Your Voice, Your Solution for inspiring club innovation

Rotary International News -- 1 July 2010

A member of the Rotary Club of Bay Area Sunrise, Oregan, USA, serves as a sous-chef during a fundraiser for Interactors. How do you encourage your club to be more innovative?

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T wo years ago, the Rotary Club of Le Roy, New York, USA, began a Rent-a-Rotarian program.

Le Roy residents made donations to the club, and in exchange, members raked leaves, fixed fences, cleaned yards, and performed other small tasks. This innovative idea was a great way for the Le Roy Rotarians to interact, have fun, and raise money for their club.

Each month, Rotary International's problem-solving forum asks Rotarians for their ideas and strategies to address the challenges they deal with every day. This month's problem is how to get your club to be innovative.

Your club is a good club, but you don't feel it is reaching its full potential. You'd like it to be bigger, better, and bolder.

What are some innovative ideas you could present to your club?

Use the comments section below to share your solutions to this month's problem. Comments may be used in abbreviated form in other RI publications, including the Rotary E-Learning Center.

Past problems and your solutions:

33 Comments:

At 3:13PM on 17 June 2011, Fred Ortoli wrote: Re: Monica Fraser post July 12, 2010. I would be interested in more info about her project. We also have a small club and are always looking for fundraisers that can be done with a small group of people.

At 8:53AM on 18 March 2011, Badri Badhu wrote: Group Study Exchange Program is something that I admire in Rotary Internatioanl. Recently, our club - The Rotary Club of Dharan, ID 22892, RID 3292 ( Nepal ) had a team from the Connecticuit Rotary RID 7890. The entire club enjoyed the events of welcoming the guests, interacting with them and making friendship. It is wonderful!!

At 9:14AM on 2 September 2010, Kevin Cosgriff wrote: Innovative ideas are sparked by the Rotarian's passion. One's professional field (classification) or hobby can evoke creativity tailored for the building of good will and friendship within the community. My passion for bicycling has been channeled toward participating in the Twentynine Palms, CA (Club #900) annual "Bike-for-Shoes". I was able to harness my interest and chart new courses, seek new sponsors, and advertise our ride. On the 18th of August I was able to watch more than 100 disadvantaged children select new shoes for the first day of school. For all the planning and work involved in the ride, it was worth every second. Amazing how one's passion can benefit many.

At 9:26AM on 31 August 2010, SN Agrawal wrote: Innovations in club can come only through personal involvement of members. Be it fellowship activities or community welfare activities - member has to be involved personally - what Rotary says - be a volunteer. Ours is a new club, 3 month old baby (although I am rotary member since last 21 years), but we are planning many innovative ideas - 1st was having a dual gender club - so uncommon in our area & have a lady as a charter president. Now we have bought a LCD projector & paln to visit schools on saturdays & have educative & informative shows there. More ideas would be developed & implemented - because innovation is key to seccess!

At 9:43AM on 24 August 2010, Leonardo Allevato wrote: I´ve been twice in a row the president of my club in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At my very beginning we were only 4. Two years later we were 14 and the only thing I did was to make the meetings more attractive. People come to Rotary not only to serve the community, but maybe in the beginning come to serve themselves (what a shame!). THEN, they might get involved in some projects but I think this kind of people is important for the club, as well as people who only want to donate money without working. The point is to get to know what are each one´s objectives within Rotary.

At 9:29AM on 18 August 2010, OGUNTOYE SEUN wrote: In my Club, we just introduce what we call BOB-A-JOB this rotary year which we do every two weeks. We visit in mass highly placed citizen to carry out sanitation on their premises by cutting grasses, trimming flowers, raking and sweeping their company, washing their cars, fixing their fences, general cleaning of their compound and performed other small tasks. This has not only helped us to generate little funds but has also encourage these set of people to show interest in the club and are willing to join. The most interesting part of is is THE FUND OF HAVING PROFESSIONALS DOING THIS TASK. Rotary Club of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

At 3:02PM on 16 August 2010, Liz Hosmer wrote: Goodness! We were asked for innovative ideas and have recieved mostly complaints! Our club used to write checks to the Salvation Army Red Shield Center (similar to a Boys and Girls Club). Then the captain there told us that kids in our own neighborhoods were leaving the center when it closed at 6:00 hungry and were going home to no food. We decided to prepare and serve dinner at the Red Shield once a month. The energy and spark of working with those kids has ignited a fire in our membres. Now. along with our monthly dinners, we serve a Thanksgiving dinner to the kids and their families (800 people), are fixing up the library and computer lab and are partnering with other Rotary Clubs to develop a long range plan to restore the gym. We cooked hotdogs and carne asada for over 1000 at the Red Shield Open House. Our club members are totally enthralled with this project. A hands-on project can start small and can build such good will and passion within a club's membership.

