Your Voice, Your Solution for overcoming district conference jitters

At 1:03PM on 29 December 2010, Emily Francona wrote: Club leaders must "lead by example" in most Rotary matters, including this one. If club leaders are not attending, urging others to attend will not have the same credibility. Club leaders presumably have attended previous conferences and should take time to tell their club members what they enjoyed about it and why they continue to attend.

At 2:33PM on 15 March 2010, Spencer Jordan wrote: As with your club, you get people interested by giving them a task. Assistant Sergeants at Arms, registration, and other tasks need doing, and Rotarians are "doers". If they have a job, they will go to do it. If each club in the district has an area of responsibility, they will attend to execute that task.

At 10:53AM on 15 March 2010, Terry Bass wrote: Kudos to Mitch M. Find out WHY the member is hesitant. Base your conversation on that.

At 10:57AM on 8 March 2010, Peter Noble wrote: I have completed a survey of District 1200 on this topic. I can email it to any Rotarian in the UK who might be interested. Contact me at peter@gshow.co.uk

At 10:37AM on 1 March 2010, Rtn. PHF. P. O. Thomas wrote: Rotary District Conference is held annually, as agreed on by the Governor and the presidents of clubs in the district. The conference mainly aims at furthering the creed and culture of Rotary through fellowship, discussions and intellectual deliberations. Rotary International allows conferences outside the district only to facilitate and assure the participation of more Rotarians. Some Governors, it seems, think that their dignity is enhanced only if the conference is held in a pompous and posh style at a ritzy centre. Inspirational talks and discussion on Rotary have been given a short shrift. Instead of being an avenue for fellowship, association and fun, such meetings often turn in to an ostentatious and a vainglorious display of personal pomp and bombast and sometimes, even an avenue for the spending spree of the Governor Candidates who dominate the venue and the delegates. Recently there is an alarming increase in the registration charges which we all should be worried about or even a bit unhappy. Invariably, it is time to think of reducing the charges to enable more Rotarians to attend the conference actively and enthusiastically. We should find ways to reduce and normalize the charges reasonably. Spending too much on kits, particularly on unwanted items, is an unhealthy and unwelcome practice. Food corner must be given to two or more caterers to deal in items specified by the food committee on a Pay- and Eat basis. This will help avoid unnecessary wastage of food and reduce the cost. Rtn. PHF. P. O. Thomas Rotary Club of Alleppey.

At 10:04AM on 1 March 2010, Jim Catron wrote: Attendance at district conference can be presented as a family (husband + spouse) activity. At a minimum members should be encourage to attend the district meeting (usually the 1st day). Club should assist with costs---problem for small clubs.

At 9:29AM on 1 March 2010, John Grace wrote: I submit that part of the attendance challenge is in the conference itself. First, at our most recent conference I noticed that only about 50% of the club presidents were in attendance. If club leaders, for whatever reasons, are not enthusiastic about going, it only follows that new members will not be "sold" on attending. Second, is the speaker quality. At our conferences the speaker quality is frequently inconsistent. At a recent conference, for example, a keynote on Sat was a big blowhard only overshadowed by his excessive ego. I noticed some people left the room never to return. I noticed others took naps. I was sitting in the third row so I pinched myself to stay awake. The next speaker was not only outstanding in delivery and presentation, but was truly inspirational. I understand that speakers from out of the country are frequently paid. The second speaker was within driving range. To increase attendance for older members as well as newer members, the conference quality must be set at a consistently high standard Otherwise attendees feel their valuable time and money have been wasted and wish they had stayed home to watch re-runs on tv. I am offering my feedback, ideas, and assistance to incoming district governors. The challenge is that there are existing conference volunteers who are apparently very satisfied with the status quo. . If the previous year's attendees found the conference to be average or only mediocre, you can well imagine what will be said to new members who ask about the value in going out of their way to attend a district conference..

At 9:24AM on 1 March 2010, Hazel Haas wrote: Attending the district conference is a great way to learn more about our fantastic organisation, and understand the "bigger picture". Many clubs do not have the time or the opportunity to really present to newer members the wider nature of Rotary worldwide. District conference is a better venue for this message, and the Convention is of course amazing. I went to my first Convention last year after 16 years in Rotary, and it opened my eyes! Please give every encouragement to your new member to attend, and assure them that they will not regret it.

