Bulletin 19 March 2019 (Mar 23, 2019)

Ian Cairns called the meeting to order with Alan Bowes proposing the Invocation and Loyal Toast.

President Michael Boyd welcomed all present and our guests this evening;

Frank Monger (Mount Gambier West Rotary Club), who kindly set up early and took individual photos of Rotarians and Club photo.
Yanick & Leah

Member Guests

Pauline Leppard
Rhonda Bennett

President Michael continued with the meeting introduction;

Thanks to Frank and all of you for being part of our Club photos, several years since we did this and time to update some photos in Club Runner.
Tonight, we will hear back from our membership survey review committee to confirm that we have done what we said we would do following our survey earlier in the year. Brian Trenery, our Membership Director will lead the discussion. I encourage everyone to put on your thinking hats during this session, our Club supports the community but is also designed to support members.
Don’t forget the volunteer’s book, fill out any volunteer time and pass around. Record anything you do for Rotary, other than meetings.
Fundraising movie night for “DIK” on 21^st March – tickets from Yanick, for the ‘Green Book’, I can personally recommend the movie, well worth seeing.
Don’t forget the Bunnings BBQ 31^st March and Fashion Parade 7^th April.
Port Fairy Golf Day on Tuesday 26^th April, we need at least one team from our Club (starters?), 4 players for Ambrose competition (one good golfer and 3 high handicappers). Might have to make this a makeup dinner (as dinner is at 6pm).
Several members attended a working fee last night for ‘Days for Girls Project’, some not here tonight.
Proposal for the next stage regarding Rotary House, a meeting of those involved after the close of tonight’s meeting.
Bunny thanked everyone for their enquiries after her health and best wishes.

Members’ Announcements

Ian – ‘Father of the Year’ (FOTY) looking for volunteers to join the Committee. We meet once a month, planning starts early over a morning coffee, everything runs like a well-oiled machine.
Tony - working bee last night, sanitary products for girls in PNG; Ann, Barb, Svet, Gerry, Judy & Phillip, Jenny & Brian, Dianne Hawker, Joan & myself. Next week putting packs together for the container which is due to leave in 3 weeks. Need volunteers to assist at the Allan Lane Pavillion next Monday 25/3 at 6:00pm.
- Bunnings BBQ on March 31^st, shifts have been allocated, thank you.
- Asked by No 1 Caravan Park to provide BBQ breakfast (eggs & bacon etc.) for the May Race Carnival on Tuesday April 30^th, Wednesday May 1^st and Thursday May 2^nd. Supply food and workforce for the 3 mornings 7.30 – 9.30am. 100 cabins booked in Park, this could be better than that as the Park is full over 100 cabins and sites combined.
- Raffle tickets for the fashion parade, committee would like everyone to take one raffle book please. Names will be signed off when the raffle book is issued.
Judy - Report on Rotary Friendship Exchange 550, a group of 10 with 4 couples and two singles. Thank you to hosts; Brian & Jenny, Robbie, Anne Adams, Steve & Louise, Judy & Phillip, Delia with support from Lou & Shane, Michael & Sharon and Andrea. Backup drivers; Glenn and Marion, Keith and Rach.

Return exchange in August 14^th – 28^th, application forms should be out now.

Frank Monger photos taken tonight are for Club runner purposes, purchasing a Club photo is available @ $20 ea for those interested. I will be back here again next Tuesday night.

Ian – no fines session tonight

Swindle has jackpotted to $299, lucky winner CONGRATULATIONS Pauline Leppard. Robbie donated a travel discount voucher to the value of $100 from ITalk travel, for travel $2k to be booked within the year for a $100 discount. Tonight, available for a small donation.

Ann – ‘Girl Tok’ last Sunday February 17^th a working bee finished enough shields for 100 kits so far. Thank you to Tony, Svet, Andrea, Judy, Lily, Hayley & Ann.

Tonight’s Chair is Brian Trenery – Feedback from Members Survey

In March Member’s attending the weekly meeting were asked to complete the survey on the night and those unable to attend, were sent the survey via e-mail and asked to return the completed survey to the Membership Director.

