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BREAKOUT SUMMARY - 2007 Presidential Membership Conference

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The following TWO tables of suggestions came from the breakout sessions and were categorized into SEVEN Action Steps: INFORM, INVITE, INDUCT, ORIENT, EDUCATE, INVOLVED & MISC


Presidential Conference on Membership ~ South Bend, Indiana, USA, July 27-28, 2007
Evaluation and Suggestions
Best ideas learned at this conference - 166 ideas
A=INFORM B=INVITE C=INDUCT D=ORIENT E=EDUCATE F=INVOLVE G=MISC
 
INFORM
3) Reinforcement of ideas-Welcome everyone, consistency, etc - A
6) Web site-sound bites from DG - A
8) Ask more of our program speakers - A
14) Promote FUN in Rotary - A
15) Use of video magazine - A
46) Advertising/ promote ideas - A
68) Invite family and friend - A
75) Partner with other organizations on projects-recruit from partners - A
114) Look for givers not receivers - A
115) How to ask a person to join - A
142) Create a 1 page document that explains what your club and Rotary does
157) How to build visibility
158) Fort Wayne's 'Stepping Stones' program
INVITE
9) Bring in/recruit past GSE members, TRF ambassadorial scholars etc - B
10) Bring in/recruit Rotaractors and spouses of Rotarians - B
11) Recruit from Junior League - B
13) Use technology to recruit young members - B
27) Ask, ask, and ask - B
28) Invite potential members to meetings, not to join immediately - B
30) Every member needs to bring in a new member - B
55) More ideas about recruiting - B
63) Using parents of students as new members - B
69) Try to diversify in a relatively non-diverse community - B
83) School Board members as a hidden asset - B
86) Invite parents of Interact and exchange students - B
90) Contact County Extension for new business leader programs - B
93) Don't be desperate - B
94) Bring in several new members at one time - B
105) Have a three week set period to get to know before you invite - B
112) Have business sponsor new Rotarian for a year - B
113) Scholar parents for new members - B
116) Have an evening open house with spouses - B
126) Couple membership for younger people
130) Use of personal phone calls for follow up
133) MGM-Member get member
143) Visit company presidents and business leaders and ask for participation in your club
145) Use e-mail to thank guests
147) Partner with chamber
155) Have city wide recruiting night
160) Woman Junior League-Target market for terrific Rotarians
INDUCT
125) Better ceremonies to bring in a new member
148) Better new member induction
EDUCATE
42) Talk with members before they decide to leave - D
44) Call any member who has been missing - D
51) Educate membership/community on service provided by Rotary - D
64) Themed programs - D
67) Provide more elaborate programs for new members - D
73) Publish projects in local paper for visibility - D
87) Red badge/Blue badge - D
108) Mentoring program for new members - D
141) Ask for feedback from members
164) What does Rotary bring into my life that I can't get anywhere else?
ORIENT
16) What is the magic of Rotary for me? - E
17) Educate members on what is Rotary so they can answer potential members - E
21) Top reason for Rotarians to leave club-Poor club leadership - E
22) The fellowship of giving each others ideas - E
24) Have a "Rotary Corner" in local paper - E
35) Became aware of a variety of new member resources -E
38) It is my job to know the gift of Rotary - E
39) Make sure we have fun and fellowship in our clubs - E
40) Need to do a strategic plan in our clubs - E
52) Focus on outcome of being a Rotarian rather than process - E
56) Ask 1st year Rotarians what we should do - E
77) Learned how to discuss this topic with my club - E
88) As a DG-great PR ideas to promote new members - E
98) Really need to embrace new technology more - E
99) Volunteer leadership takes more skill - E
100) Keep finding good speakers - E
122) Issue a press release for each new member
124) Have a process to bring in a new member
127) Survey your members
136) Offer opportunities for personal development to a prospective member
137) District 6400.org website for 12 steps to a membership development
144) Networking group meeting after Rotary meeting
