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‘REGIONAL MEMBERSHIP UPDATE’
Article by Barbara Mifsud, Regional Membership Officer, Membership Development, South

Pacific and Philippines Office, barbara.mifsud@rotary.org,

https://www.facebook.com/barbara.mifsud.1

Rotary in the time of COVID-19
While we continue to practice social distancing to ensure the health and well-being of our families
and communities, it’s important to ensure our members stay engaged in Rotary during this
extraordinary time. Here are some highlights of how clubs and districts are keeping members
engaged and providing service:

• Members from Rotary Club of Central Melbourne decided to go camping for Easter, as ‘normal’, with one
variation – they put the tents up in their backyards! Social drinks were held (online) in backyards and out by
the BBQ. Everyone had a wine and a few nibbles and partners joined in as well.
• Rotary Club of Kurri Kurri from D9670, in conjunction with the Kurri Kurri Community Centre, have been
cooking up a storm and providing meals, free of charge to the elderly and vulnerable within their community.
So far they have cooked and delivered over 1200 meals!
• Instead of cancelling the Knox Art Show, a collaboration between the Rotary Clubs of Rowville-Lysterfield
and Bayswater, the combined boards agreed to hold a virtual art show instead. Sponsors supported this new
format and artists were very pleased with the outcome. More than 5000 people have visited the virtual art
show website so far - that’s five times as many visitors compared to last few years at the art gallery. Check out
the show here.
• Rotary Satellite Club of Orewa-Millwater in D9910, New Zealand set up the Gulf Harbour Army Bay support
group, made up of approximately fifty local community members, volunteering to pick up shopping for the
aged and vulnerable in the area. One recipient thanked the group saying ‘that because of Rotary we are safe’.
They also received a $2,000 donation from another recipient.
• Watch this excellent presentation by Rtn Rebecca Fry about service while social distancing. It’s filled with a
whole load of simple, effective ideas for building connections at this time. The presentation was an initiative
of D9570 in Central Queensland, Australia, who have an excellent section on their website about uniting
against COVID-19.
• In this Q&A, Membership Committee Chair and RI Director 2021-23 Jessie Harman discusses how she sees
COVID-19 effecting the Rotary landscape and urges us to lead with compassion, care and urgency.

NEW! Connect with the (Online) Rotary World Webinar Recording
Rotarians and Rotaractors everywhere are proving that social distancing doesn’t mean being disconnected. People
are embracing new ways to connect using technology — smartphones, webcams, and the internet. Rotary
International’s Membership Development department recently hosted the Connect with the (Online) Rotary World
webinar on 29 April. It featured members who are leading their clubs and districts in the move to virtual connection.
Our Assistant Rotary Coordinator PDG Ingrid Waugh from Auckland, NZ was one of the special guest panelists. If
you weren’t able to attend you can watch a recording of it here.

Membership Leads report
Despite the global impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19), or perhaps as a result, prospective members are still
expressing interest in joining Rotary clubs in many areas around the world. As more and more clubs begin to convene
online and find new and innovative ways to support their communities, you can help by putting them in touch with
potential members who are looking for meaningful connections and want to be a part of something positive and
greater than themselves.

If you are a district leader, make sure to have established a process for quickly and effectively managing leads and
connecting these prospective members to the right club. If you are a club leader make sure to follow up on any leads
that have been assigned to your club and report the progress in My Rotary.

Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands

Membership statistics as at 31 March 2020

Comparison to 1 July
Worldwide
Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands

Demographics
Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands

Rotary on the Move Mayl 2020 Page 2