Q:I’ve read that you’re encouraging every Rotarian to bring one new member into their club each year. It seems like a lot of work for an uncertain outcome. In our 30-person club, that’s 120 new members in four years. I’m not sure our club is prepared to handle that many members.

I understand your viewpoint, but I believe if there are 120 qualified people in your community, then you have a responsibility to invite them to join Rotary. If this makes the club too large for the available accommodations, then another club should be formed. Qualified people should not be excluded from Rotary club membership because the current members are satisfied with the size of the club.

Furthermore, I have concerns about what has been happening with membership in certain parts of the Rotary world. In North America, membership is not growing. More members are leaving than joining, even though clubs are bringing in new people each year. During 2006-07, North America suffered a net loss of more than 4,600 members, and in 2005-06, a net loss of almost 4,600 members.

Unless we act decisively, it will take very few decades for Rotary in North America to begin to fade away. In fact, it's something that’s already happening to other service organizations. Rotary still has a lot of important work to accomplish in our communities and the world, and there are so many people we can help. We can’t let Rotary disappear.

The more members in Rotary clubs, the more active clubs can be. The clubs can do more projects, raise more money for The Rotary Foundation's work, and make fellowship more exciting. We also must emphasize the need for more Rotary clubs in communities that don’t have one, or target individuals who can't join the current Rotary club.

Just as much as a club benefits from new members, new members can benefit from Rotary. When you bring a new member into your club, you're demonstrating that Rotary Shares on many different levels.