In the “Opinion” of a Past District Governor, Rotary shall live or die with “Membership”!
Each year, Rotary International declares the month of August as “Membership and Extension Month”; 30 days when Rotarians are encouraged to pay additional attention to the subject of membership. Many documents on the subject will be newly prepared or resurrected for us to view and hopefully become inspired to rush out and find folks waiting in our path to be invited to join us in Rotary. This phenomenon has yet to be experienced by me in any case!
Rotary’s membership statistics are a bit alarming. Internationally, we sit at 1,227,563 Rotarians in 34,103 Rotary clubs with 196,000 being women. These numbers have not significantly changed over the past 10 years.
So ……………., what do we do? Whose responsibility is it to attract and invite folks to join Rotary?
This is my “Opinion” and “to do” list that may make a positive difference in membership:
Is the culture of my club friendly & welcoming to each other every week, particularly to strangers and will I be proud to introduce it to a guest? If not, speak to members about your concerns and solicit their help. Every guest, speaker and non-Rotarian entering our club’s door is a potential new member!
What is my club involved with that will be of interest to my invited guest?
Does my club have an “active” Membership Committee of more than one Rotarian, meeting monthly who keeps membership matters top-of-mind among members monthly? RI’s Membership & Extension month of August is good however, if we are serious about increasing membership, our focus needs to be every month of the year.
Membership retention and growth requires the attention of the club leadership, however it is also the responsibility of each Rotarian.
It is simply a matter of “ask, ask, ask”. As in any sales process be mindful that people will, by nature, lean toward automatically responding with a “no” answer. They can hardly wait for us to stop speaking so they can do that. So….. we must phase our question so that we get a “no” answer. “Would you have any objection to accompanying me to my Rotary meeting? “No!” “Great we meet on Monday noon; I’ll pick you up at 11:30.”
Well, these are my ramblings and my “Opinion” about membership. In conclusion, success in growing our organization is the responsibility of each one of us; “If it is to be, it is up to me!”
Membership Video by past R.I. President Ron Burton
August MMM
On Tuesday August 9th P.P. Christine Mathews hosted her MMM (Monthly Mentoring Meeting). It happened to also be a significant birthday for her that same day.
As well as a large contingent of Rotaractors, nine Rotarians attended the evening event that featured nurse Kathy Corley who gave us valuable information for emergency situations. Nurse Corley is a Canadian who has thirty years experience in her field. She works at Seven Mile Clinic.
PP Christine serves her usual tastey buffet
Nurse Corley describes what a well-stocked emergency kit looks like.
Rotary Why Join?
Submitted by Stacy Parke, Membership Director
We all join Rotary for several reasons, however, the top two reasons are getting involved in their communities and to meet new people. Many of our friends, colleagues and family are looking for the same things. So what about inviting them to help with one of our service projects, attend a social function or attend one of our Wednesday meetings and let them see for themselves how Rotary attempts to make positive change in our community and the world at large.
Here are some potential candidates to consider for membership:
Friends and family members
Business and professional acquaintances
Younger community leaders who are already connected to Rotary through Rotaract
Are you on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, snapchat etc? Then why not use social media to attract members and share information about Rotary Sunrise. If we promote positive images on our social media pages it will also encourage our friends/ followers to ask questions about how to become involved.
August is Membership Month in Rotary, and this year it is also 'Bring a Friend'
Month in all Districts in Zones 33/34 - Southeast USA and the Caribbean. Therefore, Rotarians are encouraged to bring guests and/or potential members to our meetings.
When a Member brings a guest to a Meeting or Service Project during the month of August they fill out a form and place in a box for a draw at the end of the month. The winning Member and their guest will win 2 free breakfasts each in their name for a future meeting at GTYC!
Our website homepage has an easy link for anyone to access to gain more information on how to become a new member and the process involved. Remember, as Rotarians we all have a duty to share Rotary.
Mentoring
This month on August 9th PP Christine will host what she is calling Mentorship 911. Kathy Corley, RN will advise us how to react to an emergency situation in what is expected to be a fun, learning experience.
Save Your Clothes For Guaruma
Once again our Club's International Committee is organising a trip to Guaruma and need your help. Both medical and non-medical personnel will be leaving for the weekend of September 9th, returning the 12th, and this time visiting two towns: Las Mangas and El Pital. They are asking for things that you may have in your home that to parents and children in Honduras, are beyond their ability to purchase. Please have a look at the list and consider donating.
LAS MANGAS
El PITAL
age
girls
boys
TOTAL
6-9 month
15
10
25
1-4 years old
15
20
35
5-10 years old
20
30
50
11-15 years old
20
20
40
15-20 years old
25
20
45
STAFF GUARUMA
3 boys 21—25 years old
2 girls 25---28 years old
Ps. Women in both commuties are around 30-35 years old..around 40 ladies
August 17th Duty Roster
Greeter: J.D. Mosley --Matchette
Raffle: Claude Myles
4 Way Test: Dale Nickason
Grace: Barbara Oosterwyk
Meeting Make-Up Information
Make-ups: In addition to make-up opportunities at Rotary Sunrise, you can make up absences at another Club in Grand Cayman. The meeting times and places for the other Clubs are:
Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Central:
Meets Tuesday's at the George Town Yacht Club restaurant at 7pm for a 7:30pm start.
Rotaract Blue:
Wednesdays 6:00 pm at Royal Palms Beach Club Restaurant.
Rotaract Club of Grand Cayman: Thursdays 7 a.m. at Georgetown Yacht Club
Rotary Club of Grand Cayman: Thursdays 12:15 for 12:30pm, The Westin hotel ballroom.
Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean 7020: Online meetings anytime. Visit the new e-club platform at
If members are unable to make a regular weekly meeting or Rotary event, make-ups can be done online. The e-Club website is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You just need to spend a minimum of 30 minutes on the site and answer some questions to get the make up certificate.
Traveling: If you are going to be traveling for an extended period of time (more than two weeks), be sure to let the Secretary know and remember to submit any make-ups you do in a timely manner.
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Why Join?
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Make-ups: In addition to make-up opportunities at Rotary Sunrise, you can make up absences at another Club in Grand Cayman. The meeting times and places for the other Clubs are: