Posted by Joyce Palmquist on Sep 18, 2018

Talei Thompson, Coach, Teacher & Speaker  

 
 
Talei Thompson was our speaker for the day. He is a member of the Maywood Proviso Rotary Club. They have more than doubled their membership over an 18 month period, from 22 to 48 members. Two of their members do not live in their community, but are virtual members who attend via live streaming.
He shared some of his thoughts on how to revitalize and grow Rotary at a local level.
 
  1. Have remarkable speakers and programs. He gave some examples of dynamic speakers they have had.
  2. Use live streaming. He heard an incredible District Governors presentation by a Rotarian who is out of state. He was able to use Zoom to have the person present to his club.
  3. Consider holding evening meetings. His club has an evening meeting once a month on Friday at the TGIF in Oak Park.
  4. Use the law of explosive growth. A concept he learned from Dr. John Maxwell. Strategically recruit a leader of influence. If a person truly has influence after learning about Rotary, they will share with others they know and encourage them to attend and join. If they invite 7 people, maybe 4 will join.
He then shared a story about his grandmother and how she taught him the importance of character and hard work. These are essential characteristics of a strong leader.