More Ideas on Membership from The Chairman

Jim Coleman, a longtime member of the Rotary Club of St. George and Past Governor of Rotary District 5420 (2000-01), has assumed responsibility for increasing membership to a net 150 in clubs throughout Utah.  The 2006 GSE Team Leader to India (District 3420) brings years of Rotary experience to this position, having served previously as a Club, District and Zone Membership Coordinator.

Jim has already established some goals in his new assignment.  For instance, the goal for the Saturday, November 3 District Membership Seminar @ Westminster is for 100% of Club Membership Chairs to attend. Presidents – please follow-up to ensure their attendance. 

Soon he will meet with the 10 southern Membership Chairs and communicate his goals and direction for growth with Assistant Governors throughout the district.

Growing Rotary clubs know membership attraction and retention requires constant and consistent attention at every meeting and between meetings.

Tips from a successful Utah Rotary club . . .September membership success tip: treat your new member as though she is your best new customer!

*  Be a ‘high touch relationship’ club. New members who build relationships quickly will want to stay. Introduce your new member to everyone and vice versa. Ask her to be the greeter for the next month.

*  Your new member wants to be ‘a part of’ your club. She wants to be an insider who understands what Rotary International is - as well as your history, the jokes, terminology and what is going on at the meeting and club level. Help her feel comfortable ASAP. Orient her within a week of her induction.

*  Reinforce the importance of attending every meeting. Make sure she sits with different members each week. Help her select a committee that interests her AND introduce her to the chair, so she can start participating immediately.

*  Presidents, check in with your new member and see how she is doing. If she misses a meeting, call her! Speak with her periodically – do not leave this to chance. If she knows you and your club care, she will keep coming back and be active.

Membership is job #1 and it is every member’s job. As a ‘high touch relationship’ club, you will have enduring success in attracting and retaining members.

In the meantime, are you working your plan?  Holding a prospective member meeting?  New member orientation?  Mentoring? Review what your club decided to do in your Planning Guide For Effective Clubs.

Ideas for Vocational Service Month

Vocational Service may be the least likely area of Rotary service to be addressed by clubs throughout the world, but should be one of the most important, especially in today’s current economy! 

Vocational Service in Rotary is all about:

·         Adherence to and promotion of the highest ethical standards in all occupations, including fair treatment of employers, employees, associates, competitors, and the public.

·         Recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, not just those pursued by Rotarians.

·         The contribution of your vocational talents to solving the problems of society and meeting the needs of the community.

To anticipation of Vocational Service Month, St. George’s Red Rock and Dixie Sunrise Rotary clubs partnered with the Volunteer Center of Washington County, Utah Department of Workforce Services and the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce for a free 55+ Job Fair / Community Expo.  On September 12, approximately 30 employers and dozens of non-profit agencies met with older jobseekers each with years of experience and qualifications, a strong work ethic and a desire to re-join the workforce.

Need ideas for Vocational Service projects?  Check out these suggestions:

1.     Like the Red Rock and Dixie Sunrise Rotary Clubs, organize a career fair at one or more local high schools in the spring or a job fair for unemployed residents - including seniors - anytime during the year in your community.

2.     Sponsor a 4-Way Test Essay or Speech competition for a specific age group of young people (e.g., middle schoolers, high school)

3.     Help Rotaract or Interactors develop effective resumes and interview skills.

4.     Schedule four or more meetings during the Rotary year dedicated to some aspect of vocational service.

5.     Invite new or longtime Rotarians in your club to give a classification talk with an emphasis on their career / employment.

6.     Give an award recognizing the importance of high ethical standards and public values to honor an individual who exemplifies such traits (e.g., local businesses, unsung heroes in the community, pride of workmanship award, best human resource workplace practices, best customer service or a Business of the Year award)

7.     Provide a copy of The Four- Way Test and the Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions to all new club members as they join the club.

8.     Post the 4-Way Test on a prominent billboard in your community.

9.     Conduct a RYLA event with special emphasis on ethics.

10.  Develop a district job bank and encourage your members to post available jobs.

11.  Start a career counseling program geared towards equipping unemployed or underemployed members with the skills they need to compete in the job market.

12.  Share your own vocational skills in your community.

13.  Teach or strengthen adult literacy / numeracy skills among those in your community.

14.  Provide employment assistance / professional development to disabled, retirees or the chronically unemployed.

15.  Organize at least one professional networking event in which club members can meet other local professionals and introduce them to Rotary.

16.  Sponsor a day in when club members bring young people to their places of business to job shadow and to inform them about career opportunities.