District Membership Team

A Fresh Approach to Membership – Rotary is a Resource

Give your members a meaningful Rotary experience by offering them opportunities to make a positive difference in their communities and connect with others. Through valuable friendships and fellowship, Rotary can be a resource for people of all ages, faiths, and origins, to take sizable action in their community and around the world to make it a better place.

Resources to help your club take a fresh approach:

• Rotary Club Health Check — Identify your club’s problem areas and make changes to help it stay relevant for members and the community.
• Strengthening Your Membership — Develop a long-term strategy for strengthening your club’s membership.
• Introducing New Members to Rotary: An Orientation Guide — Find ideas for engaging new members, getting them involved, and giving them a meaningful Rotary experience.
• Membership Assessment Tools — Analyze your member profile to identify prospective members and diversify your membership.
• Connect for Good — Encourage members to get involved for a more meaningful Rotary experience.
• Connect to Membership Leads — Find prospective members who want to get involved.
• Rotary Basics — Give this comprehensive overview to new members or order for club reference.
• Club Planning Assistant – Answer questions about your club to get specific advice to address your club’s challenges. Then build the suggested strategies into your club’s membership plan.

Engaging current members matters

Work hard to deliver an experience that will keep members excited about Rotary. Successful strategies include:

• Regularly recognizing members for their achievements
• Keeping members involved in club projects and activities in the community
• Encouraging members to take on leadership roles
• Reach out personally to members who have been absent
• Sending monthly email updates
• Asking members for their feedback using the Member Satisfaction Survey (An online version of the Member Satisfaction Survey is available by contacting Kathy Hughitt.)

Find new members who want to make an impact

The top two reasons people join Rotary are to meet new people and to get involved in their communities. Many of the non-Rotarians you know are looking for a resource to make an impact. Invite them to help with a service project, attend a networking night, or participate in a club gathering so they can see for themselves how Rotary connects leaders to make positive change.

• Consider these potential candidates for membership:
• Friends and family members
• Business and professional acquaintances
• Chamber of Commerce advocates, members, and network event attendees
• Younger community leaders who are already connected to Rotary through Rotaract, RYLA, peace fellowships, Youth Exchange, and other programs

Don’t forget to check your online membership regularly leads for prospective members. Creating a Positive Experience for Prospective Members offers tips and advice to help turn your leads into members.

Use social media to attract members

Is your club on Facebook? Is your website up-to-date? Are you sharing information about your club’s activities and projects with your community? An active social media presence can attract new members and inspire current ones.

Share information about Rotary

You can explain the benefits of joining your club by hosting an information session for potential and new members. Find ideas, along with sample formats, resources, and worksheets in Introducing New Members to Rotary: An Orientation Guide. Finally, be sure to give them a copy of Rotary Basics.

Prospective member information session

Invite club members to describe their experiences, talk about your club’s service projects and social activities, and give an overview of Rotary. Share the Welcome to Rotary video with prospective members.

New member orientation

Build new member’s understanding of Rotary by hosting a series of information sessions. Suggested topics include Rotary history, opportunities for service, and The Rotary Foundation. Membership Orientation Presentation template.

Our District Team is Here to Help

Members of District 5960 are available to consult with your club and its leaders on membership issues. We can provide a speaker on membership for one of your meetings or a team to consult one-on-one with your club’s leaders. To arrange a visit or for more information about how the District 5960 Membership Team can help, please contact Ken Crabb or David Connelly.