The RI president’s monthly message
September 2010
Bigger, Better, Bolder
This year marks a significant anniversary for Rotary! Although the Rotary Club of Chicago started in 1905, the first convention of Rotary clubs was held in August of 1910 with 60 Rotarians representing 16 clubs. Our history as an organization of Rotary clubs started with that meeting in 1910, and we are now commencing a second century of service for Rotary as an association.
All of us want this century of service to be even more successful than the last. Therefore, this is an opportune time to ask: Are we taking the right steps to ensure that success? Are we doing the right things? Do we have a clear vision of the future? In the words of “ America the Beautiful,” can we “see beyond the years”?
As Rotary’s 100th president, I believe we are moving in the right direction. Our 33,000 clubs are Rotary’s biggest asset, and our success in the next 100 years will depend on the ability of our clubs to remain vibrant and vital. Their strength will determine our success!
The RI Board has taken several steps to offer more assistance to our clubs this year, including creating the Rotary Coordinators program to assist district governors in providing information about Rotary International’s programs and best practices to the clubs.
I firmly believe that if we help our clubs to become better and bolder, then the clubs will become bigger – both because of the increased pride of our Rotarians in their clubs and the increased awareness of Rotary by prospective members. Therefore, my goal is to help the district governors to help their clubs to become Bigger, Better, and Bolder!
This is a great time to be a Rotarian. Together we can make this century of service even more exciting than the last!
Ray Klinginsmith
President, Rotary International
http://www.rotary.org/en/AboutUs/RotaryLeadership/RIPresident
RI Zones 25-26 Rotary Coordinator News
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Electronic Communication Webinars
Rotary International is offering a series of free webinars targeted to clubs involved in electronic communications. These webinars will include Rotarians sharing best practices and assisting other Rotarians.
Webinar topics and schedules
* Websites -- Developing a Club Website -- (To be held Wednesday, 13 October, at 10:00 CDT and Wednesday, 20 October, at 18:00 CDT. Times are for the Chicago area. Please check for your local time.) Get tips on how to develop and manage a website for your club or district from a panel of Rotarian website experts.
* Social media (To be held in February)
Share tips on how to successfully promote your club or district using social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
* Newsletters (To be held in April)
What are some tips and best practices for transitioning from a print newsletter to an electronic one?
To register for the Website Webinar, and for more information, go to:
http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/Multimedia/webinars
Webinar topics and schedules
* Websites -- Developing a Club Website -- (To be held Wednesday, 13 October, at 10:00 CDT and Wednesday, 20 October, at 18:00 CDT. Times are for the Chicago area. Please check for your local time.) Get tips on how to develop and manage a website for your club or district from a panel of Rotarian website experts.
* Social media (To be held in February)
Share tips on how to successfully promote your club or district using social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
* Newsletters (To be held in April)
What are some tips and best practices for transitioning from a print newsletter to an electronic one?
To register for the Website Webinar, and for more information, go to:
http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/Multimedia/webinars
Friday, August 27, 2010
Dynamic Clubs make Keeping Members Easier
Retention Ideas from the “Closing the Back Door” Workshop RI Convention in Montréal, Québec, Canada Palais des congrès, 22 June 2010
The breakout session was moderated by Michael K. McGovern, 2009-10 Membership Development and Retention Committee chair. Panel members included Hendreen D. Rohrs and Peter M. Snider, regional RI membership coordinators, and Ron Beaubien, past RI director. The workshop focused on what's working in different parts of the Rotary world and encouraged attendees to share their own ideas. The following is a list of ideas shared.
FELLOWSHIP
Make Rotary fun.
Travel together to club meetings and projects – or take a club trip together.
Form a hiking fellowship to get active outside of weekly meetings.
Go out to Sunday brunch with a group of members.
Have dinners at a member’s home, but don’t let the member know who is coming.
PROJECTS
Find out what gets a member excited about Rotary.
Do a hands-on project to replace the regular meeting once a month.
Get involved in a new, innovative project.
Ask “Rotarians in name only” what they want to do.
Identify a signature project – one the club is known for throughout the community.
Change the holiday party for members to a holiday party for orphans (or something similar) to provide fellowship as well as a fun project.
Take on a challenging project, such as creating a wheelchair basketball court.
Select and conduct an outstanding and relevant community project.
FUNDRAISING
Create a variety show as a fundraiser, and get the entire club involved.
Hold a Men Who Cook fundraising event.
GETTING MEMBERS INVOLVED
Ask members to participate and take on responsibility.
Stop asking for volunteers. Use the direct approach, and ask individuals to get involved.
Promote attendance at district and international conferences.
