Increase membership by 50%, female membership by 500% reduce the average age of the club by 20 years!

Article by PDG Adrian Roach, Regional Rotary Coordinator

On 19th August 2021, I was privileged to watch a webinar hosted by Kero O’Shea from Zone 8 Membership Voice. This was with D9830 DGN Mike Patten from Rotary Lindisfarne. He explained in a very down-to-earth way how Rotary Lindisfarne had achieved a remarkable turnaround, while keeping everyone engaged and happy.

Five years ago, the Rotary Club of Lindisfarne, Tasmania, District 9830, was a small but happy suburban club with a gradually declining and aging membership. Crisis beckoned. The club gradually addressed several improvement areas but realised that still more sweeping changes were needed. Mike Patten was asked to lead the process as President for a 2-year term.

Rotary Lindisfarne has, in 18 months, dramatically increased membership diversity and numbers by 15 and has an active Satellite Club with another 15 members. Culturally diverse membership has gone from a low of 18 to over 50. Lindisfarne had a 50% increase in membership two years in a row, with female membership up by 500%, and 17 of the combined sponsor/satellite club membership under the age of 40. Lindisfarne has lowered the Clubs average age by 20 years!

Here's the recording. Please feel free to share and discuss - we need all our dedicated club builders and membership specialists promoting these stories if they're to reach people who might deploy the ideas.

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