Here's the link Rotary Training Talk for July. It's loaded with great leadership ideas about training and how to create Bigger, Better, Bolder Rotary clubs!
Especially interesting are some of the links to the RI Website where you can learn about other clubs "Best Practices" and "Solutions" to common club concerns. "Add your input to help create a Rotary knowledge base of best practices and new ideas that will help Rotarians around the world improve their clubs and their service to the community."
www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en.../training_talk_1007_en.pdf
RI Zones 25-26 Rotary Coordinator News
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
"Say Hello" - Best Practices
The Rotary Club of Sherman Oaks Sunset, California, USA has implemented a successful program tied to International Mother Language Day since 2009. The project celebrates Rotary's World Understanding Month and UNESCO's annual International Mother Language Day (in February, but can be implemented any time), and encompasses all five Avenues of Service.
Volunteers teach 11- and 12-year-old students (New Generations Service) how to say Hello, Thank You, Please, Peace, and Love (Community Service) in 44 different languages (and still adding) (International Service). The translations were gathered from many sources; Club Members include natives of Japan, Bangladesh, and India. A frequent visitor to the Club from RC Stockholm-Borgen, Sweden provided Swedish. Everyone in the Club was involved (Club Service) in tracking down friends who could provide translations. A former Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar pitched in, as did Rotarians in Israel, Thailand, and Ghana.
Thinking outside the box, Project Chair and 2009-2010 Club President Mel Powell contacted an old friend, Bob Miller, the Hall of Fame television announcer for the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings, and obtained translations from Kings players native to Latvia, Slovenia, and Slovakia. "The Kings have a Swede and a Russian as well, but we were already covered, "explains Powell. "The team went on a winning streak after we got the translations, with our translators scoring some key goals, so Rotary must be good luck."
During the second year of the program, the presentation yielded a surprising result. After Rotarians taught three languages chosen based on the students’ history studies, a student raised his hand and asked to teach classmates his birth tongue, Farsi, and he came up and did so. That evening school principal Claudia Moreland, a member of the Rotary Club, arrived with tears in her eyes—“that boy is not a good student, is not popular, never raises his hand or wants to be singled out”--but our Rotarians moved him enough to want to volunteer, because here was something he could do that his classmates could not, so he could teach them.
The project caught the notice of the publications department in Evanston and was featured in Rotarian Magazine’s World Roundup in late 2009. Any Club in the world can implement this project, and Sherman Oaks Sunset is happy to share our collection of languages.
Want more information? Contact Mel Powell at rotarymelpowell@aol.com
Volunteers teach 11- and 12-year-old students (New Generations Service) how to say Hello, Thank You, Please, Peace, and Love (Community Service) in 44 different languages (and still adding) (International Service). The translations were gathered from many sources; Club Members include natives of Japan, Bangladesh, and India. A frequent visitor to the Club from RC Stockholm-Borgen, Sweden provided Swedish. Everyone in the Club was involved (Club Service) in tracking down friends who could provide translations. A former Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar pitched in, as did Rotarians in Israel, Thailand, and Ghana.
Thinking outside the box, Project Chair and 2009-2010 Club President Mel Powell contacted an old friend, Bob Miller, the Hall of Fame television announcer for the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings, and obtained translations from Kings players native to Latvia, Slovenia, and Slovakia. "The Kings have a Swede and a Russian as well, but we were already covered, "explains Powell. "The team went on a winning streak after we got the translations, with our translators scoring some key goals, so Rotary must be good luck."
During the second year of the program, the presentation yielded a surprising result. After Rotarians taught three languages chosen based on the students’ history studies, a student raised his hand and asked to teach classmates his birth tongue, Farsi, and he came up and did so. That evening school principal Claudia Moreland, a member of the Rotary Club, arrived with tears in her eyes—“that boy is not a good student, is not popular, never raises his hand or wants to be singled out”--but our Rotarians moved him enough to want to volunteer, because here was something he could do that his classmates could not, so he could teach them.
