Understanding Rotary Part 8

Posted by Charlie Wasser 
 
 

This is the final week of Rotary doses of information.  (Hey, I heard that crack, "It's about time :-)  The segment discusses and encourages membership growth from the individual Rotarian's effort.

Let me know what you thought of this series and I will try to find more material if there is interest.

 

WEEKLY DOSE OF ROTARY INFORMATION

BRING A FRIEND AND GROW ROTARY

           

A recent year's theme is "Rotary Shares" and like so many of our themes in the past, this one strikes a very important chord in the hearts and minds of Rotarians.   Yes, it means share our time, share our heart, share our treasure and share ourselves in our community and the world, but it means one more thing that too many of us have neglected; Share Rotary!

The easiest way to share Rotary is to bring a friend to a Rotary meeting or a Rotary function.  This gives us an opportunity to show our friends who we are and what we do. As serious as we are in our dedication, we are also a group of professional and business people who enjoy being together and sharing a part of ourselves with others.

            We are making a special effort to increase and retain membership in Rotary and there is no better way to gain new members than by asking them to be your guest at a meeting.  It is sort of a reverse show and tell; it is more like a "bring and listen."  The idea is to Look, Listen, Decide and Duplicate:

  • Invite your friend to a meeting so he or she can Look at what is going on
  • They can Listen to how we promote projects and programs in our community and around the world
  • We give them the opportunity to Decide whether they want to join us.  Too many times we bring our friends and never ask them to join because we have decided for them: allow them to Decide for themselves.
  • After they are inducted and are part of Rotary, we invite them to do the same thing; Duplicate.

This is how we Grow Rotary; we ask a friend.  Do you think Paul Harris asked 3 strangers to join him in 1905?  Of course not.he asked 3 friends and that is how Rotary started and how it has lasted and grown for over a century.

Rotary is not something that can be simply advertised with the expectation of growth. It is a concept that must be personally shared with those we like and respect and who like and respect us.  Here are some quotes from the Object of Rotary:

  • The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for Service
  • The advancement of International understanding, good will and peace through world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of Service.

Can you think of a better way to honor a friend who you respect than by inviting that friend to Rotary and helping Rotary grow to advance these worthy ideals?

 

Yours in Rotary Service,

      Charlie