DG Kevin's April Message

For many years, clubs have been asked to grow by increasing their retention of current members and bringing in new members.  Those two goals continue to be important.  However, I’d like you to also think beyond your own club.  Think about what you can do to add to the number of Rotarians in all of the clubs in your area – or any area of our District (including our e-club).

 

When I was invited to join Rotary by Paul McAfee, he invited me to visit his club; but he didn’t stop there.  He introduced me to several other clubs and encouraged me to find the club that best fit my schedule and location. Above all, he was interested in bringing me into Rotary – regardless of which club I joined.  Over the years, I have taken the same approach with people that I’ve recruited into Rotary.

 

When talking to a prospective member, I begin with the reasons I like Rotary and how I think Rotary might be rewarding for them.  Then, I describe the various locations and meeting times for clubs in the area and offer to accompany the prospect if they would like to visit a few clubs in order to find the best fit. Of course, I promote the joys of belonging to my club, but my ultimate goal is to find the club that works best for the recruit.

 

So, the next time you talk to friends or associates about joining Rotary, in addition to promoting your own club, let them know that there are other options if your club doesn’t work for them in terms of meeting time or location. If we all start referring members to other clubs when our own club isn’t the best fit, every club should benefit. Most of all, Rotary and the communities we serve will be the biggest beneficiaries as we increase the number of Rotarians.