Membership leaders discuss economic crisis

By Jennifer Lee Atkin
Rotary International News -- 2 March 2009

José Ubiracy Silva, a Regional Rotary International Membership Coordinator from Brazil, shares his thoughts during an open discussion at the recent RRIMC Training Seminar. Photo by Jamie Berg

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Regional Rotary International membership coordinators (RRIMCs) discussed how to respond to the worldwide economic crisis when they met in Chicago for an annual training event in February.

The RRIMCs, who work with districts and clubs to improve member recruitment and retention, also focused on ways to achieve diversity and increase retention rates.

Judi Beard-Strubing, an RRIMC from Zone 23 in the USA and a retired Wall Street financial adviser, noted that some Rotarians are resigning from their clubs as a result of job loss or economic difficulties.

During a discussion led by Beard-Strubing and John Gomes, a member of the RI Membership Development and Retention Committee and a former RRIMC from South Africa, participants suggested that Rotary clubs help struggling members pay their dues by establishing support programs, or even dipping into district funds to offset some of the cost. Other ideas included:

Allowing club members to attend meetings without having to pay for a full meal
Finding a less expensive venue for club meetings
Surveying club members about why they value Rotary, and contacting members who have stopped attending meetings to find out why
Offering a job networking service to unemployed club members, such as through a club or district web site

RRIMC James Ives from Michigan, USA, cautioned that steps should not be seen as lowering the value of Rotary.

“In tough times, the last thing you let go of is the thing you value the most,” he noted. “We don’t want Rotary to feel cheap.”

Beard-Strubing offers suggestions for weathering the economic crisis in the zones 22, 23, and 24 membership newsletter .

Diversity

RI President-elect John Kenny has set a membership goal of a net increase of one new member per club and one new club per district during the 2009-10 Rotary year.

Kenny’s membership goals also include encouraging more qualified women, young professionals, and Rotary Foundation and RI program alumni to become Rotarians so that each Rotary club reflects the demographics of the business community that surrounds it

Don Garner, a former Ambassadorial Scholar and past president of the Rotary Club of Chicago, USA, noted during a panel discussion that too often, an invitation to join is not extended to former Ambassadorial Scholars, Rotary World Peace Fellows, Group Study Exchange participants, Rotaractors, Interactors, or Youth Exchangers.

People just starting their careers need the networking opportunities Rotary offers, Garner said. His club welcomed 64 new members, including many program alumni, during his year as president.

“I did not anticipate becoming a Rotarian,” he said, “but I can attest to the willingness of many Rotary alumni to join Rotary.”

Retention

Kenny has also asked for an 80 percent member retention rate in 2009-10.

During a breakout discussion, one group of RRIMCs agreed that new club members need to be invited to serve on committees or service projects to feel welcome and included. Some suggested that it may be best in some cases to guide potential members to form a new club. They pointed out that if two 30-something professionals felt awkward in a club whose members were all over age 55, they might be open to starting a new club with 10 of their friends or business acquaintances. The original club can sponsor the new club, whose members are more likely to feel vested in Rotary.

The RRIMC program was started in 2001. RRIMCs, all past district governors, are appointed by the RI president-elect to a maximum term of three years. Terms are staggered among the RRIMCs and the group represents all Rotary zones.

13 Comments:

At 8:58AM on 22 November 2010, kulbhushan wrote: There is a simple solution to capture unemployment. Ask everybody to except 10 % cut in their salaries, reduce their work by one hour a day,employ additional staff to take up the work. Make technical/professional college education 100% subsidised, recoverable from the students by direct deduction of 10% after their employment. All outsourcing contracts be levied 10 % as unemployment tax. I think it should work out without excessive drain on public exchequer.

At 9:10AM on 30 March 2009, Vuyolwethu wrote: I am a club member it feels good to be a Rotarian. For me to change my surroundings to a better place is depending to Rotary International and my committment to it. I want to thank Rotary and I hope we can work also help South Africa through its struggles. You can update me about Rotary actions aroound the world through my email- VeeMakunga@ymail.com- again i want to thank Rotary International.

