Is Rotary membership "STABLE" at 1.2 million?

In response to recent comment by a Rotary colleague about Rotary doubling to 1.2 million........yes, BUT, a startling statistic that I just learned when I was in Chicago for Rotary Coordinator training in February --

7 years ago, Rotary had approximately 1.2 million members......
Currently we are STILL approximately 1.2 million members........
Does that indicate we're "stable?"
......Well, no, because in that same 7 year period we INDUCTED 1.2 million members!!

Another statistic -- 40% of Rotarians worldwide have been in Rotary less than 3 years!

(To examine this at your own club level, sit down with your club secretary and ask him or her to show you the records for the last 5 years -- how many (and who?) were inducted and how many were terminated. Then compare a club roster from 5 years ago to your current club roster. I'd be very interested in what you find by looking at your own club.)

We seem to know how to "recruit" but, by and large, we don't know how to "keep" members once they come into our ranks.

This could be a topic for a whole seminar or workshop, but it means we all need to take a look at how well we're educating our prospects BEFORE inducting them, how well we continue that education AFTER their inducted, and do we give them "value" for the time and money they give to Rotary? Are we finding out what THEY expect from Rotary?

All this leads into RIPE Ray's plan to develop stronger Rotary clubs -- "Bigger, Better, Bolder" --to get more information and "action steps," take advantage of the Zone Assemblies coming to a convenient location near you in July or August -- put on by your very own Zone Rotary Coordinator and Foundation Coordinator.

July 10 D5020 and D5030 and inviting D5080 (probably Seattle area)

July 17 D5130, D5150, D5160 and inviting D5180 (someplace north of Bay Area)

July 24 D5100 and D5110 (expected to be in Salem area)

Aug 14 D5080 (Spokane)

Aug 21 D5180 and D5190 (probably Reno)