The project caught the notice of the publications department in Evanston and was featured in Rotarian Magazine’s World Roundup in late 2009. Any Club in the world can implement this project, and Sherman Oaks Sunset is happy to share our collection of languages.
Want more information? Contact Mel Powell at rotarymelpowell@aol.com
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Why Did They Really Leave??
From Paul Kiser, District 5190, PR Chair:
I have a challenge for every North American Rotary club that is at least ten years old:
Step 1. Look up all the new members that were inducted in the last three and a half years, excluding the new members inducted in the last six months (e.g; members inducted between January 2007 and January 2010.)
Step 2. Determine how many of those members left the club.
Step 3. Contact them (if living) and ask the following questions:
* Why did you leave the club?
* Why did you really leave the club?
* In a time when more connections with business people would be more critical, why didn’t our club offer this to you?
* What type of person would you recommend to join our club? (Age, gender, personality, etc.)
* What irritated/disappointed you about our club?
Step 4. Hold a Board Meeting to discuss the results.
Rule One is that no one is allowed to diminish or discount the statements of the former member (e.g.; “She never was really happy with us.” or “They just wanted to network.” or “He joined for the wrong reasons.”)
Rule Two is that no one on the Board who has served over three years is allowed to participate in the discussion for the first 30 minutes.
I think you’ll find the results interesting and tell you the public image that your club projects to others. Why? Too many Rotarians are looking for members who think, believe, talk, act, and look like the existing club members. New members who don’t fit the mold are the first to leave. The question is whether the club is ready to adjust their behavior to be more inclusive of business professionals who may not fit the mold.
The reason to limit the participation of long-term Board members is because members who have become entrenched in the decision-making process of the club tend to have too much say and tend to try to preserve the status quo.
Let me know what you discover about your club’s public image.
http://paulkiser.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/rotary-membership-challenge
I have a challenge for every North American Rotary club that is at least ten years old:
Step 1. Look up all the new members that were inducted in the last three and a half years, excluding the new members inducted in the last six months (e.g; members inducted between January 2007 and January 2010.)
Step 2. Determine how many of those members left the club.
Step 3. Contact them (if living) and ask the following questions:
* Why did you leave the club?
* Why did you really leave the club?
* In a time when more connections with business people would be more critical, why didn’t our club offer this to you?
* What type of person would you recommend to join our club? (Age, gender, personality, etc.)
* What irritated/disappointed you about our club?
Step 4. Hold a Board Meeting to discuss the results.
Rule One is that no one is allowed to diminish or discount the statements of the former member (e.g.; “She never was really happy with us.” or “They just wanted to network.” or “He joined for the wrong reasons.”)
Rule Two is that no one on the Board who has served over three years is allowed to participate in the discussion for the first 30 minutes.
I think you’ll find the results interesting and tell you the public image that your club projects to others. Why? Too many Rotarians are looking for members who think, believe, talk, act, and look like the existing club members. New members who don’t fit the mold are the first to leave. The question is whether the club is ready to adjust their behavior to be more inclusive of business professionals who may not fit the mold.
The reason to limit the participation of long-term Board members is because members who have become entrenched in the decision-making process of the club tend to have too much say and tend to try to preserve the status quo.
Let me know what you discover about your club’s public image.
http://paulkiser.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/rotary-membership-challenge
Monday, July 19, 2010
Creating Dynamic Clubs
Tell me and I'll forget. Show me and I'll remember. Involve me and I'll understand. -- Confucious
(Excerpts from a post by Joe Brownlee, Manager, RI Strategic Planning)
"Rotary Coordinators are key to helping clubs and districts understand the connection between their success and the organization’s mission and vision." Following are a few of our goals where we can use your ideas and assistance:
Find clubs with innovative programs and activities and share what you’ve learned with RI and with the clubs and districts you visit. Send your "Best Practices" to Zone 25 RC Judi - judi5110@comcast.net or Zone 26 RC Don Kremer - dekremer@pacbell.net
Promote club planning so that clubs can see how what they do connects to a strategic priority or goal
Engage clubs in understanding what “signature” projects and activities are. What does a club do best? Can they do it better? Are they known in the community for what they are passionate about?
