Our District Governor, Russ Michaletz, aka “Retention Russ” will share his District 5950 theme of “Enhancing the Value of Rotary Membership” at our club meeting.  At the heart of his theme is his belief to continue to live up to our motto of Service Above Self, Rotary must grow. This growth will come from focusing on the needs of our current and prospective members and requires us to substantially change the way we conduct our business.
 
Click "Read More" to on how District Governor Michaletz plans to help support change. 
 
Members join Rotary for many different reasons. We must understand the purpose and goals of their membership and respond with programs and structures that respond to their varying needs. We can no longer ask them to live with membership as we defined it in the past.
 
I believe in experimentation and will actively support new club formats like satellite clubs, passport clubs, more Rotaract and Interact clubs, and the change management activities required to make clubs more attractive.
 
We will be able to do more good in the world with more members. Retention of existing and new members is the key to Rotary’s growth.
 
As your District Governor, I promise to be a change agent, and help your club adapt to the needs of your customers: Your Members. There is no club in our District that doesn’t have a retention challenge. I may make some members uncomfortable. I may make radical suggestions. But progress and growth never comes from complacency without some stress.
 
My goal as your District Governor, with the help of my Assistant Governors and other district leaders, is to help your club president maximize the value they can bring to club members through focus and change. We will start by (1) understanding what brings value to your club’s current and prospective members, (2) promise that value to them, and (3) work together to execute on strategies that will “Enhance the Value of Rotary Membership.
 
As a strong and growing organization, we will then be able to live up to our motto: Service Above Self