Engaging Members

1. Engaging Members As a Rotarian, I make my club and Rotary stronger by my active participation.

2. Matthew McLeod Rotary Club of Henderson District Membership Chair

3. Engaging Members The largest loss of new members happens within the first oneto three years of joining a Rotary Club. We Need to Change Our Way of Thinking Retaining Members  Engaging Members  Delivering on their expectations when joining Some common words used in Engagement Create Interest, Involve, Engross, Immerse, Enthrall, provide Action, get Excited,

4. Why members leave Rotary • 25% = Uncontrollable losses • death, illness and relocations • 75% = Controllable [US statistics] • Club activities and club environment • Cost • Personal

5. Membership Termination Stats for District 9910 • In the 5 years to 30 June 2018: 147 members who had been in Rotary for less than a year terminated their membership. 250 members who had been in Rotary for 1-2 years terminated their membership.

6. Membership Termination Stats for District 9910 Stated reasons for termination: Business obligations: 23% Other 20% Relocated 17% Health / Personal 14% Family Obligations 10% Joining a new club 6% Undefined 5% Deceased 4%

7. Group Discussion • Why is it important to engage our members?

8. Past Reasons to Join Rotary • Social Considerations • Stature in the community • Business networking • Entertainment • Connections with our community

9. Current Reasons to Join Rotary • The desire to do something important outside the workplace - PROJECTS • The desire to work within a group of peers - NETWORKING • Connect with the community – DOING GOOD • The opportunity to develop leadership skills – PERSONAL GROWTH

10. Why are you in your Rotary club? • What keeps you in your club? This generally describes the “VALUE” of your club or the Benefits of belonging

11. Controllable Losses • Club activities and club environment: • Not feeling welcome – left out • Boring - no fun • Poor programmes • No meaningful service projects • Questionable / outdated practices • Excessive fines • Same old agenda – week after week • No flexibility

12. Controllable Losses • Cost: • Expensive dues & meals • Fund raising takes time & money • Constantly asked for money • ‘Mandatory’ donations or buying of tickets

13. Controllable Losses • Personal: • Attendance is difficult • Inconvenient meeting time • No networking opportunities • Job/family commitments • Seems like a ‘Good Old Boys’ club • Very cliquey • Too many argumentative people

14. Why is it like this?What can we do about it?

15. What is your ‘New Member Process’? What is your club’s process? – Group Discussion • Are we following all the right steps to ensure that prospective members knowwhat they’re getting themselves into? Or – is our ‘desperation’ for new members leading us to taking shortcuts? • How many meetings / projects does the prospect attend prior to being asked to join? • Is there a sit down to talk through costs, expectations? • Do you ask the prospective member what their interests, skills & passions are, and what they’re looking to get out of their Rotary membership? • Do they get a mentor allocated, and does the mentor know what is expected of them? • Do they have another sit down after a few months of membership to see how things are going? • Do they get encouraged to attend RLI?

16. Member Surveys & Exit Interviews • Find out what could be done better. • Recommended Survey Actions • Club Health Check should be used • Strive for100% return (pick up at the door) • Email or meet with non-attendees • Conduct Exit Interviews • One on one – over lunch or coffee • Find out the real reason for leaving (and perhaps resuscitate the relationship)

17. Member Surveys & Exit Interviews • Share results with the members • Be prepared to act on the results

19. Strong, vibrant clubs with excellent programs, opportunities to serve, and an engaged membership provides the necessary kindling to fire dynamic growth. Use Rotary pdf on “Be a Vibrant Club” – Google: Rotary pdf 245AUNZ

20. Keys to Being a Vibrant Club • Conduct meaningful projects • Quick hands-on projects [max 2 hours] with BBQ or food afterwards • Share the success – great stories inspire ! • Invite new members to find a community project – put up some $$$’s to fund it • Try new ideas • Conduct a Health Check • Vary meeting formats [e.g. times/style/venue] • Why do we have no clubs with weekend meetings?

