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ROTARY DISTRICT 5320 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
District Governor: Cliff Nelson, Editor: Jim de Boom, http://www.ROTARY5320.ORG
Issue No. 2 August/September 1998
Governor's Message-August/September 1998
August is Membership and Extension Month
Our great movement is the shadow of one man, our founder Paul Harris. Paul had a concept that was attractive to the businessmen of Chicago, but only Paul had the "dream" of where Rotary would eventually go. It is thus truly amazing to find that most of the things we do today were all put in place during the first year of Rotary's existence. However, the potential of Rotary is infinite, and we are constantly finding new ways to, serve. Since 1905 we have lived though the "Century of Discover", the century when we have discovered community service; educational and youth programs; humanitarian service, and the glory of Polio Plus.:
We come from many different I nations and backgrounds, and bring vast experience in economic, industrial, professional, cultural and scientific fields. Ili the solidarity of our association, we find mutual support, reciprocal encouragement and a shared commitment to work for the common good.
It makes no difference whether our ideals are religious, cultural or social. Rotarians need Rotary just as much Rotary needs Rotarians. Rotary is ideals In action. But Rotary has no existence, except in the existence we give it, Rotary has no glory, except the glory that comes from noble service and devotion to its members.
Why do you belong? Think to yourself. Why did I join my Rotary Club? Was it to be with friends; or perhaps acquire the cachet of belonging to the premier service organization in the world? Today, some years later, we are all members who recognize the good we can do in the world, and this means we have grown and matured in Rotary.
I believe very person has two essential needs to be fulfilled if our lives are to have any purpose and meaning; the need to share, and the need to serve. Fellowship and Service are the basis of Rotary; and we come to realize this as our Rotary experience grows.
Why do you stay as a member? Is it because you enjoy the breakfast, lunch or dinner at your meeting? Or is it because you enjoy the fellowship? Or is it because you are a humanitarian and enjoy what you and your club have accomplished in your community and the world? Rotary, with its rnany opportunities for service, means in most cases what a person makes of life is but a reflection of what they make of Rotary. Think about how this applies to you personally and to the other members of your Club and District.
Membership Growth or Not? How would you run your Rotary Club if it were your business? Would you refuse to help it grow? Would you allow staff members to merely come to meetings but not participate in the ongoing work of the company? Would you leave positions vacant? Probably not. More likely, you would work tirelessly to promote growth, publicizing your product throughout the community, recruiting talented new people to infuse your business with fresh ideas and keeping current employees satisfied and productive.
According to recent studies, many Rotary club leaders are not using their own business sense when it comes to membership growth and retention. All of which indicates that many existing clubs are failing both to attract new members and to keep the ones they have.
Take a serious look at your business (club). List the pros and cons for a new member joining your club. Is your club involved in the community? Does your club have a fund-raiser or two? Does your club tell your community what it is doing to help in your community? Does your club have an updated classification survey? Do you have good programs at your meetings? If you can answer YES to all of these questions, then you have a great club. If not, call some of our District membership and development "dream" team for suggestions or help. Rotary is a great privilege and also a great responsibility. Find your missing classifications. Start a marketing campaign. Make sure you have great programs. Make your meetings fun. Now look into your community and find who has qualified by using the Four Way Test in their business practices. Find out who likes to help others. Who is a humanitarian? These are the new potential Rotarians who will become great
Rotarians and stay and help your club to continue to grow.
Once you have reached your membership goal, make sure you have a committee to give these new members continuing Rotary Information. Get them up to speed with what Rotary is all about. By giving them the information about what Rotary is doing in your community and the world, lights will come on and they will think of new projects that your club can take on.
Extension? If your club is bursting at the seams and your room can't accommodate growth, then consider starting a new club in your community.
Call Dale Ford. He can help direct you in starting that new club.
Remember, someone asked you to attend a Rotary meeting. You are still a member. That must mean you love Rotary. Share Rotary with someone new so that they can love Rotary too. Let's get "back to the basics" as we "Follow Your Rotary Dream" for membership growth and get every club back on track.
Cliff Nelson - District Governor
