Starting new clubs is essential for expanding our reach and growing Rotary. Use Starting a Rotary Club to learn what you need to do to form a club.

Submitted by Barbara Mifsud, Regional Membership Officer, RI staff

New club development is an essential part of Rotary International’s membership development plan.

We know from research that regions where membership is growing are also where new clubs are being established.

Why start a Rotary club? They help:

• Expand our reach: new clubs help us to accommodate different demographic groups and give people who previously may not have been able to – or chose not to – a chance to join us
• Enhance participant engagement: with new style clubs we build our clubs around members and their needs, rather than the other way around
• Deliver a more focused impact: new clubs help us pursue new project possibilities and partnerships with organisations in our communities, which means we increase our impact
• Ensure Rotary’s sustainability: new clubs mean that all the good work we have done continues into our second century of service

An estimated 88% of new club members, are new to Rotary, which puts an end to the myth that new clubs lead to ‘poaching’ members. If anything, they may save members who were planning on leaving anyway.

Starting a Rotary club demystifies the new club development process by showing you how you can start a club in nine straightforward steps – from identifying an opportunity, recruiting charter members through to submitting the application form and beyond.

Starting a club is a Learning Centre course that walks you through the process of starting a new club, whether it's a Rotary, Rotaract or satellite club.

Rotary Club Models is a two-page matrix providing information about different club types, formats and models that you can use to attract new audiences.

Nurturing new clubs is a Learning Centre course for new club supporters and outlines what you need to do to help a new club grow and thrive.

Resources for starting new clubs lists all the resources you might need when starting a club, in the one place.