District Assembly Stresses Need for Membership Growth

PNR members who attended the 2012 District 5170 Assembly March 31 learned those fines for promoting your business may not be a good idea after all.

Appealing more to the self-interest needed to start a successful business may help. Rotary International now has 1.2 million members worldwide, the same number it had 10 years ago. District 5170 has set a goal of expanding its membership by 5000 in the next 5 years.

Keynote speaker Brad Howard emphasized Rotary’s role in forging business relationships as a key to that growth. Howard, a member of Oakland Sunrise said Rotary clubs should serve as a mechanism for professional developments to attract new members. He sees Rotary clubs assuring success for themselves by helping foster their member’s success. Howard argued that more emphasis on older Rotarians helping younger members would aid recruitment.

“You can be a humanitarian and keep your day job,” he said.

The district deserves praise for the high quality of the educational sessions at this year’s assembly. Seventeen sessions covered topics from planning tools for president-elects to “club vision” to help chapter set and secure goals.

PNR participants included president Jane Doe, president elect-Tina Case, Jim Brice, Rich Carson, Richard Flanders, Dave Parker, and Jerry Prettyman.

Tina attended the President Elect Seminar to learn some great new tactics for encouraging members to invite new members including the classifications that are missing from the club. Her second stop was Future Vision foundation grants program where she learned about new options for using our club’s DDF funds.

Jerry attended “Your Rotary Foundation” and “Future Vision” sessions where he picked up on some key financial figures he’d like to pass along.

District-wide TRF contributions so far this year total $579,999. This amount is below the $633,442 amount contributed by this time last Rotary year, which totaled $737,159. So far, 24 clubs have achieved 100% of Club TRF goals. Two clubs have achieved 100% of members contributing at least $1 to The Rotary Foundation, with 27 clubs achieving an average of 61% of members contributing an average of $151.58. Pleasanton North Rotary has contributed 52% of its $11,000 goal, with 43.6% of club members contributing with an average of $104.59.

Jim attended a “Fundamentals of ClubRunner” session. Lessons learned there will lead to improved use of the site for new member orientation and activities. A session on “PR and Public Imaging” will lead to better media relations planning.