152) Have a "Rotary Minute" at each meeting
INVOLVE
26) Make my club the home to people who love service - F
31) Not only important to bring in new members, but retain those already there - F
82) Friend of Rotary - F
95) Ask people who are leaving club to name their replacement - F
101) You must have things for members to do - F
103) Create other opportunities to engage prospective members - F
131) Involve in program even before becoming a member
139) Make Rotary valuable
149) Have a planning session and include all club members
153) Rotary movie night at local theater
50) Every member greets every member and speaker - F
MISC
1) Ideas for chartering a new club - G
2) Membership goals for each club enforced - G
4) Young people under 30 are results oriented. They want it now - G
5) Get rid of people who bring down club - G
7) Celebrate the sponsor as much or more than the new member - G
12) Organization - G
18) Make everyone feel worth while - G
19) Make change - G
20) Club trainer - G
23) RI needs a new songbook with contemporary songs - G
25) Reward members who do a makeup & bring back a "best idea" practice - G
29) Watch for signs of weakening club to help retain members - G
32) It reinforced my ideas and what we are doing - G
33) Conversations of reasons why we love Rotarians - G
34) Conversations of dissatisfaction with product and cost of membership - G
36) Growth is every member responsibility - G
37) Often times change is required - G
41) I need to remember that it all does start with me - G
43) Diversity - G
45) Smile and greet everyone - G
47) Use a committee of past presidents to formulate a plan - G
48) Use other clubs ideas to the fullest -G
49) Class projects - G
53) Create value of membership to strengthen commitment to RI - G
54) Retention of members - G
57) Get an elevator speech - G
58) One inspired person can drive change - G
59) Honor the new Rotarian - G
60) Success stories - G
61) Treat members and prospects like clients - G
62) The need to change to appeal to young people - G
65) Ideas of what makes a healthy club - G
66) Sustainable long term membership plan - G
70) Find a closer
71) Merge PR and membership - G
72) Ideas generated for growing small clubs - G
74) Regional clusters with membership coordinators - G
76) Setting goals and sharing them - G
78) Basic ideas for approaching different diversity groups - G
79) Thinking outside the box - G
80) Specific ideas for our club that were inspired by things I heard - G
81) Soft approach to attract new members - G
84) Predictive dialogue
85) Play together, stay together - G
89) A great refresher
91) 5 cool ideas for treating visitors - G
92) The most important Rotarian is the next Rotarian - G
96) Raise expectations - G
97) Set goals for District and clubs - G
102) Recognize members, new and old - G
104) Small club strategies - G
106) Try twilight or no meal club - G
107) Back to basics - G
109) Get your club in shape - G
110) Leadership matters a great deal - G
111) Get out of the comfort zone - G
117) Open classification lists on table
118) Create teams and have competition within club
119) Get names of 5potential members and have club president meet with them
120) Have complaint form available to be inserted in box
121) Give awards to member sponsors
123) 18% of Rotarians bring in a new member
128) Better filter/selection process for new members
129) Core values of Rotary
132) Evaluation tools
134) Everyone is on the membership committee
135) Challenge club to embrace change
138) Have special events for spouse and family
140) Create higher expectations
146) Different membership levels/systems
150) Welcome table for new members
151) How to get better speakers
154) Get out of the rut
156) Process of rethinking getting new members
159) 70% of people who leave Rotary feel lack of appreciation
161) Get rid of "but that is the way we always did it"
162) Be open to new ideas
163) Rotary clubs are made up of men and women who don't have time
165) Fear of change
166) Failure is not an option


Presidential Conference on Membership ~ South Bend, Indiana, USA,
July 27-28, 2007- Evaluation and Suggestions
Suggestions to instill ownership and pride into every Rotarian
to bring in 1 new member each year - 304 suggestions
 
