Membership Seminars 2013Membership Seminars 2013District 7850 - July 20th Hanover NH, August 3rd St. Johnsbury VT, September 7th Sherbrooke QC, September 11th Montpelier VT

District Governor – Steve DatesMembership Chair – Sonny Holt

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Pigeon Cove - Meeting Pigeon Cove - Meeting AgendaAgenda

Intro – Anthem, - 4 Way Test - InvocationFunny StoryRotary Minute (Life and Times of Paul Harris)

Rotary Moment (2-3 minutes max. Member talk or video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ubqc7_MnBeE

Happy Dollars?Next Week’s Program: Rotarian Ian Thomas will play the

Bagpipes and discuss the history of the Scottish Highland bagpipes.

Monthly Service Meeting: At the Recreation Center to discuss work on the bike path and to develop ideas for new service projects. Our Interact club will attend and family members are invited.

Today’s Program: “Rotary’s Contribution to World Peace.” by Dr. Samuel Adams, President of the U.S. Institute of Peace.

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Anthem – O Canada!Anthem – O Canada! O Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,

Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,Il sait porter la croix!Ton histoire est une épopéeDes plus brillants exploits.Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Protégera nos foyers et nos droits

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Anthem – America!Anthem – America!

O beautiful for spacious skies,For amber waves of grain,For purple mountain majestiesAbove the fruited plain!America! America!God shed His grace on thee,And crown thy good with

brotherhoodFrom sea to shining sea

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The Four-Way TestThe Four-Way TestOf the things we think, say or do

1.Is it the TRUTH?2.Is it FAIR to all concerned?3.Will it build GOODWILL and

BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?4.Will it be BENEFICIAL to all

concerned?

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InvocationInvocationMy fellow Rotarians, you have this power. This power to

use language to share your ideas, to touch hearts, and to bring about change in the world. As Rotarians, we have the power to speak and share, to explain and to educate, to inspire and to influence. It is our responsibility to share our talents and ideas and to find meaning in other people’s messages. May we use our skills to provide service to others less fortunate and help them to be self sustaining. May we continue to grow as Rotarians so that we stand in our community as a symbol of those willing to freely put service above self and make this our community and the world a better place to live.

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Pigeon Cove - Meeting Pigeon Cove - Meeting AgendaAgenda

Intro – Anthem, - 4 Way Test - InvocationFunny Story (2)

Rotary Minute (Life and Times of Paul Harris)

Rotary Moment (2-3 minutes max. Member talk or video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ubqc7_MnBeE

Happy Dollars?Next Week’s Program: Rotarian Ian Thomas will play the

Bagpipes and discuss the history of the Scottish Highland bagpipes.

Monthly Service Meeting: At the Recreation Center to discuss work on the bike path and to develop ideas for new service projects. Our Interact club will attend and family members are invited.

Today’s Program: “Rotary’s Contribution to World Peace.” by Dr. Samuel Adams, President of the U.S. Institute of Peace.

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OutlineOutlineMembership Development –

Macro LevelEvaluating Your ClubEngaging Your MembersAttracting New MembersTelling Your StoryBuilding an ‘Action Plan’ for

Dynamic Growth

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Membership Membership DevelopmentDevelopment

at theat theMacro LevelMacro Level

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The ProblemThe Problem

340,000

360,000

380,000

400,000

420,000

440,000

460,000North America Membership Trend

1996 = 445,000 members,2012 = 380,000 members. 

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Losing Members in North Losing Members in North AmericaAmericaPast 4 years. 

◦Brought in 40,000 new members per year ◦But lost 50,000 members per year◦Net loss of 10,000 members per year.

Conclusion◦A membership strategy based primarily on acquiring new members does not produce sustained membership growth.

