1.Keys to Recruiting and Retaining Members Adapted from a presentationby Robert W. Nelson, RIMC 2002-2004

2. What excuses do we hear about Membership?

Recruiting has been difficult

Younger people dont seem to have the time available for Rotary

Changing economy

Membership attrition

3. Recruitment and Retention

In business we spend a significant effort in recruiting and inducting new staff members

We also invest a lot of time and effort in recruiting new customers.

4. Lets meet our membership goals with proven formulas... 5.

=E+3R

E xtend

R ecruit

R etain

R evitalize

m e m b e r s h i p 6. Extend: Form New Clubs

Opportunity for more people to participate in Rotary by offering more options in your community:

• Time of day

• Day of Week

• Location

• Club Size

• Open Classifications

7. Recruit New Members

Set a challenging goal for your club:

• How do you feel when you see a low or no growth goal?

• Do you feel energized and really challenged?

• How about a goal of 3%? 6%? 9%? 12% 15% more??

8. Recruit New Members

Recognize the urgency of Rotary Membership

Utilize pre-induction orientation gatherings to brief entire family before induction

9. Retain Your Current Members

Members are the life blood of a Rotary Club

Your clubs most valued asset isits members

Nurture and grow your membership!

10. Orient the new member properly

Member and spouse if possible

Evening of Rotary orientation

• Club History and Projects

• Four Avenues of Service

• Rotary International

• The Rotary Foundation

11. Induct new members properly

Significant ceremony with spouse

Provide (options)

• Four Way Test

• Object of Rotary

• Rotary Basic Library

• Certificate of Membership

• Pin, Badge, Banner

• Publications

12. Educate the New Member

Most members who leave were never really Rotarians in thefirst place

Up to 80% of a typical club members know very littleabout Rotary

13. Educate the New Member

Rotary program once a month

Good Rotary speakers

Slides and videos about Rotary

Ambassadorial Scholars, youth exchanges, RYLA participants, GSE, Rotaract, Interact

14. Involve the Rotarian in:

Club Committees

Fund Raisers

Board Meetings

Club Meetings

Club Social Activities

15. Assign the new club member

As a delegate to the district conference and have them report to the club

16. Ask the new member

To find two or three other new members from among his/her peer group

17. What can be done for small clubs?

Continue with current recruiting/retention approach?

Merge with another club?

Give up charter and disband?

Answer:Revitalize!

18. Revitalize a small club

Evaluate current logistics

Draw up a demographic profile

Compile a classification survey listing business and professional activities in your community

Are you making full use of all types of membership?

19. Revitalize a small club

Invigorate programs and activities

• focus on service projects that make a vital contribution to the community

• establish good working relationships with the local media

What are your clubs best assets?

Use methods similar to new club extension where existing nucleusis weak

20.

=E+3R

E xtend

R ecruit

R etain

R evitalize

m e m b e r s h i p 21. Why Join Rotary?

The Opportunity to Serve

Professional Networking

Personal Growth and Development

Friendship

Cultural Diversity

22. Why Join Rotary?

Good Citizenship

World Understanding

Entertainment .

Family Foundations

Ethical Environment

23. When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he tried over2000experiments before he got it to work... 24. I never failed once. It just happened to be a 2000-step process.- Thomas Edison 25. An example of leadership Edison NJ USA Rotary Club

July 1997:

18 members

November 1998:

58 members

Sponsored a Rotaract Club

Sponsored Seven Interact Clubs

26. Light up your club with new members! 27. Additional resources are available at www.rotary.org