CLUB ADMINISTRATION
Hold a collection to help defray the cost of dues for those who are going through financial difficulties.
Reassess club processes.
Change the meeting time so it accommodates members’ schedules.
Conduct a “visioning” process, and promote continuity.
Periodically have a 15-second “commercial” on each member’s business.
Have six Rotarians introduce themselves to newer members during a monthly club assembly.
Offer different speakers and topics. Reach out to a speakers’ bureau.
Offer a “business intern” program for qualified younger members in the community. Provide lower membership fees and costs.
Ask members what Rotary means to them individually.
Recognize important member events, including anniversaries, promotions, etc.
Move the location of the club meeting to accommodate more members.
Have a prepared agenda for each weekly and committee meeting, and keep to it.
Have a “reversed classification speech,” where one member does a speech for another member in the club.
Celebrate each member’s birthday.
Select one day a month to meet in a location more convenient for members who find it hard to attend, or at a venue that will cost less.
Hold summer meetings as picnics.
MENTORING
Create a mentor committee, and offer three-year mentoring to new members.
Designate someone to round up members who haven't participated in a while and drive them to the club's meetings or events.
Develop a buddy system, pairing up a new member with an existing member.
FAMILY
Plan outings to involve new Rotarians and their families.
Promote the family of Rotary.
Invite families to club meetings.
Visit members' families.
RECRUITMENT
Promote the practice of younger members introducing other younger members.
Issue a challenge to attract younger members so that 50 percent of the club is under the age of 50.
Specifically promote women in Rotary.
Organize a New Generations club to target young professionals.
Enlist the help of all club members in a recruitment drive.
For more current RI information, news and ideas, copy and paste this link for the "RI Weekly Update" http://echo4.bluehornet.com/hostedemail/email.htm?h=8804f1cd1e12d6adac111bc0ad28d474&CID=10634685432&ch=57AB97F11AD8195EC44CBD9AC92B4952
The breakout session was moderated by Michael K. McGovern, 2009-10 Membership Development and Retention Committee chair. Panel members included Hendreen D. Rohrs and Peter M. Snider, regional RI membership coordinators, and Ron Beaubien, past RI director. The workshop focused on what's working in different parts of the Rotary world and encouraged attendees to share their own ideas. The following is a list of ideas shared.
FELLOWSHIP
Make Rotary fun.
Travel together to club meetings and projects – or take a club trip together.
Form a hiking fellowship to get active outside of weekly meetings.
Go out to Sunday brunch with a group of members.
Have dinners at a member’s home, but don’t let the member know who is coming.
PROJECTS
Find out what gets a member excited about Rotary.
Do a hands-on project to replace the regular meeting once a month.
Get involved in a new, innovative project.
Ask “Rotarians in name only” what they want to do.
Identify a signature project – one the club is known for throughout the community.
Change the holiday party for members to a holiday party for orphans (or something similar) to provide fellowship as well as a fun project.
Take on a challenging project, such as creating a wheelchair basketball court.
Select and conduct an outstanding and relevant community project.
FUNDRAISING
Create a variety show as a fundraiser, and get the entire club involved.
Hold a Men Who Cook fundraising event.
GETTING MEMBERS INVOLVED
Ask members to participate and take on responsibility.
Stop asking for volunteers. Use the direct approach, and ask individuals to get involved.
Promote attendance at district and international conferences.
CLUB ADMINISTRATION
Hold a collection to help defray the cost of dues for those who are going through financial difficulties.
Reassess club processes.
Change the meeting time so it accommodates members’ schedules.
Conduct a “visioning” process, and promote continuity.
Periodically have a 15-second “commercial” on each member’s business.
Have six Rotarians introduce themselves to newer members during a monthly club assembly.
Offer different speakers and topics. Reach out to a speakers’ bureau.
Offer a “business intern” program for qualified younger members in the community. Provide lower membership fees and costs.
Ask members what Rotary means to them individually.
Recognize important member events, including anniversaries, promotions, etc.
Move the location of the club meeting to accommodate more members.
Have a prepared agenda for each weekly and committee meeting, and keep to it.
Have a “reversed classification speech,” where one member does a speech for another member in the club.
Celebrate each member’s birthday.
Select one day a month to meet in a location more convenient for members who find it hard to attend, or at a venue that will cost less.
Hold summer meetings as picnics.
MENTORING
Create a mentor committee, and offer three-year mentoring to new members.
Designate someone to round up members who haven't participated in a while and drive them to the club's meetings or events.
Develop a buddy system, pairing up a new member with an existing member.
FAMILY
Plan outings to involve new Rotarians and their families.
Promote the family of Rotary.
