Rotary provides a wonderful list of resources to assist in growing membership.

Article by PDG Stephen Lamont, Rotary Coordinator

How often do we read, use or apply the resources? By having a MyRotary account every Rotarian can access various tools and resources that can have an impact on club membership. We just need to dip our toe in the water…

Here are three examples that can make an impact and the resources to make them happen.

Offer alternative membership types

Your club could offer family memberships, junior memberships to young professionals, or corporate memberships to business leaders and their employees. Each type of membership can have its own policies on dues, attendance, and service expectations, provided these policies are documented in your club bylaws. Rotary will count these people in your club membership and will consider them active members if they pay RI dues.

Benefits:

• Presents options for prospective members with different pricing structures and levels of time commitment
• Presents an opportunity to partner with a local corporation
• Diversifies club by attracting businesses, prospective members with young families, and other groups who aren’t able to join as traditional members.

Resources:

• Guide to corporate membership (PDF)
• Start Guide for Alternate Membership Types (includes sample bylaws)(DOC)
• Practicing Flexibility and Innovation (online course)
• Story – Corporate Citizens (Rotary Club of DeMotte-Kankakee Valley, Indiana)
• Membership types FAQ

Change meeting format

Change your meeting format and engage your members in fun, productive ways! You can meet in person, online, or a combination, including letting some members attend in-person meetings through the Internet. Or you can change the format of your in-person meetings to include service projects, leadership development, committee reporting, social gatherings, member professional talks, and educational talks on diversity, club vision, and other topics your club determines.

Benefits:

• Makes club meetings more interesting, which engages members and guests
• Creates culture where agility and creativity are valued and demonstrated
• Members can gain professional development skills.

Resources:

• Start Guide for Flexible Meeting Formats (includes sample bylaws)(DOC)
• Leadership in Action: Your Guide to starting a Program (PDF)
• Story – 3 Meeting Formats that Increased Member Participation (Rotary Club of Rochester, Minnesota) (Audio)
• Meeting format FAQs

Relax attendance expectations / reduce meeting frequency

Change your meeting schedule to make it easier for your members to attend.

Ease attendance requirements and encourage members to participate in other ways, such as taking a leadership role, updating the club website regularly, running a meeting a few times a year, or planning an event. Remember your members are volunteers. If your club is dynamic and offers a good experience for members, attendance won't be a problem.

Benefits:

• Accommodates members who have busy schedules
• Encourages participation outside of in-person meetings
• Better captures member engagement
• Makes club more appealing to prospective members (research tells us that rigid rules keep non-members from joining)
• Diversifies club if other non-traditional groups are motivated to join
• Compels clubs to make good use of meeting time (so members come because they want to not because they have to).

Resources:

• Meeting frequency and attendance FAQs
• Guide to passport clubs (PDF)
• Practicing Flexibility and Innovation (online course)
• Story – Meeting flexibility attracts young professionals (Rotary Club of Invercargill, New Zealand)

Going outside our comfort zone is not easy – and this becomes a challenge to most Rotarians. I encourage everyone to be challenged – and use some of these resources. It may not only assist your club to grow, but you shall grow as well.