INFORM
43. Explain what Rotary does
45. Suggestion should cover the benefits to member and club
58. Orientation, information before and after induction
59. Stories of Rotary projects and successes
70. Much better P. R.
73. Concentrated PR about Rotary's service programs
82. Does RI have a short booklet that clearly explains organization to new members
116. Use more PR material
117. Make sure everyone knows that you are in Rotary and why
128. More PR at the club level
129. Promote the Club
132. Video magazine
145. Talk Rotary- Share what Rotary means to you
152. Communicate goals and dreams to members
153. More Rotary related club programs so members are well informed
200. Share with prospect your value in Rotary
209. Share your Rotary experience with friends and family
214. Make a community event for new members to make it an honor to be a member
245. Make it personal
265. e-mail links-new way to communicate
269. Tell them that you are available to them
271. How to spread "gospel" to Hispanics/Latinos
284. Have a prospective member brochure
285. Do have your guest handout
295. More visibility, easier recruitment
INVITE
4. Be welcoming
12. One member recruits one member each month
14. Help each member invite prospective members
22. Ask-Ask-Ask
31. Show positive plus's when asking
41. Contact business associates, neighbors and new business in area
50. Community leaders are Rotarians
55. Contact potential new members (younger)
69. Strong outreach to new ethnic groups
72. Recruit for ethnic, racial & religious diversity as well as age and gender
83. Our club must work harder at recruitment
89. Seek members from diverse groups
110. Think of your golf league, church, neighbors for possible prospects
114. Ask new members to bring a friend to meetings to see what is going on
124. Introduce them to members
160. Bring someone like you or someone not like you
163. Have a separate meeting with members to ask them to sponsor a new member
165. Have Rotaract students come to a meeting
188. Invite someone to speak to membership
229. We need your talent in our club
244. Don't only look for individuals but also businesses
253. A friend asking a friend
276. Host a special lunch for target groups
299. Have social function to get to know new prospects
304. Talk to school friends
INDUCT
2. Be able to use new member sponsor pin at induction
20. Have family of new member and sponsor at induction ceremony
74. Recognize sponsors and make inductions special
91. Make inducting a new member a "big deal"
272. Initiation should be very special
ORIENT
23. Tell the prospect of the magic of Rotary
30. Must have Rotary indoctrination and education to retrain new members
53. Why am I a Rotarian-share the idea
60. Connect individuals to a specific goal in the my club-feel valued
109. Ask each member to identify why they are a Rotarian
130. Tell the Rotary story
151. Begin "Planning activities in club
159. Listen to the membership-get their input
211. As president-elect meet with every new member-talk about their hopes/expectations
252. Ask and make the expectation clear
267. Ask those who you approach how they support the community
303. Be near them all first year
EDUCATE
7. Educate members better on what Rotary does
18. Instill the expectation that every new member will bring in a new member
38. As club president, personally speak about membership with each member
51. Rotarian members are Project leaders
52. What is the value of our club to new members?
85. Well publicized programs
87. Give a 1-2 minute different membership pitch every week-ideas from this list
94. Share Rotary gives answer to why I am here
99. Display what the club has accomplished
101. Regularly review activities that we are supporting
102. Discuss benefits of membership
118. Visiting Rotarians could be like secret shoppers and report back about their experience
125. Talking to other Rotarians brings new ideas and broader perspective
131. Ask one professional person
134. Describe in writing and word the benefits of Rotary
154. Seek input-promote input
178. Become familiar with District , Zone and RI web sites
181. Know what Rotary does
186. Know about current/past projects
193. Publish guest speakers in newspapers
197. Remind Rotarians of value of Rotary
201. Share expectations of members
202. Help understand that younger is OK
208. Brag about local projects
217. Publicize the merit of RI in more media areas
219. Plan session with all club members
220. Show Rotary projects within community
225. Survey members to see what they want from Rotary
235. Tell success stories of Rotary
236. Be visible
239. Reason why member joined initially
242. Educate members on local club but also Foundation
246. Bring message to full club not just committee
249. Know your personal purpose
274. Publicize club activities in local papers
281. Greater visibility in community
283. Discuss what excites the members for Rotary
286. Share a story about an international event
287. Highlight more of what Rotarians do around the world
297. Publish new member photo & bio in monthly newsletter
300. Toot your own horn
302. Explain all finances
INVOLVED
1. Increase emphasis on individual responsibility to recruit new members
13. Engage every Rotarian in a project
16. Involvement for each Rotarian
26. Ask all members to be a part of membership
37. Let everyone know they are responsible to bring in new member
62. Engage every member by expecting leadership
66. Set an example
68. Recognize new members
86. Involve non-Rotarians in projects
97. Members need to know that membership is a responsibility of their own
107. Have them find the magic and then share it
111. Have projects that members are passionate about
113. Have Fun
119. Get everyone involved in service
121. Give them opportunities to perform and share
133. Senior members as mentors
135. Have each Rotarian involved in at least one project
136. Have an effective mentoring program
137. Just do it
138. Participate
141. Members' responsibility for new members
142. Get members to commit to the club and its growth
144. Define the plan at a club meeting and get members not leaders to work on it
148. Develop great new projects
166. Give new members responsibility
169. Participating in a local project
180. Involve members in projects and programs
185. Get committed to project
203. Community involvement
206. Tell them what Rotary is doing at every meeting
216. Have each new member choose a committee
224. Always have every member greet guests
230. Service above self to put their teeth in
248. Be involved-You get by giving
255. Have great functioning club-good programs
259. Try something new
263. Rotary social night
264. Everybody works on membership
