Potential club members are everywhere. But to get them to join Rotary, clubs must use creativity and imagination, says Past RI President Cliff Dochterman.
"Rotary International leaders keep emphasizing membership growth and extension because Rotary's very survival depends on it," says Dochterman, a member of the Rotary Club of Moraga, California, USA, and author of The ABCs of Rotary, a resource for new members. "If Rotary is to grow, we all must take action."
Dochterman believes clubs can thrive by seeking new members, retaining current ones, and sponsoring new clubs in the community. He offers the following tips:
Seeking new members
Clubs must have a specific plan in place, says Dochterman.
Use a team approach. Teams should have several members who meet with qualified business and professional leaders to discuss the benefits of joining Rotary.
Set aside one monthly club meeting to be a "visitor day," to which all club members invite a friend or prospective member.
Seek out natural prospects, including Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholars, Rotaractors, and Group Study Exchange (GSE) team members.
First, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the recent threat of Hurricane Beryl. Our district was fortunate to be almost spared from its impact, and I am deeply grateful for that. It’s during times like these that our strength as a community truly shines. I know many of you were prepared to assist and support those in need, reflecting the true spirit of Rotary.
News Around the District
As we enter August, I am filled with pride reflecting on the incredible work our district has accomplished in just one month. I started my club visits this month with Aransas Pass, Edna, Ganado International, Port Lavaca, Sinton, and Goliad. During these visits, I was both proud and amazed by our clubs' impactful service projects and how they are fulfilling the needs of their communities. We continue to turn dreams into reality one service project at a time!
I am also thrilled to announce that 15 clubs applied for district grants this year. We will share the grant results in the third week of August. Our district is honored to be an international partner on the Rotary Global Grant, focusing on the literacy component for differently-abled children in Goa, India. Please reach out to us if you are interested in knowing more about this global grant. Together, we can create a brighter future and make a lasting impact in our communities and beyond.
On July 15th, we had an amazing first monthly membership Zoom session focusing on member orientation, with an astounding 85+ members joining. Let's continue to focus on strengthening our bonds setting new goals and turning our visions into reality.
Recognitions - Membership Olympics Challenge
Congratulations to the following Rotary Clubs for getting closer to Gold:
Silver Level:
Laredo Next Generation
Bronze Level:
Brownsville Sunrise
Harlingen
The Club Membership Olympic Challenge provides Rotary and Rotaract clubs an opportunity to achieve bronze, silver, or gold levels by completing a series of Games containing Membership related goals and objectives. We encourage all clubs to apply and reach for the Gold! Details are on our website, and you can learn more via our monthly membership Zoom sessions.
District Event: Mark Your Calendar
Next In-Person District Event: September 21st in Laredo: Dreamcatcher Summit - Uniting Rotary Visionaries with a Touch of Magic
Educational Resources
Upcoming Membership Zoom: Join our next monthly Membership Zoom on Monday, August 19, 2024, from 5:45 pm to 7:00 pm.
Upcoming ClubRunner Zoom: On August 24th, Saturday at 9 am, co-founder Halle Asterbadi will be presenting ClubRunner Nova to our district team and answering any questions.
RLI (Rotary Leadership Institute:
Part I ($50): Tuesday & Thursday - August 13 & 15th
Part II ($50): Tuesday & Thursday - August 27 & 29th
(Check out the District Calendar for more details & Zoom info)
Reminder
To all Presidents: Please add club achievements and dreams accomplished to your Treasure Chest.
Leadership Quote
As I go around the district, I share my ‘Why’ and I love to hear your ‘Why’ because I strongly believe “people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it” (Simon Sinek).
Thank you for your unwavering dedication and support. Let's make this Rotary year magical!
*Information derived from the Rotary International new member and sponsor report dated July 26, 2024.
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Rotary International designated August as a Membership and a New Club Development month. Growing Rotary to "Expand Our Reach" is the highest internal priority of Rotary International. Our District Leadership and District Membership Committee launched the Club Membership Olympic Challenge during our District Assembly on June 1, 2024.
We want to congratulate the following Rotary clubs for achieving the Bronze and Silver Awards recognition:
Good to go for a set of seminars on how to effectively build leaders in your Rotary and Rotaract clubs. Facilitators will share experiences and knowledge on how to move beyond simply managing to truly leading your club by building effective leaders. These seminars will provide the basics on powerful strategies you can use to boost morale and energize your club.
ClubRunner will be launching a new updated version called ClubRunner Nova to all Rotary Clubs by the end of this year. We will host a special training session exclusively for our Rotary District 5930.
This session will be open to the entire leadership team, AGs, Presidents-Elect, and all members, as we understand that not everyone is comfortable using ClubRunner.
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