Invite families to club meetings.
Visit members' families.
RECRUITMENT
Promote the practice of younger members introducing other younger members.
Issue a challenge to attract younger members so that 50 percent of the club is under the age of 50.
Specifically promote women in Rotary.
Organize a New Generations club to target young professionals.
Enlist the help of all club members in a recruitment drive.
For more current RI information, news and ideas, copy and paste this link for the "RI Weekly Update" http://echo4.bluehornet.com/hostedemail/email.htm?h=8804f1cd1e12d6adac111bc0ad28d474&CID=10634685432&ch=57AB97F11AD8195EC44CBD9AC92B4952
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The "Old Guard"
Following is a blog article from Seth Godin. Though he writes mostly for business, I find many of his writings can also apply to Rotary. This article about Senior Management types who don't adapt to the times almost sounds like what we Rotarians hear all too often.... "We don't do it that way!" or "That won't work!"
Senior management
A newly-retired executive takes a job as an adjunct professor and really shakes things up. Both the school and the students are blown away by her fresh thinking and new approaches.
A forty-year old internet executive who has been running his company for decades misses one new trend after another, because he's still living in 1998.
One thing that happens to management when they get senior is that they get stuck. (As we saw with the new professor, senior isn't about old, it's about how long you've been there).
If you've been doing it forever, you discover (but may not realize) that the things that got you this power are no longer dependable.
Reliance on the tried and true can backfire (Rupert keeps missing one opportunity after another, and keeps misunderstanding the medium he works in) or it can (rarely) pay off (Steve Jobs keeps repeating the same business model again and again--it's not an accident that Apple has no real online or social media footprint. Steve believes in beautifully designed objects, closed systems and evangelizing to developers and creatives).
Worth quoting--one of Arthur C. Clarke's lesser known three laws: "When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is probably wrong."
The paradox is that by the time you get to be senior, the decisions that matter the most are the ones that would be best made made by people who are junior...
Seth Godin [blogmailfromseth@yahoo.com]
Senior management
A newly-retired executive takes a job as an adjunct professor and really shakes things up. Both the school and the students are blown away by her fresh thinking and new approaches.
A forty-year old internet executive who has been running his company for decades misses one new trend after another, because he's still living in 1998.
One thing that happens to management when they get senior is that they get stuck. (As we saw with the new professor, senior isn't about old, it's about how long you've been there).
If you've been doing it forever, you discover (but may not realize) that the things that got you this power are no longer dependable.
Reliance on the tried and true can backfire (Rupert keeps missing one opportunity after another, and keeps misunderstanding the medium he works in) or it can (rarely) pay off (Steve Jobs keeps repeating the same business model again and again--it's not an accident that Apple has no real online or social media footprint. Steve believes in beautifully designed objects, closed systems and evangelizing to developers and creatives).
Worth quoting--one of Arthur C. Clarke's lesser known three laws: "When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is probably wrong."
The paradox is that by the time you get to be senior, the decisions that matter the most are the ones that would be best made made by people who are junior...
Seth Godin [blogmailfromseth@yahoo.com]
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The Board Told Me I Had to Join Rotary
A wonderful article was recently shared with me -- and I thought you would appreciate it too.
Feature Article • By Joan Dixon • July 30, 2010 • from Blue Avacado, a newsletter for non-profits.
"If you've wondered how to break into the traditional civic leadership networks, Joan Dixon of the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois explains why the Rotary may be the unexpected solution:
"At one point I was the PR director for a large clinic in Champaign with 135 doctors, and my boss was a big time Rotarian. Another fellow suggested I join the Rotary, but my boss said I wasn't highly placed enough. Now that's old school thinking.
"So when I started in 2002 at the Community Foundation, our president said I had to join Rotary. Rotary was limited to men until 1989, when the Supreme Court said it had to open its membership to women; but even then there were not many females for a long time. Our club was only 21% female, but, as is typical, we would not have gotten lots of things done without the females. To their credit, most of the fellows in our club now recognize that.
"I was a little hesitant to join Rotary because it's an every-week commitment. Our club has lunch every Monday, and you're expected to attend -- one of the clubs meets at 6:45 am and it's "all the bacon you can eat"! If you are traveling you can attend a meeting of a Rotary club in the town you're visiting, or you can go online and fulfill the attendance requirement there. It's turned out to be like going to the gym. It becomes a routine and you plan around it.
"How has the community foundation benefited from your involvement with the Rotary?
"I've built the reputation of the foundation through my contacts at the Rotary. I'm always comfortable going to someone and saying, "You've shown an interest in children's issues -- I know that from the work you've done in Rotary. Let me talk to you about how we at the community foundation can help you with that." Through the Rotary I know lots of bankers and lawyers and people that can be helpful to the foundation.
