DG MERV WILLIAMS MESSAGE TO US

 

Tonight my presentation will focus on “How do we get people to open the door to Rotary?”

 

Our world needs an organisation that supports local and international humanitarian needs. That’s us That’s Rotary.

Membership is a challenge for all clubs. New members bring new ideas and gifts to our clubs to increase our ability to serve the community and our world.

 

Why did you join Rotary?

Whatever the reason, you were invited and accepted to be part of this awesome organistation.

You now have the opportunity to bring Rotary into someone else’s life. So they can bring their gifts to Rotary and make a genuine difference in the lives of others and our world.

All clubs within our District conduct a wide range of valuable and very effective projects or programs within our communities. So we as Rotarians and Clubs we are doing it.  So why aren’t people coming to Rotary?

 

The question may be “Is your club ready to bring in new members?

For Rotary Clubs to be effective we need a club focus or club group to specifically look at membership. A focus driven to what is best for each individual club in getting people through our door.

 

Are our club’s attractive to outsiders?

 

Take a look at the image of our clubs from the outside, from what our clubs look like in a new member shoes.

 

We can have all the bells and whistles in place on the outside and get them to the front door but what happens when a 30, 40 or 50 year old walks into the room. What do they perceive?

 

Before I go further, what I am going to say may raise a few eye brows. It is not a criticism of your club, it is an observation of Rotary in general. Also can you please give me 5 minutes to get out the door when I finish.

 

We have toasts to the queen, toasts invocations, singing of National Anthems, Rotary acronyms. Traditions that don’t fit  into today’s society. Traditions are not part of our Rotary values

 

Are traditions holding us back from being a relevant, fun and vibrant Rotary Club. Do we consider changing some of the packaging or window dressing of our clubs.

 

Do we consider changing the meeting times or meeting structures of our clubs.

 

Be reflective of our community in the way our clubs operate in creating an environment that people will want to walk through the door.

 

Take a risk in trying something new and also support those who want to try something different

 

 

Let’s us take a walk down the street. Look deeper into behind the windows. What do we see - a student, a professional, a stay at parent, a teacher, a doctor, a tradie, a retailer, an employee or a farmer, Young and old. Do they have something to give, to care about and want to make a difference in our community or the world?

Wherever there is a person there is a potential Rotarian.

Tell someone what Rotary means to you.

How Rotary changed your life and Give them the gift of Rotary.

Be active and Invite them to Rotary.

They are the Next Rotary Generation. For each one of us, the future of Rotary is ours.

FUN clubs are active clubs full of fellowship, networking and enthusiasm and engaged clubs are healthy clubs telling the Rotary story, the untold good stories of Rotary projects or service activities. FUN clubs will attract membership & retain members.

The retention of membership is a large ingredient of effective Rotary Clubs.

So how do we retain our members. Some helpful ways -

 

We have opportunities to encourage our members to participate in learning and development through  

 

Our district conducts a wide range of seminars for our members, has additional resources and personnel for clubs to utilise. Programs such as

 

Seminars & information on line through the RI My Rotary website. A great learning tool or area to access information on Rotary.

 

These would not be the only ways but it is all part of helping to retain members

No matter how long you have been in rotary there is always more to learn.

Public Awareness of Rotary is an important part of membership.

Social media through Facebook, Twitter, Websites as a communication tool is a reality and can be the main communication for many in the community.

 

A majority of what we do both locally and internationally as Rotarians and as clubs does not reach the next generation or general community. They are largely unaware of our achievements. Through the use of social media we can create an environment that they want to be part of our great organistation.

Look at our Promotional material at club level. Use current and interesting material that focuses on our clubs and Rotary International’s programs and achievements.

A lot of material is available on line through RI.

Be visible in the community by promoting our clubs with new and clean signage in our streets, at BBQs and projects in promoting the Rotary brand when you’re out there.

Each February the District celebrates Rotary. Our focus for this event next year will be for clubs or the cluster groups to create an activity, display or event for their community in promoting rotary sometime around the 23^rd February.

To increase Rotary awareness throughout the District, I am throwing out to you “The Facebook challenge”

The challenge is to get a photograph of you, your club doing something interesting, out of the ordinary, worthy of note or humorous so that we can show others what we do best – serving others, making a difference in our communities and having fun.

 

Email me your entries with a couple of lines and they will be posted on our Facebook page Rotary District 9820

The Rotarian or club who is responsible for the winning entry will receive not only bragging rights but also $500 towards a club project promoting Rotary in your community.

Take an opportunity to enhance our achievements and to show the community that we do more than just sell sausages.

Through The Rotary Foundation, we can take our gifts and make a genuine difference in the lives of others in our world.

 

Rotarians and volunteers combine their resources and connect across the world to support the humanitarian programs of the charitable arm of rotary. The Rotary Foundation.

 

Of course Rotary’s biggest challenge, the eradication of polio is our number one priority. But it is not the only challenge.

As Rotarians, through the Annual Fund of The Rotary Foundation, we serve communities around the world, each with unique concerns and needs. Rotarians have continually adapted and improved the way they respond to those needs, taking on a broad range of service projects that tend to fall within one of Rotary International six Areas of Focus:

 

Please continue to financially support TRF Annual Fund program and Polio Eradication program through club contributions or individual contributions through Centurion Program / Paul Harris Society to continue these humanitarian programs

 

The Rotary International theme for 2015 /2016 is “Be a Gift to the world” which is fitting as each one of us has something to give – whoever we are, whatever our place in life. We can give our talent, our knowledge, our abilities and our effort. Through Rotary, we can take these gifts and make a genuine difference in the lives of others and in our world.

 

The Mount Martha Rotary Club Invite to you all to the District Conference in Wangaratta from February 26^th – 28^th next year.

Further information on the conference - Check out the District website, District 9820 News, District Conference Facebook