27 out of 40 members completed the survey.
Recruitment of younger members may need to come from those still in the workforce.
Membership is crucial to all activities
It is difficult to make connections outside the club when one is retired or in the “aging” population of the club.
Recruitment of new members would be less taxing if everyone was involved.
Service Committee meeting should begin at the start of the weekly meeting
Guest speakers should be given adequate and appropriate time to present their session
Don’t need a speaker every night
There are more humanitarian projects but there is a lack of “project champions.”
No real issues around communication within the club

Recommendations:

1: Those members who require a vegetarian meal should be permanently listed on the attendance list as requiring a vegetarian meal. Should they apologise for not attending a meeting, that vegetarian meal should then be deducted for the catering order.

2: On the night committee meetings are scheduled, all committee members should be seated together so business can be conducted throughout the entire evening. Standing orders of the night should be suspended apart from the welcome and introductions.

3: Guest speakers to be contacted by the chairperson at least one week prior to the engagement to introduce themselves, to gather information the speaker might need on the night, (length of time for presentation, computer needs, time and place of venue, special needs of diet and procedure of the meeting etc).

4: That a special night be set aside to address the membership issue. Format to include a short presentation from the results of the survey, then a panel discussion involving interaction of Board members and general membership.

Three long serving Rotary Members gave reflections on membership from their experience in Rotary

Tony – when I reflect on my history, in late ‘80s & ‘90s a well equipped rowing Club existed in Dennington - Nestles Ladies Rowing Club, however not utilised. The driving force of the Club explained, as a group, all of us; we socialised, did everything together but did not recruit. The core group moves on and dissolves if not recruiting.

Younger people need to be recruited or we run the risk of ending up the same as the Nestles Ladies Rowing Club, we need an injection of younger people.

Mal - most important thing “MEMBERSHIP” is succeeding, the fact is we have it on everyone’s lips and followed up again each week.

In engaging new members, we have no preconceived ideas of what a Rotarian is classified as, and question what about if I get knocked back, will they think I am a nuisance? Is the Club good enough for the member, do we do enough to engage the new members? Could the Rotary Club provide worthwhile opportunities for our members? Opportunity is what we make of it!

Are they too busy to join Rotary, we are all busy! Let the potential member decide if Rotary is for them.

Richard – 39 years in Rotary, seen the ebbs and flows of membership in the Club. Membership is a perennial question, Rotary is a very strong service club, look at classifications; law, doctors, accounting, ask these people if they are interested in Rotary. If you ask enough people and put out the right questions you may get a new prospective member. For us in our 90^th year next year, we want to grow and mindful when looking for younger members that is not too expensive for members.

The Club is in good hands!

Brian in concluding asked for questions / feedback from the audience.

Three really thoughtful presentations, very respectfully ‘I’ would like to make a point; there have been three women Past Presidents, President elect designate a woman, our Secretaries are women. Women’s opinion in the club matter, the language used, and words matter.
Mentoring program could inform a new member of the ‘nuts and bolts’, retention of the members that we have. Members who drop off, ask them why they are dropping off? Exit interview is not normally conducted, unless we know these things we are not informed for the future?
Not just one aspect will gain new members, how we project ourselves in the community and how we are perceived by the community. If can project ourselves in the community in a positive light and highlight our achievements; Polio PLUS, PNG story, communicating when we have the opportunity on what we do.
Are we meeting the needs of today’s world, member’s with children, meeting the needs of a family? Should the children of family members have to pay? Don’t think it is about hunting out or seeking new members, it is all the ingredients in making a cake, all the ingredients apply.
Cannot rely on young members. We are a 50+ Club. The Club is going OK, I see hands go up when asked for assistance. 50 members is a good club, how many clubs could boast at having 50 members?

Closing remarks from our President Michael, we cannot rest on our laurels … membership recruitment / membership retention.

Leah & Yanick are organising the movie night, looking for your support, proceeds going towards Conference this weekend, tickets will be available at the door.
Congratulations to Judy and her team in putting the program together for Rotary Exchange.
Next Monday night putting the packs together for the PNG Project.
Tickets for the Fashion Parade available
Race Week BBQ

Next week:

Fellowship: George McLeod

Attendance: Brian Trenery / Delia Jenkins

Properties: Glenn Brotchie, Paul Forbes

Invocation/Loyal Toast: Duncan Stalker

Fines: John Hunt

Chair: Ian Sharman

Reporter: Svet Lineham

Guest Speaker – Young Achievers’ awardees, chaired by Rachel Furnell

Thought for the week:

Having friends is like peeing your pants. Everyone can see it but you’re the only one to feel the warmth it brings.