Happy August!We are already one month into the Rotary New Year. I don't think it's an accident that this month's theme is Membership & New Club Development! As Rotarians we should focus on membership early in the year, and often throughout the year. Membership Growth and Retention are what will help drive everything we do!
When thinking about membership retention, I am reminded of words from IPRIP Jennifer Jones. "The main reason Rotarians remain Rotary members is that they feel welcomed and supported in their clubs. Increasing our membership continues to be a priority, but giving our members experiences they value and reasons to stay is equally important. To serve our communities, we first need to serve our members." Everyone joins Rotary for a reason. I highly encourage you to spend a little time this month getting to know your existing members. Make an effort to find out why they joined Rotary and what drives them to remain engaged. Once we understand these things, it will be easier to find ways to keep members engaged and active in serving together.
If you are not currently receiving the "membership minute" emails being sent monthly from RI, I highly encourage you to go to MyRotary and sign up. This is just one of the many amazing resources that Rotary International provides to help us along this journey. Here is one excerpt from the most recent email that I thought was outstanding. "This month is the perfect time to evaluate your club’s culture and adjust it if needed. Members are more likely to stay if their club experience is fulfilling." I couldn't agree more!
As always, if you have questions or need guidance on membership ideas, don't hesitate to reach out to myself or any of the other leaders in our district. We are here to help!
Take care,
Landon Forbes
Rotary District 5830
District Membership Chair