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District Membership District Membership ResultsResults

Clubs Recruited 182 New MembersBut Lost 154 Members

◦Of these, 24 members passed awayWhy did we lose the other 130?Club Membership Results

◦Top Ten clubs lost only 13 (net gain = +76)

◦Bottom Ten clubs lost 56 (net loss = -49)

Question: Do members stay or leave based on what’s happening in their clubs?

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Why Members Leave Why Members Leave RotaryRotary25% = Uncontrollable losses

◦death, illness and relocations75% = Controllable

Club activities and club environment

◦Cost◦Personal

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Controllable LossesControllable LossesClub activities and club

environment:Not feeling welcomeBoring, No funPoor programsNo meaningful service projectsQuestionable Practices

Passing the HatExcessive FinesSame Old Agenda – Week after Week

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Controllable LossesControllable LossesCost:

◦Expensive dues & meals◦Fund raising takes time & money

◦Constantly asked for money ‘Mandatory’ Donations or Buying of Tickets

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Controllable LossesControllable LossesPersonal:

Attendance is difficultInconvenient meeting timeNo networking opportunitiesJob/family commitmentsSeems like a ‘Good Old Boys’

clubVery cliqueyToo many argumentative people

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Evaluating Your Evaluating Your ClubClub

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Inside Problem IndicatorInside Problem IndicatorAttendance: 

◦75%+ You’re doing great.◦50% What’s keeping the other half

away?◦30%- You’ve got problems.

IMPORTANT: Use attendance only as a measure of how you are doing. If you compel members to attend something they see little value in – they’ll quit.

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Inside Problem IndicatorInside Problem IndicatorMember Retention:  Best Indicator of a Vibrant/Engaging

Club◦Boston Metro – a club of 100 recruited

14 members and lost 10 for a net gain of 4

◦Pigeon Cove - a club of 100 recruited 4 and lost 1 for a net gain of 3

Which club is more vibrant & engaging?Why did Boston Metro lose 10% of its

members?19

Outside Problem IndicatorOutside Problem IndicatorWeb Site/FaceBook Your Window to the World If Kept Current with Action Photos of

Service Projects – You’re Doing GreatIf most recent update was 1 to 2 years

ago and has mostly text and outdated links. Prospective members will say“Yuk! Why join

that club!”Current members will be embarrassed for

their own club

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Member Survey and Exit Member Survey and Exit InterviewsInterviewsFind out what could be done

better.

Recommended Survey* Actions◦Strive for100% (pick up at the door)◦Email to non-attendees ◦ * Use Survey at Appendix 9. of the Membership Plan◦SurveyMonkey may be used.

Conduct Exit Interviews◦One on one – over lunch◦Find out the real reason for

leaving21

The Value PropositionThe Value PropositionWhether buying a business,

shopping for bargains, or staying with Rotary:

People weigh the time, money, and effort expended against the value received.

If value received weighs more - then it’s a good “Value Proposition.”

time, money, effort

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What do people really What do people really want???want???1- Make friends and network?2- To be engaged?3- To be nourished by the organization?4.- To be recognized for the work they do?

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ARE WE ATTRACTIVE?ARE WE ATTRACTIVE?

Why people would join a Rotary Club?

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Our “Product”Our “Product”Is our club nourishing for

our members?

Do we have interesting or boring weekly programs?

Do we always do the same routine week after week? Year after year?

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Our “Product”Our “Product”Is the day and time of our

meeting still the best?

Are people receiving enough for their money?

Are we offering service activities that meet the needs and preferences of our members?

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RetentionRetentionBusinesses succeed or fail by

how well they create value for their customers.

Treat Rotarians as customers you can’t afford to lose.

Assess club practices, then implement changes to maintain strong, vibrant clubs.

Over-riding concept: “We will do everything possible to satisfy the needs and provide value for our ‘customers’. 28

Engaging Your Engaging Your MembersMembers

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EngageEngage – Some – Some DefinitionsDefinitionsINVOLVE, ENGROSS, IMMERSE,

ENTHRALLto begin and carry on an activity to do or take part in something “She sure can engage an audience.”Rotary engaged 

my interestto come together and

interlock, like the gears being engaged

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Engaging MembersEngaging Members

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The largest loss of new members happens within the first three years of joining a Rotary Club.

