 |
|
● Home ● What's New ● Admin ● Avenues ● Stay Informed ● Training ● Library ● Calendar ● Members Only ● |
| This is where you are: Home > Avenues of Service > Club Service > Family of Rotary > Chairman's Message > | ||
|
A few words from Family of Rotary Chair Andy Tolsma: Many have asked how the new Family of Rotary (FoR) emphasis fits in with traditional structures and activities of Rotary clubs. The answer is not easy because there are many right answers. Many of you have sunshine committees or social chairs organized to accomplish Family of Rotary outcomes. How do we integrate it all? The FoR emphasis was designed to address three issues in the Rotary World related to membership recruitment and retention. First, is your club atmosphere warm and caring, where current members enjoy the fellowship, and new members feel comfortable and mix naturally? Are visitors and prospective members greeted, introduced, and included? Are members supported in times of distress? Are elderly inactive members and/or their surviving spouses included? Can your club become even more welcoming and inclusive? Second, a criticism of Rotary has been that it does not appeal to new members with young families. It is said that the meeting times and/or activities conflict with the lifestyles of young families today. Are there ways clubs can become more attractive to prospective members who have young families? Can different activities be devised which meaningfully involve the families of Rotary club members? Third, is your Rotary Club attracting members from the various ethnic and cultural groups represented in your community. Is the diversity in the community reflected in your club? Are there recruitment strategies which could help reach prospective members in overlooked segments of the community? President Majiyagbe called on every club to establish a family of Rotary committee this year. Members of the committee could include those already in charge of sunshine, greeting, membership, social activities, or club service. What are they to do? First, continue the good things that you are already doing to meet the intent of the FoR emphasis. Second, take the year to assess your club’s FoR pulse. Identify areas of need, and brainstorm options for addressing those needs. Third, suggest ideas for reorganizing the club structure to better meet the intent of FoR without duplicating responsibilities. t’s kind of like a club check-up from the doctor. Check the heart to see if the life-blood of Rotary touches every member. Check the lungs to see that the club has the stamina to retain and increase membership. Check reflexes to see if the club responds appropriately to needs in the club and community. Check the ................. You finish the metaphor. Just make sure that at the end of this year, your club practices a more healthy and vibrant brand of Rotary. |
|
