Sandy Nichols introduced the speaker: Michael Boyer. He is a wizard marketing consultant that has worked for a number of private and non profit organizations helping them develop their marketing strategies. He serves on the PB/Five Cities Rotary Board, the GB Chamber Board and the Clark Center Foundation Endowment Committee. In 2007 the Economic Vitality Corporation of SLOCounty presented him with their "Top 20 under 40" award for his professional excellence and profound commitment to the community. He is currently the Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Elements, a marketing business with an international presence.

 

      With a power point presentation Michael outlined his ideas, using marketing principles, on how to grow membership.

GROWING MEMBERSHIP: develop a membership growth strategy recognizing that your Club survives because you have high quality members; strategy to include benefits, create a message for all to use, deliver the message to targeted individuals and sustain a member commitment; and, increase awareness.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP: networking; life-long friendships; world-wide community; good people in community are members; Rotarians have high ideals; opportunity to invest in the community; Service Above Self, giving back.

CREATE A MESSAGE: the Club's public perception; business contact introduction listing membership benefits and Club mission; a message to resonate with non-members; practice your message delivery and response to questions.

DELIVER THE MESSAGE: practice your message, believe in your message; create tri-fold brochure; create target list; set 15 minute appointments to tell the message and invite to meeting.

THE COMMITMENT: 4 hours for Board to create message; 30 minutes/month/member to invite and share message; 6 hours per month for Membership Committee create and manage target list, assign targets to members and follow up with members after meetings; one membership breakfast/month, free for guest.

AWARENESS IS EVERYTHING: tell the story, how can they say no; there may be risks, such as, increase members but decrease quality; too many new inexperience members; and, new member orientation is difficult and mentor program is needed.

      Following his slides, Michael, whose father is a District Governor in Alaska, answered questions and reiterated that using organized marketing principles, you will be successful and Club membership will increase. Job well done, Michael; and, thank you!