Encourage district leaders to help clubs collaborate, encourage planning and public relations efforts so they can learn from each other
How a club interprets the priorities will vary by geography. There is no “right way” but the one that fits best with a club’s community.
The strategic planning web page provides information and resources. E-learning modules on the strategic priorities are being prepared to help clubs and districts find their focus, offer ideas and ways to become bigger, bolder and better.
Contact the Strategic Planning Office at SPO@Rotary.org for more information.
(Excerpts from a post by Joe Brownlee, Manager, RI Strategic Planning)
"Rotary Coordinators are key to helping clubs and districts understand the connection between their success and the organization’s mission and vision." Following are a few of our goals where we can use your ideas and assistance:
Find clubs with innovative programs and activities and share what you’ve learned with RI and with the clubs and districts you visit. Send your "Best Practices" to Zone 25 RC Judi - judi5110@comcast.net or Zone 26 RC Don Kremer - dekremer@pacbell.net
Promote club planning so that clubs can see how what they do connects to a strategic priority or goal
Engage clubs in understanding what “signature” projects and activities are. What does a club do best? Can they do it better? Are they known in the community for what they are passionate about?
Encourage district leaders to help clubs collaborate, encourage planning and public relations efforts so they can learn from each other
How a club interprets the priorities will vary by geography. There is no “right way” but the one that fits best with a club’s community.
The strategic planning web page provides information and resources. E-learning modules on the strategic priorities are being prepared to help clubs and districts find their focus, offer ideas and ways to become bigger, bolder and better.
Contact the Strategic Planning Office at SPO@Rotary.org for more information.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Measurement of a Rotarian
"I don’t have to tell you that the measure of a Rotarian is not calculated in dollars and cents but rather on a more finely tuned scale.Character. Values. Commitment. Achievement. Experience. Passion
These are the traits, which set Rotarians apart."
Paraphrased from a book on copy-writing by Denny Hatch.
These are the traits, which set Rotarians apart."
Paraphrased from a book on copy-writing by Denny Hatch.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Membership Best Practices
During the last days as President of RC Eugene Delta, I stumbled across a link on the Rotary International web site. It provides a listing of terminated members - by club. Might I suggest that the current president and/or secretary of each club, download and print page by page this list. Give it to the membership committee and have them contact these ex-members. The printout provides reasons for termination. Many of them left Rotary because of business or personal time conflict(s). I suspect that there are several people wanting to come back to Rotary - just need the ask. If your club's meeting day and time do not support the person, suggest an alternate club(s). Below are the directs to get to the list mentioned.
Go to: http://rotary.org/en/selfservice/Pages/login.aspx
-> login
-> click on Update Membership Data
-> click on Terminated members,
-> Print it out, one page at a time.
Thanks to AG David Klindt, D5110 for this idea!
Go to: http://rotary.org/en/selfservice/Pages/login.aspx
-> login
-> click on Update Membership Data
-> click on Terminated members,
-> Print it out, one page at a time.
Thanks to AG David Klindt, D5110 for this idea!
Rotary Coordinator News from Southern Africa!
Great ideas and thoughts come from around the Rotary World! In an effort to share as much of this as possible, I will be posting links to other blogs that I think are relevant and helpful to us here in Zones 25 and 26. One such blog is from Zone 20A (South) which comprises the five districts of southern Africa, which includes Angola, Botswana,Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Swaziland! Wow! That's a huge zone!
