Chartered in June 2015 with 50 members, the Waldo Brookside Rotary Club in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, currently has more than 70 members and welcomes an average of three prospective members per meeting. How did this vibrant culture develop and why does it continue to grow? Learn about the findings of an online survey and in-depth interviews with club members, and exchange ideas for successful new club formation.

1. Waldo Brookside Rotary Club:
Changing the Face of Rotary
Elizabeth Usovicz, PDG
and the Waldo Brookside Rotary Club
June 13, 2017

2. Member’s Perspectives from Focus Groups and Survey Findings
“We’re changing the face of Rotary.”
“I’ll be in Rotary when I’m 70…
if it’s a cool enough club.”

3. Waldo Brookside: What Makes it Great

4. “Welcome Home.”
• Located in Waldo-Brookside neighborhoods
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
• Chartered in June 2015 with 51 members
• Meets Wednesday evening at 5:30/17:30
• Dues are US $50 per quarter

5. Waldo Brookside: Club Demographics
Membership: 80
Average Age: 46
58% men 20% 30-39
42% women 34% 40-49
Members range in age from 23 to 81

6. Waldo Brookside: Member Perceptions
Survey of club members in December 2016
• 53% response rate
Two focus groups conducted in April 2017
• Six charter members – 4 men, 2 women
• Six post-charter members - 6 women

7. Club Survey, December 2016
Waldo Brookside: Member’s Perceptions
78%
90%
83%
85%
90%
I feel I am making a
difference in the
community
I feel welcome in the
club
The club provides
opportunities to use
my skills
My club experience is
worth the dues
My club experience is
worth my time
Perceptions of the Club Experience

8. “All roads through social media lead to Dan.”
How members found out about initial meetings
• Posts on private social networks:
Nextdoor.us, closed Facebook groups
• Offline word-of-mouth through a member
of the sponsor club who planned to join
the new club
“He [Dan] went after people that
he didn’t think fit the mold of other clubs.”

9. “Seeing diversity was huge for me.”
• Most members live, have lived or
have personal connections in
Waldo-Brookside
• Some members both live and
work in Waldo-Brookside
• Members have strong
connections to community
not-for-profit organizations

10. Why they returned for a second meeting
“I got the vibe in the first meeting”
“It was loud, friendly - people were stepping up
and saying they’d do things [to form the club].”
“I don’t like networking. I had to challenge
myself to come back, but I had made a
connection with someone and
it felt right to give it another
chance.”

11. What members like about the club and meetings
“You guys decide.”
“I didn’t expect it to be so casual and
friendly – unstructured and positive –
I knew I was home.”
“We have a mutual investment
in one another.”
“We’re a Rotary club -
we’ve just kind of
mixed up the model.”

12. “We’re solid on service and the Four-Way Test.”
“I’m a teacher – I’m not trying to do
business with anyone.”
“You don’t need to be in business to be
in Rotary.”
“[Through meeting programs] we find
out about good things we can do in the
community.”

13. “It boosted my confidence in my skills.”

14. "People are no longer wearing their work hat.”
Life Stories
The Toast
The Landes Line
Shipping and Receiving
“We celebrate everything.”

15. “We have an app.”
GroupAhead app
“It keeps me in touch
with what’s coming up-
its’s all there in one place.”

16. What they think about the future of the club, in10 years
“We’ll be coming back from a road trip to the moon.”
“If there’s anything that looks like
gender bias, that will kill the club.”
“I hope we are doing global service –
and sponsoring a Rotaract club.”
“Over time, this group won’t be this
way. It will be different.”

17. Thank You
The Members of the
Waldo Brookside Rotary Club
Web: http://www.waldobrooksiderotary.club/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaldoBrooksideRotary/
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8p8XiYAIieHgfb1OXWUPTw

18. Questions and
Discussion
Elizabeth Usovicz eusovicz@kc.rr.com
Corinne Corley ccorleyjd@gmail.com
Marli Klumb marliklumb@gmail.com

19. This presentation and others from throughout
the convention are available through the
convention mobile app and on SlideShare at
www.SlideShare.net/Rotary_International

20. Rate this session in the
Rotary Events app,
available in your Apple or
Android app store