At 3:06PM on 16 August 2010, Terry Bass wrote: We are about 25 people big on service and fellowship. During our short summer we had members that offered fellowship in their great outdoor space or even on a boat. We realized that we had so many things going on, it would impact attendance. So our club has scheduled a couple of "meetings" from lunch to evening at a members home. We even had a meeting on a members boat and had a speaker from the local yacht club. It broke up the regularity of our meetings a little, made it a little fun with the opportunity for some greater fellowship. So far its been a big success with our members.

At 3:08PM on 16 August 2010, Daniel Charlong wrote: Innovation in Rotary is about stepping outside of the box and expanding your horizons. Too quickly ideas and suggestions by newer members are shrugged off the club has already "done that". So what, do it again but this time make it better than it was the last time so the community and the club will wan to do it again. Become a part of your community not just a group in your community. Innovation leads to strength because it is always fresh even if rehashing previous projects and events, everything is new again.

At 1:12PM on 12 August 2010, Derek Bulman wrote: On reading the commets and speaking with many Rot it would appear that most think that their Clubs are in pretty good health genarally and have robust fellowship programmes .Mine is no exception .BUT we have one major problem. The age of our membership ... I believe that unless we put our MAJOR efforts into encouraging the 35 plus age group then our organisation will halve in numbers over the next 10 years.. Could I suggest that every club takes say 1/3rd of its youngest members every 2 weeks ,ask them to think outside the square, and have a barnstorming session about what /how we can attract these young people to join us..I sometimes feel we regurgitate the same old messages without actually spending the time and effort asking the people we need We must act now as this issue will become critical shortly. To keep the ball rolling what do you think.Send this around every Club you think is forward thinking and would be proactive

At 9:24AM on 10 August 2010, Rtn P.Padmakumar ,Rotary Club of Coimbatore ,District 3201,India wrote: Most of the Clubs get into problem when some kind of Caucus or Grouping is active .One or two power hunger members initiate this caucus for their personal interest involving the newly admitted members who feel Rotary means Fellow ship(Alcohol) only. Once the club could identify these individuals and reject them once for all, the harmony in the club can be retained.

At 1:26PM on 9 August 2010, PDG Aswini Kar wrote: Rotarians are becoming hypocrite these days. We preach something and do something else. We talk about ethics and values in meetings and do exactly opposite.. We should be truthful and transparent. We can first set right our home our club then we can go to community. We must involve community with our activities. Take up one problem of the community and try to find solution and then proceed for the next problem. We should do hand on service project involving maximum members. Treat your club members as part of your family, share your happiness and sorrow with members.

At 10:24AM on 26 July 2010, Arlene Anderson Arnold wrote: Rent-a-Rotarian--great idea! I feel most connected with our community and club members when we are sharing our knowledge and talents in person as well as financially.

At 10:29AM on 26 July 2010, Randall L. Weinkauf wrote: I have been a member of four different Rotary clubs. The clubs I have enjoyed most were those that stressed regular involvement of its members in projects (highway beautification, shared dinners of club members with international students of the local university, park renovation, sponsoring 5K runs and golf tournaments for local charities, etc.). These were hands-on, get your hands dirty activities that not only offered involvement but also a sense of giving. The clubs I have enjoyed least were those where involvement in projects was seldom more than simply asking for money to support a project. Active, hands-on involvement in projects makes my Rotary experience far more meaningful.

At 10:19AM on 26 July 2010, Rtn.PP.PHF.S.Navaneedhan, RC Tirupur Metal Town, Dist 3202 wrote: New Member Orientation and Member Education is must for every Rotary Club. Without knowing Rotary the members stay idle and this will reflect in club development. Every President is the most higher authority for the club growth by his innovative project ideas. In many clubs the relationship between the ruling team and the members are insufficient. In Rotary, lot of club administration sources are available. These sources will be educated to each and every Rotarian. Then only our clubs are likely to be bigger, better and bolder. Appointment of Mentors, good relationship with past presidents and best relationship with the incoming president and his team are also some of the good ideas for becoming our club a potential one.

At 10:38AM on 16 July 2010, folarin segun. o.george wrote: its unfortunate, every club has its own teething problems, our own is caucus i.e grouping. which nearly ground my club last year rotary activities,and of which most of the new members were discouraged.

At 11:13AM on 12 July 2010, Paul Ben-Cookey wrote: Rotarians should strive to add value in their club irrespective of any bottleneck. We must always remember 'Service above self'.

At 11:12AM on 12 July 2010, Atin Lohia, D-3240 wrote: Some times, Asst. Governor shows they have extra ordinary knowledge in Rotary and do Bossism and interfare in the past club matters, which discourages members to expand and develop. AG are sometimes real blockade in making club Bigger, Bolder and Better.

