DG Kevin's August Message

 

In my first two weeks of visiting Rotary clubs in our District, I have asked clubs to identify their major challenges. The top two challenges have been: (1) attracting new members; and (2) attracting new members who are younger.  I expect I will hear this often as I continue to visit clubs.  Although I don’t have a magic bullet or a guaranteed solution, I do have some suggestions to address both challenges.

 

I believe we can have success in attracting new members if we focus on doing recruitment events at the Area level. (An Area encompasses a group of clubs that are supported by an Assistant Governor – or as we like to refer to them, “Area Governor” – “AG” for short.)

 

I am recommending that each Area plan to have a few recruitment events during the year, involving all clubs in the Area. I think the goals of such events should be (1) getting prospective members excited about becoming part of Rotary; and then (2) acquainting the prospects with the activities, culture, meeting times, dues, and other details of each club. People will pick clubs based on practical issues of location, meeting time, club activities and cost. We want prospective members to select the club that is the best fit for them. Otherwise, they are unlikely to join, or stay if they do join.

 

I’m also recommending that we begin Area-wide orientation programs for new members. I think this is an important part of keeping new members. We need to impress new members with the big world of Rotary beyond the club. Each club will orient their new member to the practices of their club; but I think we can do a better job of orienting the new Rotarian to the wide world of Rotary by doing this at the Area level, with periodic orientation events for new members from all the clubs in an Area.

 

In regard to the desire to recruit younger members, my advice is that clubs work their way down the age scale whenever possible. If nearly all the members of a club are over 50 years old, I think it makes sense to focus on recruiting members in their 40’s. Once you have some members in their 40’s, then look for members in their 30’s. I think it’s more appealing to a prospective member to see existing club members who are relatively close in age. I think it is difficult to attract a prospective member in their 30’s if the next youngest member is in their 60’s.  Just makes sense to me.

 

Rotary is an amazing organization because of the amazing people who are members. Attracting and keeping new members should be a piece of cake. We just have to clever in how we present the cake.

 

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