TIPS FOR GROWING CLUB MEMBERSHIP

I got to thinking about using his criteria to make our club even stronger. We had good programs and good projects — but our fellowship seemed lacking. Our club president decided to set our meeting time 15 minutes earlier to give members a little more time to visit with each other and our guests before the meeting started. What a difference it made! It’s truly the little things that make a difference.

People don’t usually come to a meeting unless they’re invited. We each need to make an effort to invite guests and make sure they meet other members. We all need to be on the lookout for people we think would make a difference and invite them. They could be our neighbor, our child’s teacher, or our dentist. They could even be a former Rotarian or a former exchange student. If we don’t ask, we won’t know. 

If meetings are fun and programs are worthwhile, it’s easy to please guests. They enjoy themselves and learn something at the same time. That positive experience makes them want to come back — and can be a solid first step in becoming a Rotarian.

The Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island has found success in having an orientation/information session every other month at the home of one of our members. We call these Friday evening gatherings Friends of Rotary Receptions. They are fellowship events with several members sharing their passion for Rotary while we enjoy heavy appetizers and beverages. We talk about the time and financial commitments as well as our projects so that people will make an informed decision about joining. 

In addition, we invite our community members to volunteer in our annual fundraiser and they get to know us and share in our success. We get to know them as well. Our club is growing, so something is working. Maybe it’s because we have good programs, good projects, and good fellowship. However, it might just be that we’re actively inviting people to come check us out. er