The document discusses keys to recruiting and retaining Rotary club members. It recommends setting challenging membership growth goals and utilizing orientation and induction processes to onboard new members properly. Clubs should educate new members on Rotary, involve them in activities, and ask them to recruit others. Small clubs can revitalize by evaluating logistics, programs, and fully utilizing membership types. The overall approach is to extend, recruit, retain, and revitalize membership using proven formulas.

1. Keys to Recruiting and Retaining Members Adapted from a presentation by Robert W. Nelson, RIMC 2002-2004

2. What excuses do we hear about Membership? Recruiting has been difficult Younger people don’t seem to have the time available for Rotary Changing economy Membership attrition

3. Recruitment and Retention In business we spend a significant effort in recruiting and inducting new staff members We also invest a lot of time and effort in recruiting new customers.

4. Let’s meet our membership goals with proven formulas...

5. = E+3R E xtend R ecruit R etain R evitalize m e m b e r s h i p

6. Extend: Form New Clubs Opportunity for more people to participate in Rotary by offering more options in your community: Time of day Day of Week Location Club Size Open Classifications

7. Recruit New Members Set a challenging goal for your club: How do you feel when you see a low or no growth goal? Do you feel energized and really challenged? How about a goal of 3%? 6%? 9%? 12% 15% more??

8. Recruit New Members Recognize the urgency of Rotary Membership Utilize pre-induction orientation gatherings to brief entire family before induction

9. Retain Your Current Members Members are the life blood of a Rotary Club Your club’s most valued asset is its members Nurture and grow your membership!

10. Orient the new member properly Member and spouse if possible Evening of Rotary orientation Club History and Projects Four Avenues of Service Rotary International The Rotary Foundation

11. Induct new members properly Significant ceremony with spouse Provide (options) Four Way Test Object of Rotary Rotary Basic Library Certificate of Membership Pin, Badge, Banner Publications

12. Educate the New Member Most members who leave were never really Rotarians in the first place Up to 80% of a typical club members know very little about Rotary

13. Educate the New Member Rotary program once a month Good Rotary speakers Slides and videos about Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars, youth exchanges, RYLA participants, GSE, Rotaract, Interact

14. Involve the Rotarian in: Club Committees Fund Raisers Board Meetings Club Meetings Club Social Activities

15. Assign the new club member As a delegate to the district conference and have them report to the club

16. Ask the new member To find two or three other new members from among his/her peer group

17. What can be done for small clubs? Continue with current recruiting/retention approach? Merge with another club? Give up charter and disband? Answer: Revitalize!

18. Revitalize a small club Evaluate current logistics Draw up a demographic profile Compile a classification survey listing business and professional activities in your community Are you making full use of all types of membership?

19. Revitalize a small club Invigorate programs and activities focus on service projects that make a vital contribution to the community establish good working relationships with the local media What are your club’s best assets? Use methods similar to new club extension where existing nucleus is weak

20. = E+3R E xtend R ecruit R etain R evitalize m e m b e r s h i p

21. Why Join Rotary? The Opportunity to Serve Professional Networking Personal Growth and Development Friendship Cultural Diversity

22. Why Join Rotary? Good Citizenship World Understanding Entertainment . Family Foundations Ethical Environment

23. When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he tried over 2000 experiments before he got it to work...

24. “ I never failed once. It just happened to be a 2000-step process.” - Thomas Edison

25. An example of leadership… Edison NJ USA Rotary Club July 1997: 18 members November 1998: 58 members Sponsored a Rotaract Club Sponsored Seven Interact Clubs

26. Light up your club with new members!

27. Additional resources are available at www.rotary.org