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
RI Zones 25-26 Rotary Coordinator News
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
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.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Rotary Fellowships -- Benefitting Membership?
Fellowship: Sharing Ideas and Connecting People Worldwide
by Amanda Runge, RI Programs Division
Rotarians often cite fellowship as the reason why they joined a Rotary club. With so many diverse Rotary clubs all over the world, the opportunity for connection and collaboration is truly inspiring. One of the ways in which Rotarians can bridge continents is through the Rotary Fellowships program. Rotary Fellowships are groups of Rotarians, Rotarian spouses and Rotaractors who unite to: share a common interest in worthwhile recreational activities, further their vocational development through acquaintance with others of the same profession, make new friends around the world, explore new opportunities for service, and of course, have fun!
How can Rotary Fellowships lead to Bigger, Better, Bolder clubs? Rotary Fellowships are a great way for Rotarians to share ideas and make new friends in Rotary. By joining a fellowship, Rotarians will experience the internationality of Rotary and form relationships that are the basis of future club to club partnerships for service projects. Rotarians involved in fellowships are among the most committed of our members, and their activities increase membership retention.
Rotary Fellowships informally began in 1928 when a group of Rotarians with an interest in Esperanto (a language derived from many European languages) joined together to practice their hobby. In 1947 Rotarians organized a group of boating enthusiasts, which became the Yachting Fellowship. These activities gained more attention and operated over the years under many different names, such as World Fellowship Activities, International Vocational Contact Groups, Rotary Recreational and Vocational Fellowships, and finally Rotary Fellowships. As of June 2010 there are 55 Board-recognized Rotary Fellowships covering all sorts of hobbies and professions, including music, doctors, and scuba diving, just to name a few. (There is even a new Rotarians On Social Networks Fellowship!)
Whether it is just for the fun of it, or to build relationships with others in your professional field, fellowships are a great addition to any Rotary experience. For more information on Rotary Fellowships visit visit www.rotary.org/fellowships
by Amanda Runge, RI Programs Division
Rotarians often cite fellowship as the reason why they joined a Rotary club. With so many diverse Rotary clubs all over the world, the opportunity for connection and collaboration is truly inspiring. One of the ways in which Rotarians can bridge continents is through the Rotary Fellowships program. Rotary Fellowships are groups of Rotarians, Rotarian spouses and Rotaractors who unite to: share a common interest in worthwhile recreational activities, further their vocational development through acquaintance with others of the same profession, make new friends around the world, explore new opportunities for service, and of course, have fun!
How can Rotary Fellowships lead to Bigger, Better, Bolder clubs? Rotary Fellowships are a great way for Rotarians to share ideas and make new friends in Rotary. By joining a fellowship, Rotarians will experience the internationality of Rotary and form relationships that are the basis of future club to club partnerships for service projects. Rotarians involved in fellowships are among the most committed of our members, and their activities increase membership retention.
Rotary Fellowships informally began in 1928 when a group of Rotarians with an interest in Esperanto (a language derived from many European languages) joined together to practice their hobby. In 1947 Rotarians organized a group of boating enthusiasts, which became the Yachting Fellowship. These activities gained more attention and operated over the years under many different names, such as World Fellowship Activities, International Vocational Contact Groups, Rotary Recreational and Vocational Fellowships, and finally Rotary Fellowships. As of June 2010 there are 55 Board-recognized Rotary Fellowships covering all sorts of hobbies and professions, including music, doctors, and scuba diving, just to name a few. (There is even a new Rotarians On Social Networks Fellowship!)
Whether it is just for the fun of it, or to build relationships with others in your professional field, fellowships are a great addition to any Rotary experience. For more information on Rotary Fellowships visit visit www.rotary.org/fellowships
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Recruitment Idea Exchange
Following are notes from the Idea Exchange on Membership Recruitment at the International Convention in Montreal. The participants were from around the world. Though many of these ideas are not new, you might find some great tidbits to consider - or share the list with the clubs in your district!
MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT IDEAS
Notes from the Idea Exchange – Montreal RI Convention – June 21, 2010
ASK – ASK – ASK
Have a club representative on the Chamber of Commerce or community business group.
Invite prospects, who feel they don’t have time at the moment to join Rotary, to help with projects.
Keep a database of prospective members – i.e. parents of RYLA, Interact, and scholarship students. Stay in touch with them, sending club bulletin or newsletter and copy of Rotarian magazine.
