Your Voice, Your Solution for increasing fellowship

Rotary International News -- 1 June 2010

BFFs: Best friends forever, in and outside of Rotary. Rotary Images

Welcome to Rotary International’s problem-solving forum. Each month, Rotarians are asked for their ideas and strategies to address challenges they deal with every day.

Provide your input to help create a Rotary knowledge base of best practices and new ideas that will help Rotarians around the world improve their clubs and their service to the community.

Please use the comments section to share your solution to the problem described below. Return to this page before the end of the month to read solutions from your fellow Rotarians. Comments may be used in abbreviated form in other RI publications, including the Rotary E-Learning Center.

Problem: Members are not extending fellowship to each other beyond club meetings

Lately the fellowship among your club members has been lax.

How do you encourage friendship between members during the rest of the week?

Past problems and your solutions:

23 Comments:

At 3:31PM on 9 November 2011, andy p. ligsanan wrote: How I wish having friend Rotarian outside my country Philippines.

At 9:19AM on 25 October 2011, andy p. ligsanan wrote: Hello, good day to all fellow Rotarians. frm: District 3870, PH

At 9:15AM on 2 September 2010, Kevin Cosgriff wrote: Fellowship beyond club meetings can be engendered through participation in some project of international level. Twentynine Palms, CA (Club #900) sponsors an orphanage in Encinada (Baja) Mexico. Our travel to Encinada allows members the time to really enjoy one another's company and experience the immeasurable joy of seeing those children.

At 9:00AM on 19 August 2010, Ray Jackson wrote: When there are five Mondays in a Month we invite our wives/partners to join us for dinner on that fifth Monday and we try to get an entertaining speaker. We organise social events throughout the year whre all the family are involved, our last being a river cruise in the evening with a picnic. We also involve our wives and partners in the International weekends where we meet with our overseas twinned club.

At 3:07PM on 16 August 2010, Akamnonu Azubuike wrote: My Club, The Rotary Club of Abayi introduced "ISUSU" -a monthly membership Contribution that will carter for members welfare in time of urgent. The money belongs to them and is shared at the end of the year.

At 9:07AM on 11 August 2010, Chris Gubler wrote: We plan four fellowship trips. Our club is going on a jet skiing adventure in Laughlin NV. This weekend. We try to have different activities during the year to include as many members as possible.

At 4:33PM on 5 August 2010, Vickie Christensen wrote: I especially like the welcoming and goodbye parties for exchange students. We frequently will offer dinners as a bidding item for a fundraiser and then specific groups will be the recipient of that dinner later in the year.

At 9:25AM on 19 July 2010, BMK Sethi wrote: We have decided this year to have monthly BOD meetings at residence of Board members by rotation, followed by Fellowship. This will bring the team together for this year as well as the coming years

At 2:03PM on 14 July 2010, Rtn PHF Arvind Vijay wrote: We are organised monthly get to gether in different places by contribution two members have to manage the in the alternative turn .result is we have organised 6 programms (from 1july to 14-07-2010) in the forteen days only. Rtn Arvind Vijay President Rotary Club Tonk (raj) India

At 11:01AM on 12 July 2010, PDG Bharat M Dholakia wrote: I have formed e group of club members wherein comments are invited. Then those ideas are discussed in meetings. Even we have formed sms groups. Both the schemes encourages involment in Rotary

At 9:43AM on 12 July 2010, Penny Byron wrote: In response to Carole Voss of the Pocomoke City, MD, club... I can vouch for this club. I've visited this club several times for make-ups when on vacation. The very first time, I had called to see where the meetings were held, and found out the next meeting was their installation dinner/family barbeque and was told to come and bring my family! We didn't end up going that week on vacation, but what a wonderful feeling. I did attend a few other dinner meetings and they were wonderful. Pocomoke City truly is the 'friendliest town on the Eastern Shore!'

At 8:56AM on 16 June 2010, Al Patten wrote: We make sure the member closest to guests gets acquainted with them and then introduces them giving some personal history.