Need to Change Our Way of ThinkingRetaining Members Engaging

Members

Some Words for Engagement Interested Active Excited Involved

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EngagingEngaging

Mentoring - Pair new members with experienced members. - Have new members do “Spokes” (Appendix 6. in membership plan)

- Sit together at meetings- Discuss Rotary history, club history, past projects

- Encourage to join current and future projects

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EngagingEngaging

Web Connected - Website/Facebook - let new members know who you are, and what you do

- Every club member’s name and information should be on the website (but controlled)

- Add link to member’s business website

- Make it easy to pay dues on-line

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Engaging New MembersEngaging New MembersQuick Hands-On Projects - Conduct a single or multi-club ‘hands-on’ community project – no longer than two hours

- Introduces the excitement and satisfaction of doing service and seeing Rotarians in action

- Document with pictures and/or videos

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Engaging New MembersEngaging New MembersFirst year Committees

The club puts up $500.00 and

- Challenges new members to find the next community service project for the club.

- This helps them to learn about how Rotary works while keeping them “Engaged”

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Engaging New MembersEngaging New MembersLeadership Training - New members should be informed, encouraged and financed by their club to attend the Rotary Leadership Institute. - District will help w. costs

- Encourage groups of club members (old and new) to attend together and then to report back to the club one proposal for innovation and/or a new project. 

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InteractingInteractingHow Do You Interact? - Start an Interact Club with Middle/ High School students (age 12 and up)

- Encourage new members to participate in starting a club

- If club already established have them attend your meeting - do things together

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InteractingInteractingCareer Share - Organizing and conducting a single or multi-club "Career Fair“, or "Career Day”, or “Job Shadowing“ event for local Middle School, High School

- Encourage new members to participate/lead this event

Joint Meetings & ProjectsJoint Meetings & ProjectsClubs doing the following with good

results:

2-4 clubs have Joint Rotary meetings (share excellent speakers, fun, & fellowship)

Assistant Governor has Joint Lunch/Dinner meeting with Presidents (good ideas shared)

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Joint Meetings & ProjectsJoint Meetings & ProjectsClubs Join to work the same service

project

Join with Interact/Rotaract on common project or fund raiser.

Clubs combine with other organizations for joint projects (PR + potential members)

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Revamp Your OrganizationRevamp Your OrganizationAllow Newer Members to Chair

CommitteesInfuse New Blood into Your Board

of DirectorsExample:

◦Pigeon Cove Rotary - New Board of Directors

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Pigeon Cove’s New Board of Pigeon Cove’s New Board of DirectorsDirectors

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In short:In short:Do everything you can to engage

and keep current members

Make sure all members are involved and that we meet their expectations

Change what has to be changed to be “engaging and attractive ”

Be able to define simply and shortly who we are

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Attracting New Attracting New MembersMembers

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Thinking Outside the BoxThinking Outside the Box“We need to ask questions and

we need to open ourselves to the answers. We cannot say ‘No, we will not do this,’ just because it has never been done before. Why not involve families in projects?”

Sakuji Tanaka, Past President, Rotary International

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Adaptive ClubsAdaptive ClubsKatie Ischkin's club -

South Metro Minneapolis Evenings

2 Evening meetings – no meals.

3rd meeting -happy hour/ networking event at different locations

4th meeting is a hands-on volunteering opportunity.

First Year Results Matching Grant and International Service

Project 10 community service or hands-on volunteer

efforts.46

Satellite ClubsSatellite ClubsAllow options for members to

attend meetings that better accommodate their work schedule or are focused on activities better suited to their needs.

ln same locality as the sponsor club

Submits Annual Report to Sponsor

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Satellite ClubsSatellite ClubsSatellite members are also members

of Sponsor Club ◦The only dual membership allowed by RI

Title (example)◦Rotary Satellite Club of Pigeon Cove (A

satellite of Rotary Club of Pigeon Cove)Officers:

◦Chairman, Immediate past Chairman, Chairman-elect, Secretary and Treasurer.

