This document discusses the importance of membership growth and retention for Rotary clubs. It outlines the key elements of membership development, including proposing new members, retaining existing members, and establishing new clubs. It provides guidance on identifying and recruiting prospective members, inducting and orienting new members, and keeping members involved through various roles and activities. The document emphasizes that members are clubs' most important asset and that membership growth allows clubs to strengthen their communities and achieve Rotary's mission of service.
Rotary Club Membership Growth and Retention Strategies
1. Rtn. Mian Shaukat Masud
District Chair (2014-15)
District 3272 (Pakistan)
Join Leaders: www.rotary.org/myrotary
2. Rotary club members are
part of a diverse group of
professional leaders working
to address various
community and international
service needs. Through
community service and other
means, Rotary club members
help promote peace and
understanding throughout
the world. Our members are
our most important asset.
They are the force that
allows Rotary to carry out its
many humanitarian efforts
and achieve its mission.
3. Why is membership important?
Imagine if your club were to lose 10 percent
of its members.
How would that affect your service
program? What projects might not get
finished? Which ones might never have been
started?
Now consider what your club could
accomplish with 10 percent or five percent
or even two percent more members. Think
about the professional expertise you could
add to your club's overall profile simply by
filling all open classifications.
Think about the new ideas and new club
service projects that could be initiated.
Think about the additional people to take on
leadership and committee roles. Every new
Rotarian brings a range of personal and
professional resources and knowledge that
can greatly strengthen your club's ability to
serve throughout the community and the
world.
4. The three essential elements of
membership growth are:
the proposal of new members;
the retention of existing
members;
and the extension of Rotary
through the formation of new
clubs.
The Process for developing a
Rotary Club member often
includes the following stages:
Identify
Introduce
Induct
Inform & Orient
Involve
Educate
5. The Board of Directors of RI has
adopted the following definition
of an effective Rotary club.
Effective clubs:
sustain and/or grow their
membership base;
implement successful projects
that address the needs of their
communities and communities
in other countries;
support The Rotary Foundation
through program participation
and financial contributions;
develop leaders capable of
serving in Rotary beyond the
club level.
6. We often talk about Rotary
as an extended family, we
value our youth (Rotaract &
Interact) as our future asset.
The youngest generation is
the future and absolutely
true for us in Rotary.
We should invite these young
ones to our Rotary clubs
more often to attract young
professionals to Rotary.
8. Identify members of your
community through
classification survey &
diversity assessment to
determine how well your club
represents the professional
diversity.
Introduce prospective
members to Rotary by
describing what your club
does, what Rotary
International do & its
programs.
Invite prospective members
to join the club & if the
candidate meets qualification
as may be mentioned in club
By Laws then your club
committee or proposer
submit the proposal to club’s
9. Induct new member in a dignified
and meaningful way. Ensure that
all members personally introduce
themselves to each new member
and provide following items:
Rotary Lapel Pin
Membership Card
Club Information
Club Name Badge
The Rotarian (Magazine)
List of local clubs for make up
meetings & fellowship
10. An effective orientation to Rotary
begins as soon as a qualified
prospective member is identified.
Learning the expectations and
benefits of Rotary membership early
in the process helps prospective
members make well-informed
decisions to accept the formal
invitation, when it is extended.
Clubs have a responsibility to
provide an in-depth informational
program that teaches new members
about Rotary, engages them in club
activities, and welcomes them to
the organization. This formal
orientation plays a vital role in
helping new members internalize
what it means to be a Rotarian.
11. Ensure that all club members are
involved in club projects,
committees, activities, fundraisers,
board meetings & social activities.
An involved member will feel part of
the club & make Rotary a priority in
his or her life.
Members who are involved in club
projects and are well informed of
Rotary activities are more likely to
be retained for longer periods and
remain actively engaged in club
programs.
12. Members are the life
line of a Rotary Club
Your club’s most
valued asset is its
members
Nurture and grow your
membership!
