Memb Retaining Recruiting

Rotary International 11/03

Keys to Recruiting and Retaining

Members

Adapted from a presentation by Robert W. Nelson, RIMC 2002-2004


What excuses do we hear about Membership?

• Recruiting has been difficult

• Younger people don’t seem to have the time available for Rotary

• Changing economy

• Membership attrition


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.


Let’s meet our membership goals

with provenformulas...


mmeemmbbeerrsshhiipp = E+3R Extend

Recruit

Retain

Revitalize


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


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??


Recruit New Members

• Recognize the urgency of Rotary Membership

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


Retain Your Current Members

• Members are the life blood of a Rotary Club

• Your club’s most valued asset is its members

• Nurture and grow your membership!


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


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


Educate the New Member

• Most members who leave were never really Rotarians in the first place

• Up to 80% of a typical club members know very little about Rotary


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


Involve the Rotarian in:

• Club Committees

• Fund Raisers

• Board Meetings

• Club Meetings

• Club Social Activities


Assign the new club member

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


Ask the new member

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


What can be done for small clubs?

• Continue with current recruiting/retention approach?

• Merge with another club?• Give up charter and disband?

Answer: Revitalize!


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?


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 club’s best assets?• Use methods similar to new club

extension where existing nucleus is weak


mmeemmbbeerrsshhiipp = E+3R Extend

Recruit

Retain

Revitalize


Why Join Rotary?

1. The Opportunity to Serve

2. Professional Networking

3. Personal Growth and Development

4. Friendship5. Cultural Diversity


Why Join Rotary?

6. Good Citizenship

7. World Understanding

8. Entertainment.

9. Family Foundations

10. Ethical Environment


When Thomas Edison invented the

light bulb, he tried over 2000 experiments before he got it to work...


“I never failed once.It just happened to be a 2000-step process.” - Thomas Edison


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


Light up your club with new members!


Additional resources are available at www.rotary.org

Memb Retaining Recruiting

Business

Transcript of Memb Retaining Recruiting