Membership and development
Supporting struggling clubs
D istrict leaders can identify struggling clubs by reviewing membership reports in Member Access and the Memo of Club Visit and by visiting clubs to assess their effectiveness. Effective Rotary clubs do the following:
- Sustain or increase their membership base
- Implement successful service projects that address the needs of their community and communities in other countries
- Support The Rotary Foundation through financial contributions and program participation
- Develop leaders capable of serving in Rotary beyond the club level
Once district leaders identify struggling clubs, they should
- Work with their Rotary coordinator to come up with solutions
- Consider merging the struggling club with a successful one or pairing two clubs to help each other with recruitment and retention
- Identify or appoint a mentor to aid club leaders in developing their membership
When visiting struggling clubs, district leaders should encourage them to use RI membership resources to improve their effectiveness, including:
Failure to function
According to the Rotary Code of Policies, clubs are considered "failing to function" if they do not
- Pay per capita dues to Rotary International
- Meet regularly
- Ensure their members subscribe to a Rotary World Magazine Press magazine
- Implement service projects to address needs in the local community or communities in other countries
- Receive a visit from their district governor or assistant governor or an officer of RI
- Maintain appropriate general liability insurance
- Act in a manner consistent with the RI constitution, bylaws, and the Rotary Code of Policies
- Pay its RI membership and district dues without outside assistance
- Provide accurate membership lists on a timely basis to the general secretary
- Resolve club disputes in an amicable manner
- Maintain cooperative relations with the district
- Cooperate with RI by not initiating or maintaining litigation against Rotary International, The Rotary Foundation, the associate foundations and the international offices of the RI Secretariat