BY PDG DR R.T.ARASU RRIMC ZONE 6 B

Responsibilities As governor-elect, you have the following membership development responsibilities: Making appointments to the district membership development and extension committees, including chairs Setting district membership goals As governor, you have the following responsibilities: Strengthening existing clubs Promoting membership growth and development in clubs Organizing new clubs

COMPONENTS OF MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Retention Recruitment Organizing New Clubs MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Effective Clubs are able to Sustain and Increase Membership Implement Successful Service Projects Support The Rotary Foundation Develop Leaders Beyond Club-Level Four Avenues of Service Club Leadership Plan

Strengthening Existing Clubs Because Rotarians are members of clubs, each club is responsible for ensuring that its members actively and enthusiastically support the Object of Rotary. If there are clubs in your district that are weak, work with your assistant governors to offer more support and guidance to the clubs. You may wish to have assistant governors increase their quarterly visits and use the Planning Guide for Effective Rotary Clubs during visits to ensure that the club is addressing its administrative needs as well as its service goals.

Strengthening Existing Clubs Ensure that the clubs in your district 1.Reflect the diversity of their community, including gender, age, and ethnicity. 2.Provide a stimulating program that meets the interests of its members 3.Conduct new member orientation 4.Create a membership development plan that addresses recruitment and retention 5.Provide continuing education to keep current members up-to-date on Rotary

Strengthening Existing Clubs Ensure that the clubs in your district 6.Pursue service projects that involve all members of the club 7.Set a meeting location and time that is convenient to all members 8.Promote their service to the local community and communities in other countries in the local media

Recruitment New members bring new ideas, skills, enthusiasm, and the potential to provide greater service. Each Rotarian is responsible for proposing qualified persons, such as the following, for membership: –Business leaders –Business owners –Chamber of commerce members –Community leaders –Former Rotaractors –Professional colleagues –Rotary Foundation alumni

Clubs should be aware of the perception of their club in their community. –Is the club considered a vibrant organization of the community? –Are the club’s projects and programs relevant to its members? –Does the club have a positive public image? Considering these questions can help a club assess why it isn’t retaining members and help the club improve its ability to recruit new members.

Recruitment Your membership development committee should work with clubs and assistant governors to ensure that each club 1.Develops a club fact sheet or information kit to share with prospective members 2.Regularly updates their classification roster and fills open positions 3.Reflects the diversity of their community 4.Maintains reasonable dues and expenses

Retention In many parts of the Rotary world, retention is one of Rotary’s greatest challenges. Once someone joins a Rotary club, the club must strive to keep that person as an involved member. If a club determines that it is not meeting the needs of its members, the club should adjust its activities accordingly.

Retention The district should support retention efforts by encouraging clubs to 1.Provide new member orientation and continuing education 2.Foster fellowship among Rotarians 3.Focus on retention through member education, involvement, and satisfaction

Retention New Members For new members, retention begins with new member orientation and education. Encourage clubs to retain new members and develop future leaders through the following actions: 1. Establish a preinduction orientation or informational event for prospective members and their spouses. 2. Develop a new member orientation program that informs new members of: a. Benefits of membership b. Responsibilities of membership c. Opportunities for service 3. Assign a mentor to each new member to ease the new member’s transition into the club. 4. Assure the involvement of new members on committees or projects.

Retention Current Members For current club members, retention should be an ongoing effort. To ensure that the needs and expectations of the members are being met, encourage clubs to: 1.Involve all members in club committees and service projects 2.Examine their service projects to ensure they are effective and meeting the needs of the community 3.Evaluate whether the club is still relevant to its members 4.Address the interests of members through programs and new projects 5.Improve leadership skills by involving members in committees that match their interests

Retention The district membership development committee and assistant governors should work with clubs that have low membership or poor attendance. If a club reports fewer than 20 members, you or a member of your district leadership team should contact the club to find out why membership is low and what steps the club is taking to rebuild its membership and improve attendance.

Membership Goals To maintain a focus on membership, clubs and districts should set membership goals and develop action plans to reach their goals. While clubs must set and work toward their own membership goals, you should set a goal for the district that will challenge clubs to increase membership. Goals and action plans should be developed well before the year begins. Work with your assistant governors to ensure that club leadership has completed their Planning Guide for Effective Rotary Clubs which includes a section for membership development goals and strategies.

Organizing New Clubs Through new clubs, Rotary International increases its ability for service. New clubs can be organized in communities with no clubs and in communities that can sustain more than one club. The organization of new clubs must be authorized by the district governor. The district extension committee is responsible for organizing new clubs in the district.

