Page 5 - 2021-06-Rotary-on-the-Move-Newsletter-Zone-8

‘WHAT CAME FIRST THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?’

PDG 9685 Harold Sharp, 2002-03, Rotary Club of Crows Nest
Let us all ask the above question concerning Rotary International: what was the priority when Rotary
International was first established?

The answer was MEMBERSHIP growth and retention! The reason because simply without membership
and retention there would be known Clubs and without Clubs there would be no Rotary International.

So, what is the difference between the original concept of Rotary Clubs and TODAY?
When I first joined Rotary in 1977 the three priorities of Rotary International were MEMBERSHIP, COMMUNITY
SERVICE and INTERNATIONAL, in that order.
Please note that at no stage is the word FUNDRAISING mentioned!

In the Rotary year 2014-15 I was appointed the District 9685 Membership Chair. Apart from addressing the
President Elects at PETS and the Membership Chairs at District Assembly I was invited to address many Clubs in
the District throughout the year on MEMBERSHIP ACQUISITION AND RETENTION.

Without exception at each Club that I attended the main discussion before my address was on FUNDRAISING!

The majority of Rotarians today argue that without Fundraising Clubs are unable to fund projects, programs and
the Rotary Foundation.

However, I believe that unless a Club is having FUN and FELLOWSHIP, they will be unable to successfully
Fundraise!

If Rotary International is to survive and increase and/or maintain its membership it must change its priorities and
downplay the importance of fundraising!
As I have a background in both Fundraising and Marketing, I assure you my experience tells me that if we
concentrate on FUN and FELLOWSHIP the FUNDRAISING will be a bi–product and each Club will continue to
successfully raise much needed funds.
Never in the history of this troubled world has Rotary international been more needed.

Let us return to basics by making our Clubs vibrant and informative and a haven for people who desire “TO MAKE
THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE”.

‘ROTARY MACKAY CORPORATE CLUB’

Article by PDG Michael Buckeridge

The Rotary Club of Mackay launched its first Corporate Satellite Club on May 5, 2021. The Paget
Corporate satellite club, will meet through a combination of Microsoft Teams meetings and face to face
meetings once per month.

They will meet at the Resources Centre of Excellence (RCOE) in Mackay, 6:45 am for a 7am start. They will conduct
business via the Mackay Rotary Club’s Microsoft 365 platform. The RCOE has state of the art audio visual
equipment which will enable the club to run professional virtual meetings.

Being a newly formed satellite club the parent club Mackay, looks after governance such as Office of Fair-Trading
matters etc. Mackay Club is currently processing and inducting the new members, however, once the Satellite Club
is further established, they will be able to look after their own applications.

The current membership is made up of representatives from corporations and business. The Resources Industry
Network (RIN) also has an office in RCOE. The resource industry network has a membership of over 200
companies. The General Manager is now a member of this newly formed satellite club. We see the new club
complementing RIN. RIN connects resource businesses and brings them opportunities to further their business.

Rotary connects the companies to the community and provides learning opportunities to its employees. PDG
Michael Buckeridge from D9570 was the initiator and driver in helping establish this new Corporate Satellite club
and has had support from current DG Adele Hughes from 9570 and DG Andy Rajapakse from 9640.

Rotary on the Move June 2021 Page 5