Resources for achieving membership goals
Rotary International News -- 14 August 2008
Membership resources can help clubs reach their membership goals.
Rotary Images
From golf outings and social events to a continued emphasis on retention, Rotary clubs around the world are finding creative ways to respond to President Dong Kurn Lee's challenge to increase membership.
August is Membership and Extension month, a time to focus on the heart of Rotary and what makes it great -- more than 1.2 million members in nearly 33,000 clubs worldwide.
As RI president, Lee has challenged Rotary districts and clubs this year to a net membership increase of 10 percent and to add two new clubs in each district. New clubs are a means of reaching demographic groups that cannot get involved in current club meetings.
"If we do not bring in younger members, we will miss out on a great deal of energy and expertise," Lee said during a visit to the Rotary Club of Chicago in early July. "And we will not be providing a new generation of members to become club presidents, district governors, and senior RI leaders in the years to come."
In seeking to recruite new members, clubs should look to new enterprises, professions and occupations, such as web developers or technicians, that may have been previously overlooked, Lee urged.
Two clubs in Korea have been experiencing great success in membership growth. The Rotary Club of Gwangju-Ibseog in Gwangju, Korea, nearly doubled its membership in the 2007-08 year, and the Rotary Club of Iri Dong in Jeonrabug grew from 112 to 152 members last year. Read their stories.
Membership Resources
If you would like help or ideas on reaching your club's membership goals, consider one of Rotary International's many membership resources.
-
Newly revised!
Membership Development Resource Guide This booklet outlines steps to help clubs develop a membership development action plan for ecruiting and retaining members.
-
Resources for club committees Includes information for the club membership committee, which performs a crucial function, developing and implementing an action plan for recruiting, retaining, and educating club members.
-
Resources for club officers helps officers understand their roles and responsibilities in order to help clubs achieve their goals.
-
Newly revised! New Member Orientation: A How to Guide for Clubs geared toward Rotarians responsible for creating or updating their club's new member information programs.
-
New
Membership Video Set A new resource set featuring two DVDs, one for new members and one for prospective member.
-
The Membership Minute
a monthly subscription-based e-mail newsletter that provides membership development ideas, resources, and tools.
-
Welcome to Rotary a short video that provides new members with information on getting active and involved in their clubs.
- Rotary postcards and wallet cards Postcards and wallet cards that feature an invitation to attend a Rotary club meeting that can be sent to prospective members
- Newly updated! New Member Information Kit that provides new members with essential information on Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.
-
Prospective Member Information A valuable kit that can be distributed to club visitors, providing basic information on Rotary, The Rotary Foundation, and the responsibilities of club membership.