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‘THREE PILLARS OF POSITIVE MEMBERSHIP EXPERIENCE’
Article by PDG Kris Chittur (2018-19), RID 7230, Zone 32

From the Newsletter of Zones 24 & 32 ‘Beyond Borders’, September 2019 edition

As we know, word-of-mouth is the best promotion. Your members’ enthusiasm about your Club is critical;
their poor/lackadaisical opinions repel prospective members.

Members become enthusiastic if they have a positive club experience. The three pillars for this are engagement in Club

functioning; active, meaningful projects; and opportunity to avail of Rotary/District programs. With these, membership
growth is inevitable.

Conversely, members don’t renew their membership (except for uncontrollable factors such as death), and prospects don’t

join clubs, because the experience was wanting. Catchy phrases, coddling Rotaractors, and discounted fees cannot make
up for this want. Positive club experience is pivotal.

Some Issues to Consider

Plan! So how well does your Club encourage or dis-courage member engagement? Members
need to feel that the Club belongs to them. Without that, yours is just a lunch/dinner club.

Second, does your Club present enough opportunities for members to develop personal
relationships? Relationships are the glue that hold Clubs together! Some Clubs

have monthly events (cocktail hour, dinners, movies, whatever) to help develop such relationships. But in many Clubs,
members have no relationships to speak of, and attendance at meetings become a chore.

Relationships are also enhanced by meaningful action projects: people who work together develop relationships. But

many clubs’ only worthwhile event is an annual fundraiser, followed by check writing to other organizations, followed
by another fundraiser.

No active involvement in any project, contrary to our slogan, “People of Action”. Absentee check-writing is a Club-
ki ller.
But don’t sweat to come up with such projects: Most probably, your club is already funding service organizations - just

ask them to participate! A Homeless Soup Kitchen seeking funds? Write a check - and have Rotarians serve soup once a
month (and publish photographs with the “Rotary” template). Local garden needs shrubs? Write a check - and have

Rotarians participate in planting with “Rotarians in Action” vests. That engages the members and increases your club’s
visibility!

Third, plug into our vast network, and aggressively encourage members to do so! Every Rotarian should have

his/her current information in the District and Rotary database, and a “My Rotary” account. Only then will members
know of opportunities presented by Zone Conferences, seminars, NAYEN (North American Youth Exchange Network)

and the varied opportunities for personal and professional growth, and networking. These events engage and excite
members.

Does your club or district have a Friendship Exchange program? Members can experience

the thrill of staying with Rotarians abroad, share their homes and family lives, of seeing that
country through local eyes, and building lifelong relationships - but only if members know

about that program! Let members enjoy interacting with a High Schooler through the Youth
Exchange Scholarship Program - and see their eyes light up when they talk about that!

So, make the Club experience worthwhile. Focus on what you do and how: your members
members should want to attend club events. And maximize access to our network and programs. Your members are

your best promoters! With happy members, your Club grows, and you’ll have a waiting list of wannabes.

‘New course in the Learning Centre’

From Rotary Training Talk, August 2019

Sign in to the Learning Centre to take the new course An Introduction to Adult Learning. This is the first in a series
of three interactive courses that you can use as professional development or as part of any in-person training that

you provide to facilitators for your training events.

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 October 2019 Page 7