Rotarians, we are seeing our first decrease in District Membership for the year. I do know that a number of clubs have lost members due to long-time Rotarians passing away, so even though we’ve experienced a slight decline, let’s keep new members at the tips of our tongues this winter! Our District membership remains strong at 2,263 members, -3 members since the start of this Rotary year on July 1, 2024. Clubs, keep up your great work!
Membership Olympics is SOOOOO close to rolling out. Everything is ready except for the exciting rollout look (which will come out yet in January). So that you all are ready for the January 2025 kickoff, here is the first month’s game that you can get started with:
Submit the name of your club Membership Chair (and email address) to me at maugs13@gmail.com OR recruit and name a Membership Chair for your club no later than January 21, 2025 and submit the name (and email address) to me!!
We are excited when new members come on board. And, this always comes with a significant question for our clubs, how do we get our members engaged and keep them active and engaged? In October 2024, Patricia Freudenberg, 2024-25 president, Rotary Club of Global Impact (7680) North Carolina shared the following lesson that they’ve learned when creating a welcoming club experience:
Our club has instituted several innovative changes that are enhancing our club’s experience. We have managed to create a more inclusive and engaging environment. And we are committed to continuing this tradition by embracing adaptive challenges. We hope you will too.
Here are a few of our innovations:
- One of our key initiatives is migrating our meetings to an audio platform. This change allows us to break down geographical barriers and allow more members to participate actively, regardless of their location. With this flexible and accessible format, we are ensuring that everyone can contribute to discussions, making our club truly global.
- Additionally, we have introduced quarterly live TV presentations featuring special guest from various fields. These presentations provide members with valuable insight and foster conversations on diverse topics. These presentations are positioning us as thought leaders leveraging technology to connect and inspire.
- We pride ourselves in being welcoming and inclusive, making sure that everyone feels valued and respected. We focus on creating a warm, family-like atmosphere, even as we have members from all over the world.
- We strive for a diverse membership. We have members from all walks of life, united by a shared commitment to service and fellowship.
Our club’s dedication to innovation was recognized in the 2022-23 Rotary year, when we received a citation from Rotary International President Jennifer Jones, reflecting our commitment to service and our effort to make a positive impact on communities worldwide. As we embark on this exciting journey, we encourage other clubs to follow a path of innovation and help us grow Rotary.
Rotary International has many resources that can help you create a great club experience.