"What happens at a Rotary meeting?
"We have a large club for this area with about 180 members (some clubs are as small as 20), so there will be about 120 folks at the meeting. We start by singing a patriotic song such as God Bless America, then we have an invocation or thought for the day. That's followed by announcements about Rotary committee meetings, and, if a club member has done something that's made the newspaper, we announce that or there's Rotary signsomebody to be thanked.
"Then we have a speaker for 20-30 minutes. For example, next Monday we're having a wheelchair athlete who has won the Boston Marathon and who is involved with helping people in Ghana with disabilities. The week after that the head of the Convention and Visitors Bureau will be talking about what the Bureau is doing. After that we'll have the head coach of the university football team and then the head city planner. So you can see we learn about all kinds of things and I get to meet everybody in the community.
"What if you're interested in the Rotary, but are not sure you will fit in?
"Go online and find out about the clubs near you and just show up. One club might have a more convenient meeting time, or might have younger members, or just feel like more of a fit to you. People aren't intentionally insensitive, but it does happen. At our club, for instance, some people give a prayer that's just too much, and we have to remind them that it's supposed to be more of a non-denominational thought for the day than a full-blown prayer.
"And why should a nonprofit person join Rotary?
"The folks in Rotary are interested in the community and they're a good resource: for board members, for volunteers, for donors. Rotary can help you make a connection to many people who can contribute to your organization's success. Don't be thrown off by the time commitment. When your organization needs something, chances are you can get it through one call to a Rotary member or in one more call to whomever that Rotarian refers you.
"Who pays the dues?
"The cost varies by club; to join our club it's about $300 initially and then ongoing it's about $150/year. The community foundation pays my dues; it's very typical that your organization pays. It's an investment of a few dollars and a lot of your time, but it pays off for the organization.
"How did you get to be Rotary president?
"It's a great organization, but the truth is, I just forgot to say no!
"Joan M. Dixon is President and CEO of the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, based in Champaign and is pictured at a Rotary meeting about to begin. Thanks to years of childhood dance lessons and a BA and MA in theatre, Joan can even provide the entertainment -- in addition to chairing -- Rotary meetings!"
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/board-told-me-i-had-join-rotary
Feature Article • By Joan Dixon • July 30, 2010 • from Blue Avacado, a newsletter for non-profits.
"If you've wondered how to break into the traditional civic leadership networks, Joan Dixon of the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois explains why the Rotary may be the unexpected solution:
"At one point I was the PR director for a large clinic in Champaign with 135 doctors, and my boss was a big time Rotarian. Another fellow suggested I join the Rotary, but my boss said I wasn't highly placed enough. Now that's old school thinking.
"So when I started in 2002 at the Community Foundation, our president said I had to join Rotary. Rotary was limited to men until 1989, when the Supreme Court said it had to open its membership to women; but even then there were not many females for a long time. Our club was only 21% female, but, as is typical, we would not have gotten lots of things done without the females. To their credit, most of the fellows in our club now recognize that.
"I was a little hesitant to join Rotary because it's an every-week commitment. Our club has lunch every Monday, and you're expected to attend -- one of the clubs meets at 6:45 am and it's "all the bacon you can eat"! If you are traveling you can attend a meeting of a Rotary club in the town you're visiting, or you can go online and fulfill the attendance requirement there. It's turned out to be like going to the gym. It becomes a routine and you plan around it.
"How has the community foundation benefited from your involvement with the Rotary?
"I've built the reputation of the foundation through my contacts at the Rotary. I'm always comfortable going to someone and saying, "You've shown an interest in children's issues -- I know that from the work you've done in Rotary. Let me talk to you about how we at the community foundation can help you with that." Through the Rotary I know lots of bankers and lawyers and people that can be helpful to the foundation.
"What happens at a Rotary meeting?
"We have a large club for this area with about 180 members (some clubs are as small as 20), so there will be about 120 folks at the meeting. We start by singing a patriotic song such as God Bless America, then we have an invocation or thought for the day. That's followed by announcements about Rotary committee meetings, and, if a club member has done something that's made the newspaper, we announce that or there's Rotary signsomebody to be thanked.
"Then we have a speaker for 20-30 minutes. For example, next Monday we're having a wheelchair athlete who has won the Boston Marathon and who is involved with helping people in Ghana with disabilities. The week after that the head of the Convention and Visitors Bureau will be talking about what the Bureau is doing. After that we'll have the head coach of the university football team and then the head city planner. So you can see we learn about all kinds of things and I get to meet everybody in the community.
