incorrect perceptions using various internal and external Public Relations tools, b) what, if any, negative perceptions are being generated by the acts of club members and how they can be made aware of their negative influence on club PR (e.g.; telling political or religious jokes in club meetings), c) discuss how members can raise awareness of themselves as Rotarians (e.g.; wearing Rotary pin, Rotary license plate holders, posting membership certificate on the wall at work, etc.), and d) review the methods that a person can find out more about the club (e.g.; Can the club website be found by a Google search?) STEP 3. IMPROVE THE INTERNAL MESSAGE: Determine if club members are passionate about their Rotary club. If not, what internal communication tools can be used to boost excitement about the club (e.g.; speakers/programs, newsletter, website, Facebook, LinkedIn). STEP 4a. UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP: Seriously review your Club's ability to adapt and incorporate new and different ideas. The acid test: If a new member started suggesting new ideas would they be seriously considered, or would the current leadership tend to be offended by the brashness of the new member? Try anything and celebrate failure as the next step to success! STEP 4b. RECRUIT AS A GANG: Use three to five members to recruit one member. Make the recruit feel wanted by the club. STEP 4c. NEW MEMBERS AS A GANG. Every month is a new class. All the members inducted in March 2010 are the class of March 2010 and they all work together to complete the New Member orientation and requirements to achieve their blue badge. Each class has a 'Den Mother': A Rotarian that is their advisor of all things Rotary. STEP 4d. FAMILY, FAMILY, FAMILY: Every member's family to be involved in the club. The line between member and spouse to be almost invisible. Look for ways to communicate to spouse, children, and members. (Why not have a member's children know more about YES/RYE and RYLA than the member?) STEP 5. ELEVATE THE CLUB PRESIDENT: Use a three year succession plan to insure the Club President plans for her/his year in advance. Create an atmosphere where the Club President is a respected leader, not the butt of member jokes during the meetings.