You will notice that two of the posts have been written by Rotarians from our own Zones - RID John Blount and PDG Ron Sekkel. You see -- Collaboration of ideas and best practices happens all over the Rotary universe! That's just part of what we hope to encourage among our clubs, districts and committees as we work together to help our clubs be stronger -- BIGGER, BETTER, BOLDER!
Take a look -- http://rczone20asouth.blogspot.com/
Note also that the title of this blog has a temporary title change as we move into the more expanded role of Rotary Coordinator. Soon, the blog will be hosted by the Zone 25-26 website, but until then, your subscription here should continue to bring you back for more good info.
Hope your summer is going well!
Judi
You will notice that two of the posts have been written by Rotarians from our own Zones - RID John Blount and PDG Ron Sekkel. You see -- Collaboration of ideas and best practices happens all over the Rotary universe! That's just part of what we hope to encourage among our clubs, districts and committees as we work together to help our clubs be stronger -- BIGGER, BETTER, BOLDER!
Take a look -- http://rczone20asouth.blogspot.com/
Note also that the title of this blog has a temporary title change as we move into the more expanded role of Rotary Coordinator. Soon, the blog will be hosted by the Zone 25-26 website, but until then, your subscription here should continue to bring you back for more good info.
Hope your summer is going well!
Judi
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Rotary Leader e-News Available
This is a great new RI on-line publication. You might want to subscribe if you're not already receiving it!
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/6be59928#/6be59928/8
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/6be59928#/6be59928/8
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Kick-Off Bigger, Better, Bolder!
The July 2010 edition of Membership Matters is ready for downloading from the Zone 24/32 website or you can copy and paste the link below.
http://www.clubrunner.ca/zonedata/22/html/855/Membership%20Matters%20July%202010.pdf
Excellent articles in this edition that apply directly to creating more effective clubs!
http://www.clubrunner.ca/zonedata/22/html/855/Membership%20Matters%20July%202010.pdf
Excellent articles in this edition that apply directly to creating more effective clubs!
Friday, July 2, 2010
The NEW Rotary Year!
RI Strategic Plan Goes Into Effect
Rotary International News -- 2 July 2010
With the start of the new Rotary year, Rotary International’s revised Strategic Plan officially goes into effect.
The plan comprises three priorities, all of equal importance to Rotary's future: support and strengthen clubs, focus and increase humanitarian service, and enhance public image and awareness. These priorities stem from Rotary’s core values of service, leadership, diversity, integrity, and fellowship.
Rotary clubs can use the priorities in the RI Strategic Plan as a basis for developing their own plans, tailored to their size of their club, the skills of their members, and the needs of the communities they serve.
The revised RI Strategic Plan (PDF) is available for download, along with Rotary's core values (PDF) , a PowerPoint presentation that explains the RI Strategic Plan, an RI Strategic Plan poster (PDF), and other resources. See http://www.rotary.org/en/Members/GeneralInformation/Announcements/Pages/2july10_annc_strategic_plan.aspx?tw for links to the documents.
The RI Board of Directors adopted the revised plan at its November meeting and refined it in January.
Rotary International News -- 2 July 2010
With the start of the new Rotary year, Rotary International’s revised Strategic Plan officially goes into effect.
The plan comprises three priorities, all of equal importance to Rotary's future: support and strengthen clubs, focus and increase humanitarian service, and enhance public image and awareness. These priorities stem from Rotary’s core values of service, leadership, diversity, integrity, and fellowship.
Rotary clubs can use the priorities in the RI Strategic Plan as a basis for developing their own plans, tailored to their size of their club, the skills of their members, and the needs of the communities they serve.
The revised RI Strategic Plan (PDF) is available for download, along with Rotary's core values (PDF) , a PowerPoint presentation that explains the RI Strategic Plan, an RI Strategic Plan poster (PDF), and other resources. See http://www.rotary.org/en/Members/GeneralInformation/Announcements/Pages/2july10_annc_strategic_plan.aspx?tw for links to the documents.
The RI Board of Directors adopted the revised plan at its November meeting and refined it in January.
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