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‘LEADERS OR MANAGERS?’

Article by PDG Euan Miller, Rotary Foundation Cadre, President RC of Norwood

I have just jointly facilitated another Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) for D9510 and it got me
thinking again about upcoming PETS and other training, districts will be soon be engaged in to
prepare for a new Rotary year.
Rotary’s focus seems to emphasize the training of managers rather than leaders. While this may
very well lead to effective clubs and committees next year, even the best of them will be doing the same things that
they have been doing year after year for decades.

Where is the vision? Where is the strategic plan? Where are skills to lead clubs on challenging new paths, to inspire
members to achieve outside of their comfort zones? Where are the new members – the women, the under 40s, the
ethnic backgrounds, the new vocations that will take the club to a new level of achievement?
Rotary needs leaders not managers to do this.
Next year, at the district level there will be five more districts merging into two in Australia because some of these
districts’ membership numbers dropped below the 1100 threshold. On 1 July 2022 four more districts in Australia
and New Zealand will merge for the same reason. Do we have the trained leaders to ensure these merged districts
grow exponentially in membership, chartering new clubs, Foundation giving and new service projects? If Rotarians
are sad about losing their district identity (I acknowledge to most this is an irrelevant concept) they will be
disillusioned if the new district does not achieve a new vision.
We can train leaders – RLI graduates show we can.

When I look at club performance in my district, clubs with RLI trained Presidents out-perform most clubs where
their Presidents have only received PETS training. I would be prepared to ditch PETS in favour of RLI. PEs coming
around for the second time, if they are RLI graduates, would not need to attend. Any fresh information needed from
the DGE could easily be passed on in an email or through the AG.

Themes and other information may be useful, but leadership is essential.

19 RLI students from D 9510 with facilitators PDG Wendy Gaborit OAM and ARC Damian Leach

‘MAKING MEETINGS MEANINGFUL’

From the February 2021 edition of the Rotary District 9550 Governor's (DG Merewyn Wright) Newsletter.

Here is some food for thought as you plan your club meetings for the balance of the Rotary year:
• What opportunities do your club meetings provide for members?
• What should you consider when planning and scheduling meetings, in order to meet the needs of your
members?
• If you were a prospective member visiting a meeting of your club for the first time, what would make you
want to come back again?
• What role do club meetings play in achieving the goals of your club?
• Are there different expectations of meetings for different cohorts in your club – e.g., new vs long term, young
vs old, business owners vs others, retired vs working? How can your club cater for these differences?

Rotary on the Move March 2021 Page 3