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Attendance vs ServiceAttendance vs ServiceMembers should:

◦attend or make up at least 50 percent of club regular meetings or engage in club projects, other events and activities for at least 12 hours in each half of the year, or a proportionate combination of both. COL 13-12

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Membership CategoriesMembership CategoriesActive – only active members have the title ‘Rotarian’

Honorary – ◦term of such membership determined by

the club’s board of directors◦exempt from the payment of admission

fees, and dues and shall have no vote and shall not be eligible to hold any office in the club.

◦conferred only in exceptional cases, but may not be conferred upon an active member by the members of one’s own club 5.010 Rotary code Of Policies

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Membership CategoriesMembership CategoriesHonorary vs Active Retired/85

◦If a club wants to “Honor” one of its truly outstanding members, a more appropriate alternative than “Honorary” might be a special ceremony with the presentation of an award/plaque for meritorious service.

◦And if applicable, changing the member’s status to “Active Retired/85” That way the club does not lose an active member.

◦Dues reduction may also be considered

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Types of Active Types of Active MembershipMembershipActive 85

◦if the member’s age and years of membership is 85 years or more and the member has notified the club secretary in writing of the member’s desire to be excused from attendance and the board has approved.

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Types of Active Types of Active MembershipMembershipFamily Plan Member (Appendix 10)

◦encourages spouses/partners (or any family member) to join Rotary by offering the incentive of reduced club and district dues.

Care Giver/Domestic Professional◦an adult of good character and good

business, professional and/or community reputation, having interrupted employment or having never worked in order to care for children or assist their spouses in their work COL 13-43

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Types of Active Types of Active MembershipMembershipYoung Leaders

◦35 years or younger◦Offered the incentive of reduced club

and district dues. ◦Required to recruit another member

within 12 mos to maintain status. Clubs may waive club dues and admission fees for

members under the age of 35. (RI Code of Policies 5.040.2)

In addition, clubs may provide payment of district dues for new members in this age group, (RI Code of Policies 5.040.2)

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Selling the Family & Young Selling the Family & Young Leaders PlansLeaders Plans

helps alleviate three problem areas within Rotary: ◦1.) Lack of diversity; ◦2.) Difficulty in recruiting younger

professionals;◦3.) Cost of membership

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Advantage of the the Family & Advantage of the the Family & Young Leaders PlansYoung Leaders Plans

Important: A reduction of dues for certain categories of members does not necessarily mean that other members will have to make up the difference. ◦ Pigeon Cove’s 100 members paid dues of

$100 a year to support their club’s administrative costs of $10,000.

◦ 50 “special” new members are added but pay only $50 per year.

◦ Pigeon Cove now has an additional $2,500 in dues, but if administrative costs remain stable, the resultant per capita dues for all other members would now be $7,500/100 members = $75 per member.

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Advantage of the Family & Young Advantage of the Family & Young Leaders PlansLeaders Plans

Added Benefit if “special” members are in the “Family Member” and/or “Young Leaders” plans:◦ District sends rebate of $1,000 ($20x50)

to Pigeon Cove.◦ Club now has $3,500 ($2,500 + $1,000)

to help with administrative costs.◦ Pigeon Cove can now continue the dues

for special new members at $50 and divide the remaining $6,500 ($10,000 - $3,500) by 100, or $65 per year for all other members.

Increasing membership tends to lower cost for all members over time.