Organizing New Clubs Before a new club can be organized, you must complete and sign the following forms and forward them to RI: 1.Organization of New Club Survey (extension survey) 2.New Club Sponsor Form, if applicable 3.New Club Application Form You must also appoint a special representative from either a nearby club or the sponsor club to represent you in the organization of the new club. Your special representative is responsible for mentoring the new club and ensuring that it functions effectively.

Membership Training- 1. District Membership Seminar To train club-level Rotarians the necessary skills, knowledge, and motivation to sustain & increase their club’s membership. Should be held early in the year to convey membership message to all Rotarians. The committee is responsible for planning and conducting the seminar under Governor’s direction and in consultation with district trainer. Consider including regional RI membership coordinator’s.

Membership Training – 2. New member orientation New member orientation activities at the club and District level to help educate and retain their new members

Membership Training – 3. RI Membership Seminars Conducted by regional RI membership coordinator held at various times in the Rotary year. Provide current membership development information. Governor with membership development chair are encouraged to attend this seminar. To ensure that membership development efforts are addressing current trends and to learn new strategies.

Membership Development and Extension Award The Membership Development and Extension Award recognizes Rotary clubs for their membership development efforts. This award can be used to motivate Rotarians to sustain and increase their club’s membership.

Public Relations for Membership Development Public relations efforts by Rotary clubs and the district ensure that the community knows the good works of clubs and our association. Practicing good public relations has a positive impact on recruitment and retention because individuals are eager to join an association with a vital and vibrant image in the community. The district public relations committee should work to publicize the service projects of clubs in the district.

The governor’s monthly letter and official visits are a powerful means to promote the importance of Rotary, share membership development strategies among clubs, and provide continuing education.

Reports to RI In order to support clubs and districts in their membership development efforts, Rotary International must have up-to-date membership information from clubs and districts. Encourage club presidents and secretaries to use RI’s Member Access to manage their membership information

Resources There are resources to support all aspects of membership development from –Rotary International, –your district, and –the clubs in your district. Ensure that your membership-related committees and assistant governors are aware of these and advise clubs to use them as they focus on membership development issues.

Club Resources 1.Classification survey 2.Club and District Administration representatives 3.Club bulletin. 4.Club member interest assessment 5.Demographic survey 6.District Membership Seminar Leaders’ Guide (242-EN) 7.Exiting member survey. 8.Governor’s monthly letter

Club Resources 9.How to Propose a New Member (254-EN) 10.Membership Development Resource Guide (417- EN) 11.Membership section of the RI Web site 12.New Member Orientation (414-EN) 13.Organizing New Clubs: A Guide for District Governors and Special Representatives (808-EN) 14.Planning Guide for Effective Rotary Clubs Regional RI membership coordinator and RI membership zone coordinator 15.RI membership committees 16.RI Membership Development Division staff at World Headquarters

Taiwan Starting FiguresDatabase Figures#% 1-Jul-0731-Oct-07 Increase/ Decrease Increase/ Decrease DistrictZone# Clubs#Members# Clubs# Members 34604B % 34704B % 34804B % 34904B % 35004B % 35104B % 35204B % 4 B

Zone 6BStarting FiguresDatabase Figures#% 1-Jul-0731-Oct-07 Increase/ Decrease Increase/ Decrease DistrictCountryClubsMembersClubsMembers 3270Pakistan % 3280Bangladesh % 3300Malaysia % 3310 M’sia & S’pore % 3330Thailand % 3340Thailand % 3350Thailand % 3360Thailand % 3400Indonesia % 6 B

Philippines Starting FiguresDatabase Figures#% 1-Jul-0731-Oct-07 Increase/ Decrease Increase/ Decrease DistrictZoneClubsMembersClubsMembers % % % % % % % % % % 7

Discussion Questions What is the best new member recruitment strategy in your district?

Discussion Questions What is the best retention strategy in your district?

Discussion Questions What are the challenges to organizing new clubs in your district?

PRESIDENT- ELECTS GOALS 10 % NETT INCREASE IN CLUB MEMBERSHIP PRES-ELECT DK LEE

MEMBERSHIP FIQURES 30 TH JUNE 2007…. 32, 943 CLUBS ROTARIANS…. 1,224,168 vs 30 TH JUNE 2006 … 32,756 CLUBS ROTARIANS … 1,222, 788 WE LOST 187 ROTARY CLUBS WE GAINED 1380 MEMBERS

PDG ARASU