FROM OUR DISTRICT GOVERNOR
Posted by Marilyn Blackhall
A LETTER FROM ALISTAIR PATERSON, OUR DISTRICT GOVERNOR!!!
Dear Rotarians,
With vacations, kids at home and family times being priority since change overs the start of the year has more than likely been quiet and steady. It may also have been frustrating for many Club Officers who have been impatient to get started on their year. A quiet well organized start with a steady regular but busy programme throughout the year is probably better than a hectic start fizzling out towards the end. At the end of a consistent, well organized and steady year the officers will more than likely wish they could have had another year at the end and more Rotarians will be inclined to become involved in the future !
August is Membership Development month and without this emphasis and the effort of every Rotarian, Rotary simply will not be able to grow and develop it's programmes territorially or worldwide. Every Rotarian knows someone who is qualified and suitable to become a Rotarian! Invite guests to a meeting and show them the great community and international programmes you participate in. Show them the fun you can have in 'Service Above Self'. This year all that is being asked internationally is to end the year with a net increase of 1 new member. We at District would like to achieve a net increase of 2 or more new members and whilst we appreciate that this is often difficult for smaller rural Clubs, we hope that larger more urban Clubs can have higher aspirations. When considering new members we ask the Clubs to be creative, particularly with classifications. Find the potential Rotarian and create the classification! We ask Clubs to expand the envelope and look beyond their traditional criteria particularly with age and gender. As noted the membership target is a net target and this can be also be achieved by reducing the number of Rotarians falling by the wayside during the year. Work towards a higher retention with good Club projects and programmes, encouraging participation, make ups and perhaps being more creative with make ups to improve attendance.
My last note this month is that one of the exciting developments in our District that has taken place so far in this new year is the increased awareness of training and education. We have almost fifty Rotarians from District attending training in Fort Lauderdale at the end of August and for the first time we are holding a training day in St. Thomas for all of the territories in the eastern part of our District. We hope that another can be held in the western area later in the year. Education, back to basics and training is all part of Rotary life and an important part of why we join and continue to provide community service. By providing regular education to the Club members to have them become more aware of Rotary generally and their Club in particular will also assist in membership retention and development.
DGN Rupert Ross from St. Croix is our District membership guru and he has a great team of dedicated assistants throughout the District, starting with the Assistant Governors, to assist you all with any membership issue. PDG Barry Rassin and his team of trainers and educators can also provide support in our efforts to have Rotary grow in our District to enable us to 'Lead the Way' in our community efforts.
Yours in Rotary,
Alastair
With vacations, kids at home and family times being priority since change overs the start of the year has more than likely been quiet and steady. It may also have been frustrating for many Club Officers who have been impatient to get started on their year. A quiet well organized start with a steady regular but busy programme throughout the year is probably better than a hectic start fizzling out towards the end. At the end of a consistent, well organized and steady year the officers will more than likely wish they could have had another year at the end and more Rotarians will be inclined to become involved in the future !
August is Membership Development month and without this emphasis and the effort of every Rotarian, Rotary simply will not be able to grow and develop it's programmes territorially or worldwide. Every Rotarian knows someone who is qualified and suitable to become a Rotarian! Invite guests to a meeting and show them the great community and international programmes you participate in. Show them the fun you can have in 'Service Above Self'. This year all that is being asked internationally is to end the year with a net increase of 1 new member. We at District would like to achieve a net increase of 2 or more new members and whilst we appreciate that this is often difficult for smaller rural Clubs, we hope that larger more urban Clubs can have higher aspirations. When considering new members we ask the Clubs to be creative, particularly with classifications. Find the potential Rotarian and create the classification! We ask Clubs to expand the envelope and look beyond their traditional criteria particularly with age and gender. As noted the membership target is a net target and this can be also be achieved by reducing the number of Rotarians falling by the wayside during the year. Work towards a higher retention with good Club projects and programmes, encouraging participation, make ups and perhaps being more creative with make ups to improve attendance.
My last note this month is that one of the exciting developments in our District that has taken place so far in this new year is the increased awareness of training and education. We have almost fifty Rotarians from District attending training in Fort Lauderdale at the end of August and for the first time we are holding a training day in St. Thomas for all of the territories in the eastern part of our District. We hope that another can be held in the western area later in the year. Education, back to basics and training is all part of Rotary life and an important part of why we join and continue to provide community service. By providing regular education to the Club members to have them become more aware of Rotary generally and their Club in particular will also assist in membership retention and development.
DGN Rupert Ross from St. Croix is our District membership guru and he has a great team of dedicated assistants throughout the District, starting with the Assistant Governors, to assist you all with any membership issue. PDG Barry Rassin and his team of trainers and educators can also provide support in our efforts to have Rotary grow in our District to enable us to 'Lead the Way' in our community efforts.
Yours in Rotary,
Alastair