At 8:53AM on 16 June 2010, Sally B. wrote: Our Club established a quarterly fellowship event called Fifth Friday. It is held in any month having 5 Fridays (four per year). It is held at a member's place of business. It's a two hour, (6 to 8 p.m.) Friday night cocktail party that includes spouses and usually leads to members going out together for the remainder of the evening. We charge $10 per person which generally pays for wine and snacks for 50 or 60 people. It's been a great success and has contributed to forming many lasting relationships between our members and their spouses and their Rotary friends.

At 10:18AM on 7 June 2010, Rtn chinyere Ikedinma wrote: calling fellow Rotarians not only on special occasions also on ordinary days to chat and send them good wish message. When a Rotarian relenting on attendance to fellowship,calling to find out what the reason is. Thanks

At 10:19AM on 7 June 2010, Jo Ann Oxsen wrote: Our Kingman Route 66 Rotary Club in Arizona truly exhibits the spirit of fellowship in Rotary. In addition to our lively, energized and congenial weekly meetings, we frequently get together socially. For instance, we're throwing a Going Away Party for our Youth Exchange Student from Brazil, Lucas Maia, next Saturday at a Rotarian member's home.

At 11:57AM on 7 June 2010, PP..Anthonysamy Francis wrote: Rotarians in small groups can meet in between meeting to discuss matters concering the club, it's programs etc. Join different groups every week. make the gathering interesting.

At 11:58AM on 7 June 2010, Carole Voss wrote: Hey, our small club has experienced and increased membership! Hooray! You all come to Pocomoke City , MD on June 10th, 11th, and 12th and experience the best Oyster fritter and fresh lemonade you have ever had! Our main fundraiser of the Year!

At 11:58AM on 7 June 2010, PDG Yogananda,R I Dist 3190 wrote: I exchange emails with other members of our club during the week.For example I ask many as to what topics we should cover in Club level training .I discuss details of a proposed project on the net with my members and they are well informed by the time they attend club / board meetings.Quite a few send interesting e mails on a variety of subjects.Phone calls can add to fellowship.In a busy environment, the above are possible.

At 3:17PM on 4 June 2010, PDG William D. Crawford wrote: A smile to go with a few positive words about Rotary and what it does around the world works wonders for me.

At 9:44AM on 4 June 2010, christy opara wrote: I CALL OTHER ROTARIANS ON PHONE ON IMPORTANT DISTRICT PROGRAMMES I SEND CARDS AS REMINDER I VISIT THE CLUB .AS FOR THE CRITIC YOU MAKE HIM CHAIRPERSON TO PLAN PROGRAMME FOR THE CLUB AND GIVE MEMBERS OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS SO THAT HE WILL REALISE IT IS NOT EASY TO BE AT THE HEAD

At 8:48AM on 2 June 2010, Rtn.Suryanarayana SV -Chair, Rotary Volunteers, District 3150, India, rotarian@suryanarayana.com wrote: I try to maintain friendship between me and other Rotarians by adopting following ideas: 1. Call on phone to wish Rotarians on their Birthday or Wedding Anniversary 2. Send eGreetings frequently to Rotarians on special occasions and important National Days. 3. Invite Rotarians to family functions and get together 4. Invite Rotarians to social net working avenues like LinkedIn, Facebook. 5. Whenever any of my clients and co-professionals require expert services, I look for and recommend Rotarians who may render such services.

At 8:48AM on 2 June 2010, Dr. CS Ramachandran wrote: Revive fire side meetings;Family picnics.Form a Annets club and make them in charge of program for the last meeting of every month.Best way of getting the mothers to attend the meeting and meet other Anns of the club.Once a fellowship of Anns is promoted club fellow ship will be automatic

At 8:47AM on 2 June 2010, Dr. CS Ramachandran wrote: Ask him to plan a program of his choice to the club and make him chairman New clubs will benefit in all aspects when other clubs( Particularly the sponsoring club)do joint programs with them in any or all avenues

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