President Beth called the meeting to order promptly at 12:30. Past president Jimmy Collins led the day’s song, “This Land is Your Land” accompanied by Freeman Fong on the piano and followed by Joel Paget with the day’s inspiration. Joe Phillips introduced our newest Seattle #4 Rotarian, Brad Barber, Web Producer, City of Seattle. Executive Director Caroline exhibited her production prowess with another innovative video showcasing Rotarian anniversaries.
John Steckler and Nicole Klein now co-chair the club’s membership recruitment efforts. We are committed to “re-growing” Rotary with membership tools that Rotarians can use to introduce Rotary to relatives, friends, and colleagues. All Seattle #4 members will be receiving a letter describing incentives for bringing a prospective member to one of our lunches.
Survey respondents say barriers to joining a club include “no one asked or invited us” to a meeting. Who do you know that would be a great fit for Rotary #4? John and Nicole asked Rotarians to “step up” to extend an invitation to someone you think would be a good fit for Seattle #4.
It was all about the value of Rotary today, and how we as Rotarians are the best source of new member recruits. New members bring new ideas, grow our breadth of community volunteer service, and contribute to support the work of our two foundations. (Seattle Rotary #4 Foundation AND Rotary International Foundation).
Past Seattle #4 President and Past District Governor, Cathy Gibson introduced District 5030 Governor -elect Kaj Pedersen to describe his vision for “Redefining the Value of Rotary”.
He began with an analogy between the value of a coral reef, and the value of Rotary membership. Sanctuary reefs are an eco-system that delivers benefits to 800 species that live and thrive in them. Similarly, Rotary is an eco-system of committed professional leaders connecting for good. “With an aging demographic. We need to embrace new ideas to engage younger people,” he said. “Our coral reef is struggling”. He envisions a “new-eco-system of opportunity to create a new coral reef and reach out to a broader audience”.
When you discover you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount
Research says people are looking for meaning. What are employees looking for? Meaning and purpose. He characterized Rotary as a “Philanthropy in a Box” …. “We are drawing information from the data, but starving for wisdom,” he said.
“The story of Rotary will have to told and written again and again,” he said, “and we have a great story from malaria and polio eradication work to hundreds of grants for local projects.”
Zambia-born Pedersen is a veteran software executive who knows how new ways of reaching people can have a profound impact on Rotary membership development. Seattle #4 is a district leader effectively using online tools for member communications to promote the mission of rotary, membership, and raise funds needed to fuel good works.
He laid out a set of district strategic imperatives that he said were transformative and innovative: Expand the Rotary brand, engage the community, grow membership, embrace legacy philanthropy in a box. He concluded by encouraging Rotarians to embrace diverse audiences with dignity, respect and inclusion.
He laid out a set of district strategic imperatives that he said were transformative and innovative: Expand the Rotary brand, engage the community, grow membership, embrace legacy philanthropy in a box. He concluded by encouraging Rotarians to embrace diverse audiences with dignity, respect and inclusion.
Thank you to Pete Delaunay for this week's meeting report!