Summary of 2008-09 Membership and Recruitment Projects Submitted by Clubs in District 5220

RECRUITMENT

Rotary Rocks

Rotary Rocks is a series of events that feature live music, food and wine tasting.  The purpose of the event is to provide a forum for Rotarians to invite prospective members and show them that Rotary is not just a starched-collar community service organization, but that we have a lot of fun doing it!   Example of the event themes are Rotary Rocks! For Adopt a Child;  Rotary Rocks! For the Rotary Foundation;  Rotary Rocks! Motorcycle Show and Poker Run;  Rotary Rocks!  Spring Wine Festival.

“You’re Invited” Night

Showcase Rotary to prospective members at the regular meeting.  Invitees include Chamber of Commerce members, Homeowners members, etc.  Tables are set up to showcase Community projects, regional projects, national projects, international projects, general Rotary information, and Polio Plus.  Each hosted by Rotarians to discuss and answer questions.  Room is decorated in yellow and blue and Rotary logos.

Each guest receives a list of questions to be answered by visiting the different tables.  Those who get answers to all the questions are entered in a drawing for a $50 gas card.

A short program includes testimony from 2 or 3 members “what Rotary means to me”.

Coffee, tea, dessert served.

Membership Recruitment Information

Prepare postcard invitations for prospective members.  Purchase Rotary information supplies for prospective members.  Send thank you notes to prospective members that attend meetings and club buys their lunch.

Open House Mixer

Hold an open house at a location as an after work event using a “mixer” format.  The purpose of the event is to educate potential members about Rotary and how our members make a difference in the local community and the world.  This is an opportunity to create interest in Rotary and give prospective members the chance to learn about Rotary, outside of the weekly meeting format, in a relaxed social environment.

During the open house, members provide information about Rotary and club activities, and answer questions.  Have displays of community service projects, fund-raising events, vocational tours, and show the DVD “This is Rotary”.

Have incentives for all attendees, such as a Rotary logo gift and a drawing for a door prize.  Give attendees an invitation to attend a regular meeting.

Market this event by mailing postcards and/or distribution by club members, press release, and community calendars.

Provide members with “Be My Guest” cards, so members can be reminded to easily invite prospective members to the open house or to regular meetings.

“I Love Rotary”

Have a theme party for the community in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce.  Bring in local business and professional people for a social evening of fellowship and learning.  For example, during the month of February, hold a Valentine’s Day theme mixer.  Tie it in with Rotary by setting up displays of projects, providing Rotary information brochures, and wearing club shirts.  Guests can be given a flower or put their business card in the hat for a beautiful Valentine Bouquet or Candy.  Guests could also put their business card in the hat for a free lunch (at the Rotary Club meeting, of course!)  Do advertising of the event in the Chamber newsletter, local newspaper, and member distribution.

Team Challenge

Divide club members into teams.  Each member is to provide the names and address of 3 prospective embers to their team leader for contact and follow up.  The team with the most prospects gets meal at Rotary meeting paid by the club for 1 month.  The team that recruits the most new members receives $600 credit toward their Paul Harris Fellowship.

Member Get Member “MGM”

Create teams of Rotarians and 1 team captain.  Each team member identifies 2 potential Rotarians.  Compile complete list of all prospective members and share with all club members. Each team invites the prospects on their list to the Rotary meeting.  All Rotarians are encouraged to continue to identify prospects and add them to the master list throughout the year.

Face to Face - Emphasis on Membership

The membership committee members meet one-on-one members of the club for lunch or coffee outside of the regular Rotary meeting.  In those meetings, the benefits of Rotary would be discussed and the importance for all members to nominate others for membership.  Members would be offered help in understanding the process and given examples of tools they could use to help them recruit.

Recruitment Mixer

Hold recruitment mixer at a home or member’s place of business to keep costs down.  Tie into a theme around the holidays to attract business community and potential members.  Have good fellowship in an inviting atmosphere.

Red Dot Game

Each member submits 2 contacts for potential members to change their badge color from red to yellow.  Membership “Marketeers” are selected and follow up on each contact submitted.  When a potential member attends a meeting, the original member that submitted the name will “host” the guest and be their sponsor into the club.  Both the sponsor and the Marketeer will follow up with the guest until they either decline to join or are inducted.  Sponsors receive a sponsorship pin and a contribution to a Paul Harris Fellowship and a blue dot to complete their participation in the game.

The Membership Minute

Choose a member each week to talk briefly about what being a Rotarian means and why the member joined Rotary.  This will remind people that Rotary is valued to each of us and that if a potential member is a guest they will see the value too.  Gives the guests attending the meeting another view besides the sponsoring member of reasons to join and the value of Rotary.

Membership Solicitation

Advertise in the local newspaper about the benefits of membership in the world’s oldest service club.  Emphasize “service above self” and “here’s your chance to get involved in community here and around the world”.

Rotary Mixers

Hold a mixer at an appropriate location.  Serve wine, soft drinks, water and appetizers.  Have Rotary pamphlets and business cards on hand.  Raffle off a “basket of goodies”.  Business members in the community are encouraged to attend.

Hold a mixer at a member’s home.  Encourage members to come with a prospective member.  Provide food and drinks.  Call on members to tell their Rotary story and introduce their guest.

Hold a mixer with a holiday theme.  Encourage members to bring family members and encourage them to invite prospective members and their families.  Provide food and drink and a display of Rotary activities, pamphlets of Rotary information and such.

Rotary Awareness Mixer

Obtain a list of business owners from the city and conduct a postcard mailing to invite them to a mixer.  At the mixer explain the purpose of Rotary as well as the responsibilities of membership.  Show a video presentation of your own clubs activities.  Go from business to business and personally invite prospective members to attend the mixer.  Let them know how important they are to us and how Rotary can be important to them.

Informational Social

Hold a social event at a member’s place of business.  Promote individual interactions and have a PowerPoint with a short presentation about what Rotary does.  Provide food and beverages and Rotary information handouts.

Monthy Dinner Meetings

Hold one meeting a month at a special location.  Invite members to bring guests/potential Rotarians.  Proposed member meals are paid by the club.

Have a PowerPoint presentation that appeals to the younger generation.  Pick a video “clip of the week”.  Make the meetings fun and entertaining.

Hold a holiday social at a member’s house.  Include Chamber of Commerce members.  Try to include businesses that are not currently on your club’s classification list.

Put an advertisement in the local paper about your club and your club’s accomplishments, so the community can see how much Rotary does and want to be a part.

Public Service Announcements

Develop PSA’s for television using local media.  Rotary International has ready made PSA’s that just need to be customized to your locale.

Have team “Share Rotary” membership drives.  Team winners are provided a free Rotary meal and the guest’s meal is covered by the club.

Play Ball