Rotary International District 5170

Are We Prepared to Meet Our Membership Goals?

Each month is dedicated to a different function of Rotary. August is Membership Month, but before anyone concludes that Membership Development can be accomplished in one month, let me say Membership Development will not be done in a day, a week or a month. Membership Development is an ongoing process in which each and every Rotarian has a responsibility to participate. So this month, as we should each August, let us review the Membership Development process in each of our clubs to insure that the process works every day, incorporates all the steps/functions, includes every member of the club and happens in a warm and inviting setting. I like to call this process "the.3 W's of Membership Development:

WHO - The Players:

The Club President, the Membership Development Committee and the Club Members. The President is the cheerleader who keeps the goal at the top of the agenda and in front of the club. No one else has more respect and attention than the President each year. The Membership Development Committee is responsible for executing the process to achieve the goals. No matter how small the club, the committee should have at least 3 members so all of the functions will be performed well and a year to year continuum can be achieved. The larger the club the more committee members (up to 10 or 12 would not be unreasonable). The entire club membership needs to understand the goal and the process so they can carry out their responsibility to recruit and sponsor new members.

WHAT - The Process:

Does it address the seven functions of Membership Development? Which are:

1. RECRUITMENT
2. THE APPLICATION
3. ORIENTATION AND INVITATION TO JOIN
4. INDUCTION WITH FORMAL CEREMONY
5. INTEGRATION - "The Red Badge Program & getting involved."
6. CONTINUING EDUCATION
7. RETENTION

WHERE - The Environment we call Rotary:

What is this thing we call Rotary? The club, the people (members), the process, the meeting format, the agenda, the food, the program, the friendship & camaraderie, the fund raising, the community service, world community service and how we treat one another and others. Our image, my perception, your perception, their perception. All of this and all of what each of us does becomes the collective that is our club environment and therefore defines our individual club. This is what we "sell" to a prospective member (recruitment) and this is how we keep our existing members (retention). It is not the responsibility of the Membership Development Committee to create the environment but rather the President, the Directors, the Committee Chairs and each Member of Rotary to fulfill their responsibility in doing their part. The environment is important to everyone but is most critical for Membership Development because Recruitment & Retention are directly related to Club quality.

If there are a few things that need fixing, lets get to work today so that we can all go out and "sell" some Rotary tomorrow!

Author: Roger Knopf (Morgan Hill)
Past Membership Chair