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The “Company Plan”The “Company Plan”Member(s) of company join as a

unit.◦Corporate Executive plus up to 3

additional designees.◦All are members◦Only one has to attend meetings. ◦Clubs have wide flexibility in

administering this plan◦Not yet District endorsed but

guidance provided in Membership Plan (Appendix 11)

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The “Company Plan”The “Company Plan”Club gets credit for all designees being

active members, however attendance requirements can be lessened.  

Although the club has wide latitude on how they want to set the program up it would probably be prudent to require attendance from at least one designee at each meeting so the company unit gets credit for attending.  

Any other designees that miss a meeting should not count against a clubs average attendance for the month, but that will be up to the club.

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Club ExtensionClub Extension

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Club ExtensionClub Extension In big communities

without a club, or:Relevant to Specific

Target Audiences◦ Alternative meeting

times and formats, no meals, etc.

◦ Weekend Clubs – Service Oriented, Supports Other Non-profits

Action Officer:◦ Bill Thompson – Chair

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Telling Your StoryTelling Your Story

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Your Club’s StoryYour Club’s Story

Web Site / Facebook Page◦ Keep it simple, w. Action oriented

photos.Weekly paid Ads about your club and

what you do – could be cost effective.Print and post “RotarySmiles.org”

posters in prominent places around town.◦Takes them to the “RotarySmiles” page

on the District Web site and then to your club’s web site. www.RotarySmiles.org

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Status of Web SitesStatus of Web SitesGreat Examples

◦Lancaster – top slide show

◦St. Johnsbury - Audio and Video

◦Boundry – Waving Flags

◦Sherbrooke – top slide show and Rotary Video

◦Barre – great opening photo

◦Stowe - Octoberfest

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Status of Web SitesStatus of Web SitesNon Existant or Work needed

◦ Morrisville◦ Ossipee vally◦ Central Vermont◦ St. Albans◦ Woodsville- Wells River◦ Lyndonville◦ Williston Richmond◦ Sherbrooke-Metro◦ White Mountain◦ Burlington Sunrise◦ Drummondville-Malouin

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Telling Your Club’s StoryTelling Your Club’s Story

◦ Rotary Magazines in Public Places

◦ Publicize Service Projects

◦ Promote Work with Young People

◦ www.RotarySmiles.org

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Telling Your Club’s StoryTelling Your Club’s StorySeek opportunities for Rotarians to speak at

community events and in schoolsPromote Rotary’s work with and for young people

Personalized Story Books for 1st Graders

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Your Personal StoryYour Personal Story

“What’s that pin?” “ That’s a Rotary pin” What’s Rotary?” “Rotary’s the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.”

Determine their interests. Like; “What do you do for a living?” or

“Do you enjoy helping people?” Then “Rotary can enrich your life

as it has done mine.”

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Your Personal StoryYour Personal Story

“I joined Rotary because I wanted to help make life better for people in my community, but I also enjoy the friendship and fun rotary offers – and it’s world wide.”

“Many, many opportunities to bring clean water and better sanitation to communities, to help rid the world of diseases like Polio, etc. “– then continue telling your own personal story.

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Cite Rotary’s International Presence

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Building an ‘Action Building an ‘Action Plan’ for Dynamic Plan’ for Dynamic

GrowthGrowth

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Engagement - RetentionEngagement - Retention____Evaluate Your Club’s Engagement

Quotient

1. Avg. Attendance per month2. Retention rate (people lost/resigned - running total)3. Condition of Web Site/Facebook page4. Answer the 11 questions on page 5. of the Membership Plan5. Conduct one-on-one Exit Interviews

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Engagement - RetentionEngagement - Retention

____Conduct 100% Member Survey - using Appendix 9. Or use SurveyMonkey

____Then gain Board of Directors and membership buy-in to;

1. Correct Problem Areas2. Implement Improvements

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Engagement - RetentionEngagement - Retention

_____ Improve Content of Meetings

1. Rotary Minute and Rotary Moment at every meeting

2. Develop programs to Inform Inspire, or Educate your members

3. Shy away from giving an audience to speakers that want something

4. Happy dollars OK but don’t pass the hat

5. Fines ????74

Engagement - RetentionEngagement - Retention___Don’t be afraid to think “Outside the Box”___ Try Adaptive Meetings

1. Do and plan Service Projects 2. Joint Meeting with 1 or 2 other clubs

3. Meet at Different Business Locations

4 Social Evening5. Joint Meeting with Interact Club6. Open Air Meeting

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Engagement - RetentionEngagement - Retention

___ Implement 1st Year Committees1. Club puts up $500.00 and2. Challenges new members to find

the next community service project for the club.