Try to retain your
young generation and
talk why they don’t
stay.
13. • Developing long-range goals that address the
elements of an effective club
Setting annual goals that support long-range
goals
Keeping all members involved and informed
Communicating effectively with club
members and district leaders
Ensuring continuity in leadership from year to
year
Customizing the bylaws to reflect club
operations
Providing regular fellowship opportunities
Actively involving all club members
Offering regular, consistent training
Assigning committees that support your club’s
operational needs, including:
administration, membership,
public relations, service projects, and
The Rotary Foundation.
14. Rotarians join and stay with their clubs
primarily because they seek opportunities
for community service, fellowship, and
friendship. Many of the non-Rotarians you
know are looking for the same things.
Invite them to help with your service
projects, attend a networking night, or
participate in a club get-together and help
them see for themselves how Rotary
connects leaders to make a positive
change.
Here are some potential candidates to
consider for membership:
Friends and family members
Business acquaintances
Professional colleagues
Younger community leaders who are
already connected to Rotary through
Rotaract, RYLA, peace fellowships, Youth
Exchange, and other programs
15. Provide for continuity in leadership
to ensure development of future
leaders.
Because Rotary club leadership
changes annually, every club needs a
continual supply of potential leaders;
those leaders must work together
from year to year. There are many
ways to achieve continuity, including
making appointments for multiple
years; having a current, incoming,
and past chair on all committees;
and having the current club
president work closely with the
president-elect, president-nominee,
and immediate past president.
17. When Thomas Edison
invented the light
bulb, he tried over
2000 experiments
before he got it to
work... https://www.rotary.org
/myrotary/en/learning-
reference/learn-
topic/rotaryorg-
resources
18. “I never failed
once.
It just
happened to be
a 2000-step
process.”
- Thomas Edison
21. Sponsors will also have opportunities to be acknowledged in the Membership Recognition Gallery that will soon appear on
www.rotary.org, as well as in regional magazines and other Rotary publications. Members who earn gold backers and beyond and who
are in attendance at the Rotary International Convention will be invited to join the RI president for a special recognition event.
An email address is necessary so that sponsors can receive messages about their recognition items and achievement levels.
Additional information
It’s important that new members be entered into club records as soon as possible after being inducted.
Clubs using a synchronized club administration software application should enter new members into that system and identify their
sponsors where indicated. Confirm that an email address is present for both members, and submit the record to Rotary.
Every week, Rotary will send clubs a packet containing the names of newly-identified sponsors along with Rotary pins and backers.
Club presidents are asked to set aside time during club meetings to honor sponsors’ achievements by presenting them with their pins
and backers.
Club presidents, district governors, and district governors-elect will have access to summary reports that show an overview of all new
members and their sponsors.
If sponsors don’t want to receive recognition, they can decline the pins and backers and the other recognition components of the
program by selecting that option in the email message from Rotary that congratulates them for sponsoring new members.
Questions about this program can be directed to membershipawards@rotary.org.
1 NEW MEMBER
Blue backer
2-3 NEW MEMBERS
Bronze backer
4-5 NEW MEMBERS
Silver backer
6+ NEW MEMBERS
Gold backer
22. Clubs as on 01 Jul’14 SAR are 25 or less have to achieve and
retain 25 members as on 01 Jan’15. (Proof of payment
required) if more than one club achieve this then a draw will be
held among them to receive the highest award.
Highest induction of new members during the Rotary Year
(2014-2015) by any club of the district will get the highest
award and the deadline for that is 01 March’15. (Proof of
reporting all members to RI along with pro rata dues are
required)
(New Chartered clubs are not part of this challenge)
All the clubs with most new members will be recognized with
shields and certificates.
23. The pious man will give alms. His gifts will return
to him. Allah loves the giver. As Allah has been
generous to man, so should he be generous to his
fellow beings.
Light Up with new members, contribute to TRF &
End Polio Now.
THIS IS ROTARY!!