At 11:10AM on 12 July 2010, Monica Fraser wrote: we held a Cent sale on 3rd July 2010 (Bundaberg City Daybreak) and raised over $3000 of which $500 for TRF and $1200 for Polio Plus not bad for 9 members

At 11:02AM on 12 July 2010, Rtn Dr Badri P Badhu wrote: The President and the Secretary of any Rotary Club should make a draft of plan of actions for every month together in consultation with the past presidents; and present to the Club Members at the end of every month. All the members should be encouraged to make comments and critics on the plans. This gives an opportunity to all the members that they have participated in making a plan and the question of transparency and anything like that no longer exists. This encourages and ensures active paricipation of the members and their contribution without hesitation. This is an experience from the Rotary Club of Dharan, District 3292

At 10:58AM on 12 July 2010, Marvelous Marvin wrote: Our club, Central Queens Rotary, Jamaica NY is relatively small but through working together we have had some good results. We are looking for local project ideas that will enable us to grow and accomplish bigger things.

At 10:56AM on 12 July 2010, Rtn.Sanjay Salvi wrote: Firstly I humbly request Ashok ji and Rajendra ji who hav given their comments just above this that whatever internal problems r there in yr club should not be made public. The question asked here is how can we improve the working potential and not to take our complaints. Our is the largest club in Dist 3131, Pune India and I can proudly say that in my club, every Rtn gives his best to the club and to the society, as a matter of evedence, our club wins district awards in double figure every year, may be in my club importance is even given to the junior most Rtn also. Regards

At 10:51AM on 12 July 2010, Siva wrote: For some members the rotary club is a business meet. This sense of understanding is completely contrary to the founder. Extending fellowship to the maximum extent to realise a project of the club(big or small) will have to be the motto of every rotarian.

At 10:51AM on 12 July 2010, Jhansi Premanand wrote: We are loosing the members because they have not given an opportunity either to take a project s in the community or around.. Many Rotarians felt the need but could not take up the projects because of the board's restrictions and decisions..Few join Rotary not only for fellowship but also to do service around their work field, neighborhood or joining NGO organizations. where they can serve a large areas and help unreached , un known and un heard. The beneficiaries will be more in the areas of health, literacy or self help projects. New Rotarians should be given an opportunity in organising the events of the club. Most of the club's events are controlled by a few Rotarans always. . Senior and past Presidents must trust the other Rotarians and give hope and opportunity to help the needy in and around . Rotary is a plate form to serve the humanity .Fellowship should not be paid one, It should be simple and come from the heart .

At 10:48AM on 12 July 2010, David Fish wrote: A pity that there are negative comments, even if they are justified. I would love the idea of my club doing a service project once per month. I always find that these discussions throw open lots of positive ideas.

At 9:59AM on 12 July 2010, joe wrote: I am inspired by what our TRF Chairman has written and that is ,People join or support causes, they do not join organizations. For your club to be attractive make Fellowship a cause and Service a virtue, proud for anyone to be associated with. People i know, join my club because of its unique fellowship. Everyone need to be treated with dignity and respect for the Rotary family to grow.

At 9:23AM on 12 July 2010, Ken Buckingham wrote: Last year as PE I carried out a written simple survey (what works well, what isn't etc) of club members chased them for replies, compiled the resulting comments and presented them to the club and then held Fireside Forums the following month. Then presented the findings of Fireside Forums at my first meeting as President for discussion. With the backing of my Directors and most of my club, I have changed our meeting format and set goals for each committee trying to make the club more active and vibrant. Will it work? How many members will I alienate? I guess I will know at the end of my year.

At 11:04AM on 9 July 2010, Ashok wrote: Some Rotarians after becoming President or Secretary feel theyare super human. They preach about ethics then only. They try not to understand the pulse of the ordinary Rotarians and try to impose certain things which are contrary in natue.They fail to understand their are the problem makers. The Sec and Pres should be tranperanct and open

At 12:56PM on 6 July 2010, Pat Watson wrote: Our club decided the best way to impact the immediate area was to do a service project every month instead of a regular meeting. It has been a great success with the impact felt not only by the community but also the club. Little steps do make a difference.

At 10:21AM on 6 July 2010, Saravana Raj wrote: In my club we already discussed a plan to raise funds for the club. We decided to choose a specific month and all members should donate their one day's income from their profession to the club's cause. Even pensioners should give their one days value of their pension money. It was widely accepted and we look ahead to choose the month to implement this idea. Secretary, RC Madurai North(Dist 3000)

At 9:42AM on 6 July 2010, Rtn. Rajendra Bhandari wrote: Club President , secretary keep the plans to themselves only. Their working is not transparent. Every months first meeting should be fellowship with open discussion and finalization of plans as might have been discussed in previous months board meeting.

At 9:42AM on 6 July 2010, H.Y wrote: Veterans and the President experienced members are non-active. Half of the members think that we are forced to join by active solicitation. Half of the members think that we are happy to join rotary club.

At 12:29PM on 2 July 2010, JACOB SHERRY wrote: some members are making groups in club, that makes so many problem in club

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