3 Tips on Membership retention

From the website of RI Zones 21b and 27

 

We make Retention a mystery and hard to achieve.  The truth is it is simple.  Every new member needs three (3) things:

 

1. A friend in Rotary to whom he can constantly turn, who will walk beside him, who will answer his questions, who will understand his problems. 

 

2. An assignment.  Activity is the genius of Rotary.  It is the process by which we grow like the muscle of my arm.  If I use them, they grow stronger.  If I put them in a sling, they become weaker.  Every member deserves a responsibility.  The Club President may feel that the new member is not qualified for responsibility.  Take a chance on him.  Think of the risk Rotary and your Club took when they elected you.  An assignment should be given the day they join.  Any later and you will lose them.   Of course, the new members will not know everything.  They likely will make some mistakes.  So what?  We all make mistakes.  The important thing is the growth that will come of activity.  They will have the fellowship of the other members.  They will become one of a vast body of Rotarians throughout the world, men and women of integrity and faith who love Rotary and seek to move forward this work. 

 

3. Every new member must be “nourished by the concepts of Rotary.”  They need to understand what it is when we say Service Above Self.  Hold fireside chats for new Members.