At 9:29AM on 17 March 2009, Dennis D. Truax wrote: In tough economic times, the issue is value. Now what you value, but rather the value of the service or product. As long as the cost of Rotary is less than the value it provides, this positive benefit to cost ratio will make it hard to give up. Rotary networking, visioning, and career development are what I value and continue to get; whether it be through attending my local chapter for doing a make-up online. This has value to me, and to others.

At 2:06PM on 9 March 2009, Rtn Jenny Bowker wrote: Concern has been expressed by many of my club members (2040 Leigh on Sea UK) about the fires - is any co-ordinatred help in process and can we help in any way. This was the only way I could think of finding out!!

At 10:31AM on 9 March 2009, Nanah Herce wrote: I belong to District 3800 in the Phils. and our club is composed mostly of Rotary foundation beneficiaries from GSE and Ambasadorial Scholars program. We were chartered particulary to represent that group but we have since opened our membership to others. Since most of us are relatively young professionals we agreed to have a minimal amount for club dues which will cover the RI dues, Phil. Rotary subscription and with enough allocation for other District assessments. We have our meeting in a not so expensive restaurant and just we pay our own way whenever we have fellowship dinners or activities. When we recruit prospective members we make sure that our club dues will not be a major reason for them not to join.

At 10:45AM on 9 March 2009, Margaret Williams wrote: Great comments and thoughts. Rotary is an organization that makes a difference around the world. It is important to find solutions to the membership challenges. I am new in Rotary but find the organization important enough that even though I have lost my job, I will continue to participate.

At 4:52PM on 5 March 2009, Carey Consil wrote: The key to retention is to get NEW people involved in events that our club host/sponsors throughout the year...we have people throughout the community asking us to join Rotary

At 9:00AM on 4 March 2009, lynn christensen wrote: retention has always been one of the biggest challanges some clubs face. personal attention to all members is a key piece. If a member is missin for a week or two - call him and check in

At 9:00AM on 4 March 2009, Anil Kumar Singh wrote: In my openion membership of any organisation shoud always be growth oriented .Same stands for rotary and is the resposibility / obligation of each member

At 8:59AM on 4 March 2009, RTN. SYED AZMATULLAH RC: CHENNAI PHOENIX RD: 3230 wrote: The ideas discussed by RRIMC during the meet at the annual training event at Chicago in February 2009, should be well responded by Rotary Districts and Clubs all over the world. The situation appears to be grave as even the idea of offering job networking service to unemployed club members, such as through club or district web site, has been considered. Another idea of mine is to comparatively reduce the RI dues by Districts and Clubs in Third World Countries. It may be difficult to achieve membership goals set by RIPE John Kenny during 2009-10 Rotary Year due to the worldwide economic crisis.

At 8:55AM on 4 March 2009, Judi Beard-Strubing, RRIMC wrote: For JoJo Delos Santos: We find in North America that the dues is not the most expensive part of belonging to Rotary; the weekly meal cost is far more costly. Perhaps this is not the case in other countries. I would suggest emphasizing the value of service to the community and world, the fellowship,and networking so that the members feel they're getting good value for the time and money invested. All service organizations are making our world a better place, but Rotary has an unmatched record in making a difference in the world (just ask Bill Gates.)

At 9:35AM on 3 March 2009, JOJO DELOS SANTOS wrote: Hi, im from the Philippines. Many of those whom i invited were turned off by our membership dues which is way above that of other clubs i.e. lions, jaycees, etc. Can you give us some pointers on how to cope up with this problem.

At 9:25AM on 3 March 2009, Anil Garg wrote: I have been promoting in my district for the clubs to invite prospective members to help out in an important project . Once people get their hands dirty, they are more likely to join Rotary after that.

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