At 9:16AM on 1 March 2010, PDG Doug Vincent, D7080 Canada wrote: I believe a new member will be more apt to attend if he is invited to go along with other members of the club. Attending with a group of friends will certainly make newcomers more comfortable. In the past we had a special luncheon at conference for new members with the cost absorbed by District. Then clubs were encouraged to make up the difference to subsidize the member's registration for the entire day. Our rationale was to get new members out for a day to sample the fun and fellowship. Then, the next year they would be more excited to attend the full weekend event. We recognized anyone who had joined in the last 12 months, asking them to come forward to receive a District pin from myself as DG and a RI Theme pin from the RI President's representative. Five years later, I still have Rotarians coming up and thanking Rotary for giving them that special experience. It has had a lasting impression. Doug V

At 9:14AM on 1 March 2010, Roy York PDG 04-05 D5300 CA/NV USA wrote: One of the most important events in any Rotarian's life should be the District Conference. This is the celebration of their club, district and Rotary's accomplishments that year, in addition to being a learning experience and renewal of friendships, along with making new friends. Make it a cultural practice that "you just gotta do it, it's so much fun" that makes it difficult for them to miss out. I have personally asked 100% of my club to be there for at least a portion of the conference. It's hard to turn down a direct request from a friend without an awfully good reason. Once there, they'll love you for it.

At 9:03AM on 23 February 2010, Rtn Sanjay Salvi wrote: Proper assimilation should b there right frm the day one a new rotarian joins the club, one should make him feel about the club that it is his very own. it shoul'nt happen that the introducer & few more who know him only talks to him n the rest r not bothered. He should b given some kind of task, should b asked to xpress vote of thanx atleast as is being done at my club RC Poona Midtown, India. And than he slowly opens after which u can ask him to attend the dist.conf which i feel he will agree to as i did this yr.

At 10:52AM on 11 February 2010, Richard Gauder wrote: As a fairly new members we ( my fellow Rotarian spouse and I) have attended 2 district conferences. What got us going the first time? The enthusiasm of just a few members we had a connection with; it's contagious! Once we went we were hooked. The energy and the speakers, not to mention the hospitality suites, were amazing. There were so many like minded wonderful people attending. International In Montreal, here we come!

At 10:33AM on 9 February 2010, Prakash Saraswat wrote: For a new Rotarian, it is probably easier in our part of the world.. he/she is more enthusiastic.. just needs to be told 'It is going to be great fun, trust me'

At 9:44AM on 8 February 2010, Mitch Meredith, PP wrote: I would first determine what is creating the hesitancy. In our district, the conference weekend is considered expensive by most. Hotel for 2 nights is $700 and couple registration is $260. If the reluctance is related to cost, the club needs to cover all or a portion. If the hesitancy is related to time and/or content of conference, I'd recommend having 2 or 3 club past presidents help encourage new member to attend. We all know the benefits - an opportunity to meet other committed Rotarians, an opportunity to see what other Clubs in your district are doing, and an opportunity to learn how local club efforts can have a worldwide impact. Peer pressure works great!

At 9:58AM on 8 February 2010, Rtn Paul Agbroko wrote: As club president, I think this is general problem that afflicts newer members of a club. In my view mewer members need some time to get settled into their clubs, make friends, get to know how the Club Leadership Plan works, get familiar with club service projects etc, before we ask them out to district conferences. Even at that it will help our newer Rotarian at the district conference if we get her to go in the company of an older member. That way, she can acclamatise better at the district event

At 9:57AM on 8 February 2010, joni wrote: we need to work together for make strong fellowship

At 9:56AM on 8 February 2010, Tim Tucker wrote: Hopefully your club will have whole group of Rotarians and partners attending District Conferece and the new member will want to be there as part of the gang. D1070's Conference is one of the hilghts of the Rotary year with usualy some 1,000+ attendees. It's a whole big world of Rotary friendship awaiting the new Rotarian. Next step after District Conference for them - RI Convention. They really will not look back after that!! Please ask the new Rotarian to look out for me - It will be a pleasure to catch on the news of their first months as a Rotarian, and that District Conference they weren't sure about going to.

At 9:26AM on 8 February 2010, gretchen peralta wrote: Our Club is great, but you'll be amazed at the number of other great Rotarians around our DIstrict....go once and you'll meet & develop friends, business colleagues and ideas to bring back to freshen up our club; people you can call on for joint club projects and ideas and recognize at the next district event!

At 9:23AM on 8 February 2010, Shelley Lake wrote: Only one member of the Club is going to the District Conference? That in itself is a red flag. There certainly should be several members attending and then the new member will automatically have a comfort level of at least knowing another person(s) at the Conference. Once at the conference, the nature of a District Conference with education sessions, projects and fellowship, the new member will begin to fit in fine and begin to understand all the opportunities Rotary has to offer. Hopefully, the new member's fee is paid for if they are the only one going for the Club.

At 9:22AM on 8 February 2010, Bill Pollard, DG 08-09, D7600 (Virginia, USA) wrote: You need to stress the fun they will have in making new friendships with other Rotarians in the District as well as being a great venue to learn about Rotary. If the conference is held within the District, encourage the new member to attend at least part of the conference if they cannot attend the full event.. During my year as Governor we provided a discount in the registration fee for new members and members attending their first conference which helped the attendance of new Rotarians. It is also important that existing members from their club join them in attending the conference. The conference committee should consider a breakout session for new Rotarians. Maybe the club can also help with some of the costs to attend the conference. Ask the new member to make a presentation to the club about the conference.