21. Keys to Being a Vibrant Club • Mentor new members • Allocate new members to Community Service / Projects team [don’t put them in Fellowship or stick them behind the bar] • President and President Elect [Vice Pres.] should meet individually with every member for a coffee chat – get to know them and their interests

22. Keys to Being a Vibrant Club • Offer Rotary learning opportunities [RLI] • Financed by Club & District • Encourage groups of members to attend • Report back with one proposal for innovation or new project • Get newer members leading projects • Prepare members for future leadership roles

23. Building a Project-Centric Club • A Club where hands on projects are the attraction (not meetings and guest speakers) • The meeting time may in fact be replaced with a project - meet, carry out the project and then socialise. • The projects give the chance to attract and enthuse prospective new members whilst also engaging and making existing members feel like they’re achieving something. • Focus on smaller sized projects – easier to organise and implement – results immediately visible. • Some examples …

24. The Rotary Club of Seaford, South Australia D9520 • A brand new Rotary Club started in November 2016 • They meet twice a month – first Thurs and third Sunday • Venues rotated – often at a location of a hands on project

25. https://markedwardhuddleston.blogspot.com/

26. Project Centric Clubs: Local example #1: Orewa Millwater Satellite Club

29. Orewa Millwater Satellite Club:

30. Project Centric Clubs: Local example #2: Henderson’s Satellite Club: Rotalite West

31. COMMUNITY GARDEN REBUILD

32. COMMUNITY GARDEN REBUILD

33. CONSTRUCTING A PATH FOR A PRIMARY SCHOOL First Fundraising Event – Horse Racing Night – September 2015 Constructing a path at Edmonton Primary School

34. Colwill School gardens and planter boxes VEGETABLE GARDENS AND ORCHARDS IN SCHOOLS First Fundraising Event – Horse Racing Night – September 2015

35. PENGUIN BOX BUILDING – WAIHEKE ISLAND VIA BOAT First Fundraising Event – Horse Racing Night – September 2015 Penguin Box Building

36. CHRISTMAS GIFT PACKS FOR THE HOMELESS First Fundraising Event – Horse Racing Night – September 2015 Homeless Gift Packs - Christmas 2017, 2018

37. Co project with Henderson Rotary and Forest and Bird – Te Henga Boardwalk WETLANDS WALKWAY PROJECT – WITH FOREST & BIRD First Fundraising Event – Horse Racing Night – September 2015

38. PLAYCENTRE PLAYGROUND REVAMP Swanson Playcentre Playground Excavation and Rebarking First Fundraising Event – Horse Racing Night – September 2015

39. TREE PLANTING, SEEDLING PROPAGATION – MATUKU LINK Matuku Link – ongoing working beees

40. Developing a “Project Pipeline”

41. Developing a “Project Pipeline” • To allow the Club to move immediately from a completed project to a new project • Ask members to submit project ideas • Engage with the community – contact schools, local charities and groups, post to local Facebook and Neighbourly pages • Focus on projects which are partnerships with other organisations • Create a list of projects • Assess feasibility and resources required • Prioritise • Implement

42. Projects as a membership opportunity • Maximise the opportunity to attract members with everyproject or event • Have someone good at talking to new members at every project Working Bee and involved with planning for projects. • Ask for volunteers for helping at a project working bee at other events you’re at. • Promote the project working bee as something the public can attend and assist with. • Collect names, phone numbers, email addresses • Follow up to thank people for attending, ask them to the next project (NOT a Rotary meeting) • Continually follow up and categorise the list based on potential for membership vs someone who is just happy to continue to volunteer for projects.

43. Engaging Members – in short • Do everything you can to engage and keep current members • Make sure all members are involved and that we meet their expectations • Change what has to be changed to be “engaging” and “attractive” • Be a vibrant club – revitalise the existing and attract new blood • If your club is good at something – take it from “good” to “great” • Above all BE FLEXIBLE

44. Opportunity for 2019 RYLA graduates • Join a Rotary club in District 9910 before 30th of June 2019 and we will give you $100.00 towards your Rotary membership fees.