Membership Corner - February 10, 2014

Posted by Thomas Sturiale 
 

Annual Renewal

We are entering the annual Rotary renewal process as we conduct the Pre-PETS meetings and prepare for the PETS meetings in thousands of districts throughout the world.  It really is an exciting time as 34,000 new presidents prepare for their exciting year of stewardship.  
 
 
 
The individual Rotary Club is the heart and soul of Rotary.  Everything happens because of and by the clubs.  While the leadership transition is one of the strengths of Rotary, it is precisely that transition which demands that clubs have in place a steering committee of past presidents and president elects to help the new president. 
 
While every new leadership team wants to try new things and develop new programs, there are some fundamental efforts which should continue on a consistent basis without interruption.  Membership is certainly one of those efforts.  Developing a new approach to membership every year will lead to failure.  Every new committee has a built in startup time and we cannot afford to waste that time every year.  Every club needs a constant, continual and consistent process which transcends leadership changes.  Occasional membership drives, exhortations from the podium and other one-off efforts will not lead to continued success. 
 
Try to dedicate a few outgoing social members to the principal task of talking to prospects.  Help them by feeding them names.  You will be successful despite all the perceived and real difficulties.  Then enjoin those new folks to help you attract more like-minded individuals.  If you continue to lament the reasons no one in your community wants to join Rotary it will become a self fulfilling prophecy and no one will join.  Failure then leads to more failure.  Join with others from local clubs and share ideas and initiatives.  Talk about the barriers whatever they are - venue, meal costs, speakers, fellowship, meeting time, etc and beat them down one at a time.  Bring in that first new member and then a second one.  Success breeds success like nothing else. 
 
Tom Sturiale - Membership Chair District 7910