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‘MEMBERSHIP’

By Ed Strom, Membership Director.
From Rotaspoke, Rotary Club of Carlingford, NSW, D9685

Due to a resignation I seem to have ended up as Membership Director. Why an old contrarian like me

would be asked to look after membership I have no idea, but I’ll give it a try. Membership, in my

opinion, is more than just increasing the numbers on our books.

It is important for growth that we continue to seek new worthwhile members and give them the same opportunities
for “Service Above Self” as we have, some of us are getting older and slower, we need to add to our stocks – why

should we be so selfish as to keep it all to ourselves?

It is also very important to retain our current members and we can do this by encouraging those non-attendees to
participate more regularly and for Directors to ensure that all members have a purpose in the Club so they feel they

are contributing members.

There may be one person with the title of Membership Director but the membership committee totals 41, the
entire membership of the Club, so I will need and I do ask for your help.

A few of my random thoughts on membership, not rocket science, but facts:

Apart from Cristy and Phil we do not have any partners as members. Often our partners are more
Rotarian than we are!
We do not have any sons or daughters of members in the Club!

We do not have any next-door neighbours in the Club, in fact we don’t even have two members that live on
the same street!

We do not have one business owner or employee from either Carlingford Court or North Rocks Shopping
Centre as a member!

We support around 15 schools in our district but to my knowledge we do not have any teachers or parents
from any of those schools as members!
Until recently we have never gained a parent of the many exchange students we have sponsored!

We do not have any members from the numerous sporting Clubs in our area!

We give continuing support for many local organisations but where is their representation in our Club?
To my knowledge we have never gained a member through conversations or contact with the thousands
of people that have come through the gates at the market!

We all have doctors, chemists, dentists, physios, electricians, plumbers, solicitors, mechanics, gardeners,
butchers etc, so why aren’t they in our Club?

As Rotarians we are really, really, really nice people so we must have numerous friends!
Just a few of my thoughts on the possible sources of membership, I’m sure you all have your own, if
anybody would like to run with one of these or instigate your own ideas, please feel free to do so.

‘Proposing New Members’, pdf from RI.

‘HOW WOMEN LEAD DIFFERENTLY’

From Rotary Membership Minute, October 2019

What are some attributes that women leaders tend to have? According to leadership expert Kathleen Rose, they

are more likely to understand the importance of human connection, to be willing to care for others, and to be
unafraid of transparency. Read about and listen to Rose’s experiences as a leader and her recommendations for

being an agent of change.

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 also would 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 December 2019 Page 7