There are no short cuts...
I have been in Rotary for almost 30 years. I lost a club because people had crazy ideas about membership. I do not plan to lose another one.
I do not mind helping start another club. I have done it in the past and it is quite satisfying. As long as it does not diminish our own club.
Let me try to focus your attention on what I think it is important.Time and time again Rotary International has conducted surveys of members. The only constant on all these surveys is the main reasons people join a club. They join for service to their communities and camaraderie.
At a certain stage in life people realize that a) they have the time, b) they have the means, and c) they could use some more friends. Prior to that moment family and work occupy most of their time and resources.
All service organizations require three things: good ideas to serve their causes, manpower to execute them, and funding. There are no shortcuts. People may be content executing somebody else’s ideas. They may work in some projects that satisfy their inclinations. They may provide funds or help raise them to pay for the projects. But the organization cannot do without all three.
Rotary, like any other organization, is not for everyone. Some find it difficult to make friends in this club. Others may not be happy with the projects offered and cannot come with ideas on their own. Finally, and despite what they say, some do not realize the cost of belonging.
The biggest problem Rotary and all the other service organizations have is retaining members. We can always find someone to come to a meeting or three. The problems is keeping them. For whatever reason people will leave. They may not find anyone they would like to know more, the projects are not what they expected, the cost is too high, etc.
One way to solve this problem is to offer something for everyone. Unfortunately, that is not possible.
When people join a golf club they can immediately play golf. This is the same for any other club. Except Rotary. You cannot play ‘Rotary’. So, we have to provide some other form of entertainment that will accomplish the same. Remember what they want, ‘service and camaraderie.’
Members do not come to eat lunch or hear a speaker. They come to be entertained and find commonalities with other members. Our Club Service is tasked with this.
Members want to serve. That is what Community Service is all about.
Not everyone enjoys opera, or dancing, or flying kites, to name some activities. On the other hand, people do enjoy a variety in activities. We cannot satisfy every desire every time, but we should strive to entertain people some of the time. The same applies to service opportunities.
We are approached to help other organizations and that is fine. However, we should initiate projects that capture the imagination of our members. Even the planning for a project may be quite enjoyable for some of the members that cannot participate actively in the activity.
Let us focus next year on activities that help us help others and foster camaraderie among members. If we enjoy what we are doing others will want to join us.