Ask each member think about who they “touch” on a daily basis.
Plan a Refreshment Evening or Open House, inviting prospective members to socialize and hear about Rotary and your club. One club invited 140, had 35 attend, and 5 joined.
Retain members to recruit.
Membership drive
PLAN!!
Website – attractive, user friendly and current!
See www.rotary7090.org – video
Utilize District Membership Chair and committee – they have been trained to help clubs.
Advertise:
1. collaborate with other Rotary clubs and other service clubs, such as Lions , listing time of meetings, activities, projects (even average age)
2. members sponsor ad and receive acknowledgment or reference to their businesses.
RI PR grants
Attracting younger members:
1. cost effective
2. family friendly
3. creative classifications
4. See Rotary Club of Edmonton Urban Spirits (D5370)
“This is not your father’s Rotary club!”
http://www.urbanspirits.ca/
Meetings at different hour than traditional lunch venue
1. After – five, meeting after work for about 1 hour – liquid refreshment, no meal, home in time for dinner with family.
2. Saturday morning, meeting for coffee, meal optional, and babysitter!
Community based Rotaract in every major community is a natural feed to Rotary.
Divide membership into groups to work on recruiting.
Facilitator’s note: Consider the “Five for One” plan – see http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/five_for_one_plan_en.pdf
Members are the customers – what do they want?
What are prospective members looking for in Rotary?
Partners of Rotarians
Game – submit name of potential member or pay $1.00
Survey club membership
One club’s example - http://gilletterotary.com/membership_survey
Membership Satisfaction Survey - http://www.clubrunner.ca/data/7090/html/51968/Membership%20Satisfaction%20Questionnaire%20%28RI%29.pdf
What are the RI criteria for membership? See Manual of Procedure (MOP) Article 5, Section 2 of the Standard Club Constitution
http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/035en_full.pdf
TRF Alumni -
Ambassadorial and Peace Scholars, GSE team members, Rotary Volunteers.
(Also consider former Youth Exchange students, RYLA students, Interactors, scholarship recipients – where are these young adults now?)
We have spent time and money to send these people as our Rotary “ambassadors” – they know Rotary and usually want to remain involved with Rotary.
Friends of Rotary
(Group of community folks who are supporters and helpers of Rotary clubs, either with financial support or hands-on assistance with projects.)
Family members!
Attendance – be creative within RI rules – make sure lots of options for make-ups.
Membership information, newsletters and club bulletins emailed to club members who then forward to friends. Membership committee does follow-up to “close.”
Build Effective Rotary Clubs! (Build it and they will come!)
See Also: Membership Development Resource Guide – 417EN
MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT IDEAS
Notes from the Idea Exchange – Montreal RI Convention – June 21, 2010
ASK – ASK – ASK
Have a club representative on the Chamber of Commerce or community business group.
Invite prospects, who feel they don’t have time at the moment to join Rotary, to help with projects.
Keep a database of prospective members – i.e. parents of RYLA, Interact, and scholarship students. Stay in touch with them, sending club bulletin or newsletter and copy of Rotarian magazine.
Ask each member think about who they “touch” on a daily basis.
Plan a Refreshment Evening or Open House, inviting prospective members to socialize and hear about Rotary and your club. One club invited 140, had 35 attend, and 5 joined.
Retain members to recruit.
Membership drive
PLAN!!
Website – attractive, user friendly and current!
See www.rotary7090.org – video
Utilize District Membership Chair and committee – they have been trained to help clubs.
Advertise:
1. collaborate with other Rotary clubs and other service clubs, such as Lions , listing time of meetings, activities, projects (even average age)
2. members sponsor ad and receive acknowledgment or reference to their businesses.
RI PR grants
Attracting younger members:
1. cost effective
2. family friendly
3. creative classifications
4. See Rotary Club of Edmonton Urban Spirits (D5370)
“This is not your father’s Rotary club!”
http://www.urbanspirits.ca/
Meetings at different hour than traditional lunch venue
1. After – five, meeting after work for about 1 hour – liquid refreshment, no meal, home in time for dinner with family.
2. Saturday morning, meeting for coffee, meal optional, and babysitter!
Community based Rotaract in every major community is a natural feed to Rotary.
Divide membership into groups to work on recruiting.