"What if you're interested in the Rotary, but are not sure you will fit in?
"Go online and find out about the clubs near you and just show up. One club might have a more convenient meeting time, or might have younger members, or just feel like more of a fit to you. People aren't intentionally insensitive, but it does happen. At our club, for instance, some people give a prayer that's just too much, and we have to remind them that it's supposed to be more of a non-denominational thought for the day than a full-blown prayer.
"And why should a nonprofit person join Rotary?
"The folks in Rotary are interested in the community and they're a good resource: for board members, for volunteers, for donors. Rotary can help you make a connection to many people who can contribute to your organization's success. Don't be thrown off by the time commitment. When your organization needs something, chances are you can get it through one call to a Rotary member or in one more call to whomever that Rotarian refers you.
"Who pays the dues?
"The cost varies by club; to join our club it's about $300 initially and then ongoing it's about $150/year. The community foundation pays my dues; it's very typical that your organization pays. It's an investment of a few dollars and a lot of your time, but it pays off for the organization.
"How did you get to be Rotary president?
"It's a great organization, but the truth is, I just forgot to say no!
"Joan M. Dixon is President and CEO of the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, based in Champaign and is pictured at a Rotary meeting about to begin. Thanks to years of childhood dance lessons and a BA and MA in theatre, Joan can even provide the entertainment -- in addition to chairing -- Rotary meetings!"
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/board-told-me-i-had-join-rotary
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Innovating our Rotary Members
From Bloomberg Businessweek
By Dov Seidman
August 17, 2010
The following excerpt is from an article in Bloomberg Businessweek. It's written for the business owner or manager who is concerned about employee engagement -- but can easily be "translated" into an article for Rotary club and district leaders. How do we motivate and engage our Rotarians?
"We cannot "motivate" engagement (or innovation, growth, or succession for that matter); instead, we must inspire the kind of outcomes we want by rooting ourselves in a set of values, being in the grip of an idea worthy of dedication and commitment, connecting around a meaningful and shared purpose, and aligning around a common, deep, and sustainable set of human, societal, and environmental values.
Why? Because sustainably engaged employees generate ideas, innovation, creativity, processes, and other outcomes that deliver long-term competitive advantages, and they also collaborate with others to make progress."
That speaks directly to "retention" in Rotary!
You'll find the entire article on the following link -- it's well worth reading and reading again and then sharing with your Rotary colleagues.
http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/aug2010/ca20100816_848695.htm
By Dov Seidman
August 17, 2010
The following excerpt is from an article in Bloomberg Businessweek. It's written for the business owner or manager who is concerned about employee engagement -- but can easily be "translated" into an article for Rotary club and district leaders. How do we motivate and engage our Rotarians?
"We cannot "motivate" engagement (or innovation, growth, or succession for that matter); instead, we must inspire the kind of outcomes we want by rooting ourselves in a set of values, being in the grip of an idea worthy of dedication and commitment, connecting around a meaningful and shared purpose, and aligning around a common, deep, and sustainable set of human, societal, and environmental values.
Why? Because sustainably engaged employees generate ideas, innovation, creativity, processes, and other outcomes that deliver long-term competitive advantages, and they also collaborate with others to make progress."
That speaks directly to "retention" in Rotary!
You'll find the entire article on the following link -- it's well worth reading and reading again and then sharing with your Rotary colleagues.
http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/aug2010/ca20100816_848695.htm
Sunday, August 15, 2010
4 Districts Collaborate to "End Polio Now"
Help accelerate Rotary’s pledge to End Polio Now.
Sunday October 24th
You are invited to join Rotary President Ray Klinginsmith and Districts 5130, 5150, 5160 and 5170 Rotarians, friends and family to walk the 1.2 miles across the Golden Gate Bridge. In the afternoon shop, dine and enjoy the fun flavors and colors of the Ferry Building.
Shortly after sunset RI President Ray will illuminate the Clock Tower at the Ferry Building with Rotary’s pledge to End Polio Now.
Mark your calendar now to be part of this historical day and Rotary's public image effort to eradicate polio.
Sunday October 24th
You are invited to join Rotary President Ray Klinginsmith and Districts 5130, 5150, 5160 and 5170 Rotarians, friends and family to walk the 1.2 miles across the Golden Gate Bridge. In the afternoon shop, dine and enjoy the fun flavors and colors of the Ferry Building.
Shortly after sunset RI President Ray will illuminate the Clock Tower at the Ferry Building with Rotary’s pledge to End Polio Now.
Mark your calendar now to be part of this historical day and Rotary's public image effort to eradicate polio.
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