DG Denis Boyd - Rotary Awareness Month
Rotary Awareness Month
Pope Francis recently stated that churches will not increase their members hip by proselytizing, but rather by “attracting.” In other words, it is more
influential to “walk the talk” rather than “talk the talk.”
January is “Rotary Awareness Month” and a reminder for us to bring a guest to a club meeting. When a friend or colleague joins us for breakfast,
lunch or dinner, he or she will have a chance to experience our club. The interest in becoming a Rotarian, however, will only come about if our visitors are attracted by what they see.
There are four points to keep in mind.
I have shared with you that “hospitality” was a key trait of the successful clubs we visited during the fall. I can predict that a visitor to your club will first be impressed with how welcoming each club member is and how much effort is put into making this guest feel at home.
The format and content of the meeting also makes an impression on a visitor. I have continually been impressed with the amount of information that is shared during a meeting. Quick updates inform members of events and projects and invite participation. A successful meeting is chaired in such a way that the guest speaker has the full time allotted for his or her presentation.
The third “attraction” component is humor. Laughter is common at any Rotary meeting. Some clubs like to have a Joke of the week; others rely on situational humor. Note that a visitor might be offended by sexist or crude humor.
The fourth key to attracting potential members is “Engagement.” A visitor can’t help but be impressed if club members get their hands dirty in local and international service projects. Nothing touches a heart more quickly than a need being met, a challenge being overcome or a group reaching out to improve the lives of others.
Our membership will only grow when we impress others with our warmth, efficiency, respect, humor and elbow grease.
Denis Boyd