Page 7 - 2021-04-Rotary-on-the-Move-Newsletter-Zone-8

‘DON’T JUST LET YOUR CLUB SURVIVE, MAKE IT THRIVE’

Article by Carol Coffey, District 9670 Membership Chair
In recent times we have witnessed some remarkable turnarounds in Rotary clubs and districts. From
the planned turnaround in District 9640 with new clubs, membership growth to the amalgamation of
clubs in D9675, renaming of clubs to reflect their locale, assisted RISPPO (Rotary International South
Pacific & Philippines Office) revitalisation of clubs, new style clubs and amalgamation of Districts
throughout Zone 8.

Membership turnaround:
To remain successful and competitive in attracting members, service clubs cannot rest easy to maintain a
competitive advantage. Turnaround is difficult and is not for the faint-hearted. It requires a significant commitment
of time and maybe money. However, the downside of not getting it right is failure – but there is no quick fix!

Reflecting on a successful 18-month club turnaround that we recently conducted with RI, we adopted a flexible
approach, realising that copy and pasting various models is not always the ‘fix it’ for all situations. Through this
approach the team achieved various milestones:
• We asked if the club was viable – we thought it was, so investment of our time was considered
worthwhile
• Could we manage and ‘motivate’ the key stakeholders? – they were keen and receptive – without this
you cannot move forward
• Did the leaders have sufficient credibility? – an abundancy – they were respected members with a
passion – that motivated us to help them succeed
• Was the club’s reputation intact? – a long standing club, vital to the District’s history and that of
Rotary in Australia – it has never been questioned, making any community contact easier
• Could we put a support team together that would be accepted? – options were limited to the need for the
club to accept and trust the District and RISPPO members put forward by the District – the
team was warmly welcomed and befriended. There was never any conflict or resistance.

Once established that the club could be rescued, we set about with a flexible plan with time and resources afforded
to address the underlying causes of the situation and support solutions and options.

Clubs need to be innovative and progressive to have a competitive advantage; the members responded accordingly.

The results are:
• a strategic plan and goal setting was done (a Presidential Citation was achieved),
• respected females took the helm, (a first)
• a positive long-term project was implemented,
• neighbouring clubs offered support on easy local projects,
• willing, positive guidance and non-confrontational support was forthcoming from long standing experienced
members,
• social life became more noticeable,

• membership leads of young females were identified as the most suited to the club,
• a meeting venue change is planned,
• regular social media with correct branding has been instigated,
• members are attending meetings and engaging.
You can turn a club around – but it takes time, a dedicated team, commitment and maybe some tough decisions.
Next Month I will highlight what you have to do to ‘Fight for Survival’.

SHARE YOUR CLUB OR DISTRICT SERVICE PROJECT AND MEMBERSHIP BEST PRACTICES.

We would like to hear from Clubs or Districts telling us what they have done. Please include a summary,
contact details, a couple of captioned photos, and email to Issa Shalhoub, this Newsletter’s editor.
We would also like readers to share their experiences and stories on Best Practices in their Clubs and what has worked for

their Clubs in gaining new members and also what has helped in keeping members.

Rotary on the Move April 2021 Page 7