___ Schedule a Visioning Session___ Produce a Weekly Newsletter (1

page)___Close the back door (Rule of 85)

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Attraction - RecruitmentAttraction - Recruitment____ Mix, Match and/or Tailor best

Recruitment Approach (Appendixes 2, 3, 5,)

____ Have Members Wear Rotary Pin in the Community

____ Tell Our Story – Visit Shops and Businesses

____ High Visibility Service Projects (Rotary at Work T-shirts)

____ Thursday Evening Town Walks

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Attraction - RecruitmentAttraction - Recruitment___Press Releases, Radio/TV/Facebook

Ads, “RotarySmiles” Posters___Invite Speakers Back for Two Free

Meals___ Give speaker a certificate –

immunized 5 children against Polio___Ask Family Members to Save Money

by Joining Rotary under the District’s and Club’s ‘Family Member Plan’

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Attraction - RecruitmentAttraction - Recruitment___Keep Website page Updated and

Appealing___Distribute newsletter to townspeople ___Place Weekly Ads in Newspaper (cost

effective)___Bring in Young Professionals with the

‘Young Leaders’ plan (has compounding effect)

___ Recruit Spouses that have interrupted their employment or that have never worked to care for children or support a spouse in their work.

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Build New ClubsBuild New Clubs Give Community & Members More Options

Rotary Satellite Club of Pigeon Cove Sunrise (People who can’t make a Lunch/Dinner Meeting)

Rotary Satellite Club of Pigeon Cove Weekends (Service Oriented but Busy the During Week)

Rotary Satellite Club of Pigeon Cove Young Professionals (Adaptive Meetings – Lower Costs - Networking)

Rotary E-Club of Pigeon Cove – No District limit for E-Clubs – can be a hybrid

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Build New ClubsBuild New Clubs New Club in New Community

Have Your Club be the Mentor ClubHave One of Your Members be the District

Governor’s Representative

District Goal and Results◦ Goal: One new club chartered per

year.◦ Results:

2012 – Drummondville Malouin, QC 2013 – Ossipee Valley, NH 2014 – Granby, QC (pending)

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Rotaract and Interact Rotaract and Interact ClubsClubs Interact Active

Central Vermont, Robert Spaulding

Lincoln-Woodstock, Joel Bourassa

Mad River Valley, Pat Pinkston

Milton, Corey Gottfried Northeast Kingdom, Doug

Spates Northfield, Nicole

DiDomenico Randolph, Scott Sorrell Sherbrooke, Pierre Bergeron Stowe, Emily Pound Wolfeboro, Bob Simoneau

Interact Creating Montpelier, Dawn

Provost Plymouth, Don

Englebert St. Johnsbury, Jim Jung South Burlington, P.J.

Pfeifenberger Hanover, Wayne Gersen Rotaract Active Hanover, Carol Olwert Northfield, Nicole

DiDomenico Plymouth, Don

Englebert Rotaract Creating Lyndonville, Bob

Whittaker

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We have to show the

PRIDE we have as Rotarians Because our goal is:

“To Make Life Better for People”

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Be Proud and Inspire OthersBe Proud and Inspire Others

What is our Product?Service – Service above all else“Service above Self”“We do good in the World”

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Rotarians Building a Dam in Chahalka, India 86

Questions and DiscussionQuestions and Discussion

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