280. Engage younger members to bring in other younger people
288. Family involvement
290. Quality service projects
292. Stress social involvement of Rotarians & family
293. Talk the talk, walk the walk
MISC
3. Give recognition to Star Recruiter with colored star on badge for each proposed member
5. Be encouraging
6. Be grateful (let recruiter know)
8. Make Rotary & the member a "personal" relationship
9. Appreciate every member for what they're able to give to Rotary at the moment
10. Rotary Rocks
11. Complete Membership Development
15. Good Programs
17. Ask-to create a "Defining moment"
19. Reward recruiters
21. Show my Rotary elevator talk
24. Individual clubs need to do more "hand on"
25. More fellowship opportunities
27. Give awards to members that do membership
28. A note of thanks for getting a member
29. Takes an overall plan to increase membership
32. Examine where club will be in 5-10 years if no new members are brought in
33. Do more Rotary based programs-educate about Rotary
34. Do it myself-demonstrate how rewarding it is
35. Give recognition i.e. Pin
36. Better train current members
39. Use new member pin as recognition and motivation tool
40. As club president lead by example to make all members bring in new members
42. Help them feel wanted and needed
44. Help them feel this is the place to be
46. Post the names of the best membership closers
47. Personalize request membership call to action
48. Club trainer-provide as resource
49. Use example of prestigious Rotarians
54. Improve club appeal-be more welcoming
56. Thank them for their service and tell them you are proud of them
57. Visit other clubs to improve our club
61. Undertake meaningful service projects
63. Value each member
64. Make Rotary vibrant
65. Provide more enthusiasm and mentor individually
67. Recognize the effort to bring in a new member
71. Make it a challenge/ friendly competition
75. Make a presentation to club concerning the process for new members
76. Make quarterly appeals to membership to look for prospects
77. Set and share goals for membership with membership
78. Stated goals/purpose of club and RI
79. Project to recruit-members out looking
80. Appeal to younger prospects
81. RI should have an online business card
84. You have to own it before you can sell it
88. Club visibility
90. Recognize & appreciate member involvement
92. Make sure that Rotary is a valued experience for every member
93. Quit Net 1 by April 1, make it July 1
95. Provide value
96. Proof in accomplishments
98. Make sure that club represents a value to new members
100. Offer the membership pin
103. Sponsor pins to identify effort
104. Focus on recognition of Rotarians that bring in new members
105. DG to send letter or present new member sponsor pin to those who bring in new member
106. Continue with membership training at District and Zone level
108. "Rotary Rush" similar to college fraternity
112. Folk lore within a club regarding size must be overcome
115. Follow up on president's stated goals
120. Promote your members for awards & recognition
122. Educate them on Rotary
123. Be proud
126. Instill the Big International picture
127. Less focus on the local picture
139. Better leadership
140. Better programs
143. Define your passion for Rotary
146. Make a personal pledge
147. Share Rotary
149. Recruit charismatic leaders
150. Promote visioning workshop in District
155. Mentoring system
156. It's not only a hobby
157. When the tree stops growing it is ready to die
158. Much potential; we are just this close
161. Challenge another club to a membership sign up race
162. Set focus on membership growth
164. Talk about international picture
167. Develop a pro active membership committee
168. Create a committee to influence more members to attend RI meetings
170. Better attention to our newer members
171. Recognition of our sponsors
172. Club or a business
173. Leadership Quality
174. Quantity plus quality
175. Carry back enthusiasm from this conference
176. Take tools given her and use them
177. Rewarding/recognizing effort to recruit
179. Attend at least one District or RI meeting/function
MISC
183. Improve meetings so they are quality
184. AG to AG area
187. Get to District events or import speakers
189. Change in attitude-focus on
190. Publish their names & occupations in club & District newsletters
191. Develop a strong membership committee
192. List missing classifications & ask members to give names
194. Thank those who bring in new members
195. Leadership of club
196. Friendliness
198. Lead by example
199. Ensure new members propose new members
204. Pride of my club
205. Bring Rotary speakers to club
207. Have friendly competition between committees
210. Pass down Rotary membership to adult children as legacy
212. Create a process for entry into club
213. Create a strong sponsorship recognition program
215. Follow up with new membership program
218. Break up "clicks"-keep Rotarians rotating
221. Take responsibility
222. Set example-Be proud to be a Rotarian
223. Give current members values to sell
226. Have a charm to wear on pin for each new member
227. New membership Dinner
228. Wear the Rotary pin
231. Great road to the Avenue of service in your lives
232. Run efficient meetings
233. Use a closer
234. Build valve in meetings and club
237. Create a personal challenge for every member
238. Revisit the principles of Rotary
240. Don't be a fund raising club only
241. Make it clear to members how to propose a new member
243. Have a good recruitment committee
247. Have two drives each year
250. Make growth important to everyone
251. Make sure they buy into concept of growth
254. Provide tools, good brochure/bulletin/list of benefits
256. Make it a competition
257. Mentor new proposed members for 1 year
258. Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone
260. Have new club philosophy, new club urgency
261. That everyone is responsible
262. Instill the idea that membership committee is select committee
266. Be enthusiastic about Rotary growth
268. Let them know that you care about them
270. Give idea to each member what is important to each generation
273. Have contest with prizes for winners
275. Show them personal Rotary passion opportunities
277. Instill an internal incentive program for new members
278. Develop a long range membership plan
279. Use Rotary speakers more
282. Do not fear change
289. Sense of purpose
291. Better long range & strategic planning based on incentives
294. More members-less work per member
296. Ask them what their community would look like if we didn't have Rotary
298. Need to change-Old way is not working
301. Smile

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