Facilitator’s note: Consider the “Five for One” plan – see http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/five_for_one_plan_en.pdf
Members are the customers – what do they want?
What are prospective members looking for in Rotary?
Partners of Rotarians
Game – submit name of potential member or pay $1.00
Survey club membership
One club’s example - http://gilletterotary.com/membership_survey
Membership Satisfaction Survey - http://www.clubrunner.ca/data/7090/html/51968/Membership%20Satisfaction%20Questionnaire%20%28RI%29.pdf
What are the RI criteria for membership? See Manual of Procedure (MOP) Article 5, Section 2 of the Standard Club Constitution
http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/035en_full.pdf
TRF Alumni -
Ambassadorial and Peace Scholars, GSE team members, Rotary Volunteers.
(Also consider former Youth Exchange students, RYLA students, Interactors, scholarship recipients – where are these young adults now?)
We have spent time and money to send these people as our Rotary “ambassadors” – they know Rotary and usually want to remain involved with Rotary.
Friends of Rotary
(Group of community folks who are supporters and helpers of Rotary clubs, either with financial support or hands-on assistance with projects.)
Family members!
Attendance – be creative within RI rules – make sure lots of options for make-ups.
Membership information, newsletters and club bulletins emailed to club members who then forward to friends. Membership committee does follow-up to “close.”
Build Effective Rotary Clubs! (Build it and they will come!)
See Also: Membership Development Resource Guide – 417EN
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Membership, your club, and the RI Strategic Plan
The revised RI Strategic Plan focuses on strengthening Rotary at the club level and provides the framework for clubs and districts to craft a successful future. This back-to-basics plan, with its revised vision and three targeted priorities, affirms that Rotary’s future lies in strong, focused clubs that are well known for their accomplishments.
So why is the RI Strategic Plan important to your club’s membership? The answer is very simple: Dynamic clubs attract new members, and they are a source of pride for existing members. Who wouldn’t want to belong to an action-oriented club whose contributions are improving lives in their own communities as well as communities worldwide?
Consider the ways your club fulfills the priority of supporting and strengthening clubs by answering the following questions:
•What are three innovative things your club has done — or will do — to address membership issues relevant to your region?
•How has your club become more flexible to accommodate the needs of younger working professionals?
What specifically have you done — or can you do — to attract members from a diverse cross-section of your community?
•How is your club approaching membership recruitment and retention differently than it did 5, 10, and 20 years ago?
•What does your club offer to its prospective and current members in terms of leadership development opportunities?
These questions will get you thinking about how your club’s membership efforts support Rotary International’s mission and vision, and how your club can step up these measures to play an integral role in implementing the RI Strategic Plan.
Consider the following resources to guide your club in its strategic membership efforts:
•RI Strategic Plan (including the plan document, PowerPoint presentation,core values statement, and poster)
•Strategic Planning Guide
•Club Leadership Plan
•Club Assessment Tools and the Membership Development Resource Guide
•Leadership Development: Your Guide to Starting a Program
Taken from The Membership Minute, May/June 2010
So why is the RI Strategic Plan important to your club’s membership? The answer is very simple: Dynamic clubs attract new members, and they are a source of pride for existing members. Who wouldn’t want to belong to an action-oriented club whose contributions are improving lives in their own communities as well as communities worldwide?
Consider the ways your club fulfills the priority of supporting and strengthening clubs by answering the following questions:
•What are three innovative things your club has done — or will do — to address membership issues relevant to your region?
•How has your club become more flexible to accommodate the needs of younger working professionals?
What specifically have you done — or can you do — to attract members from a diverse cross-section of your community?
•How is your club approaching membership recruitment and retention differently than it did 5, 10, and 20 years ago?
•What does your club offer to its prospective and current members in terms of leadership development opportunities?
These questions will get you thinking about how your club’s membership efforts support Rotary International’s mission and vision, and how your club can step up these measures to play an integral role in implementing the RI Strategic Plan.
Consider the following resources to guide your club in its strategic membership efforts:
•RI Strategic Plan (including the plan document, PowerPoint presentation,core values statement, and poster)
•Strategic Planning Guide
•Club Leadership Plan
•Club Assessment Tools and the Membership Development Resource Guide
•Leadership Development: Your Guide to Starting a Program
Taken from The Membership Minute, May/June 2010
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