DG Doug's Notes
The Promise of Rotary
.jpg)
Exploring ways to counter a decrease in membership in North America was one of the main themes ...
... as Rotarians from Canada, Russia, the Northeast and parts of New York and New Jersey gathered September 17-22, 2013 in Cherry Hill, N J for the Rotary Institute Leadership Forum for Zones 24 and 32. Discovering ways to engage Rotarians and increase membership and support for The Rotary Foundation were highlights of the three-day conference.
In speaking to the assembled Rotarians, Mike McGovern, vice chair and trustee of The Rotary Foundation, noted that 1994 was the peak year for Rotary membership in North America. Since then there has been a 20% decrease in membership in the United States and a 17.2% decrease in Canada. “Rotary clubs are ‘gerontology’ challenged,” McGovern said. “If you sing songs that were written before anyone was born you’re sending the wrong message. The generation that grew Rotary into the international service organization it is today must now provide for the next generation.” McGovern challenged Rotarians by asking what they are doing to “pass the torch”. “The younger generation doesn’t like the word “club” especially when all they do is emphasize perfect attendance. It is the wrong message. If someone hasn’t been attending meetings we should pick up the phone and find out why. We should be talking to our members and potential members about the opportunities to give back through Rotary. Strengthen the meaning of Rotary so it is worthy of someone’s time and passion,” McGovern said.
“The future of Rotary is in our leaders and those who want to lead,” McGovern continued. “We should also be concerned about the cost of being a member of Rotary—the membership dues and the charge for weekly meals could deter some from joining. Let your newer members develop a project that will engage them in Rotary so they can learn what they can accomplish as a Rotarian. “The promise of Rotary is not about the past, it is about the future,” McGovern noted. “Believe in what we do and do what we believe in. The challenge today is trying to do what we believe in. The promise of Rotary depends on all of us.”
District Governor Doug Detweiler, District Governor elect Val Callahan, District Governor nominee Jim Fusco, and past district governors Carol Toomey and Tom Polito represented District 7910 at the Institute. The packed schedule included seven plenary sessions with Rotary International President Ron Burton as a featured speaker. There were break-out sessions on membership development, polio plus, The Rotary Foundation, social media, youth programs, and branding. And of course plenty of time for fellowship and exchanging ideas on what works in Rotary.
PDG Carol Toomey led the effort to create a “Promise Quilt” from squares each district created and brought to the Institute. The quilt will be assembled and displayed at next year’s Zone Institute in Toronto, Canada. As part of the effort, Rotarians were asked to bring quilts to donate to needy causes, and three handmade quilts, as well as Rotary theme ties and scarves signed by Ron Burton, were raffled off generating $30,000 for Polio Plus.
-Ingrid Detweiler
