Make it Personal!

Most clubs have performed at least a few new member inductions by this time of the Rotary year. Did you know that how you conduct your induction can be a critical first step to engaging and retaining that new member? In the past we were taught that the induction was very important, but the focus was mostly on explaining to the new member what a great organization he or she was joining.

Current thinking is that we should shift the focus of the induction away from educating the inductee about Rotary, to a more personal induction. One that helps to educate the club about who is being inducted. Where are they from? What kind of family do they have? Do they have children? What age(s)? Where do they attend school? What does the spouse do? What are their professional skills and abilities? What are their personal interests and hobbies? When these questions are answered in an induction ceremony, some magic begins to happen.

People sitting in the audience find things in common with the new member. They are more likely to strike up a conversation afterwards. The new member feels more valued, and their family understands that they can be as much a part of Rotary as they want. Basically, the personal induction begins the process of developing the glue that retains members and binds them to their clubs. That glue is friendship, the number one reason why people choose to stay in Rotary!

If your club would like to update its induction ceremony, there is good news! There is a "personalized Induction" template that is now posted on our District 5190 website (rotarydistrict5190.org), in the Membership Development section. For a short cut, just click HERE to access this great tool for improving your new member retention by getting off to a great start.

That's All!

Don't Rush the Question!

Research has shown that only a little over 10 percent of Rotarians ever sponsor a new member into Rotary. So for many club membership chairs, getting folks to invite prospective members to a  meeting is a problem. However, sometimes we can get a little little anxious with the question, and that should be avoided too.

When you "pop the question" to an unprepared prospective member, many times you are forcing them to decline. After that, it can be very difficult for them to be persuaded to change their mind. So, asking them to join right off the bat is usually counterproductive.

The better approach is to think of it as a kind of "dating" process. You want to demonstrate to them that your club is worth their while. That is a process that begins with an invitation to be a guest at a club meeting, NOT asking them to join. How many of you fellows out there walked up to a young lady you were interested in and asked her to get married the first time you met?

Don't rush the question of membership!

No, we want to invite them to learn more about Rotary, not to join. The invitation to join only comes after you have gotten to know them; they have come to know you and your club; and it seems like it will likely be a good fit for "all concerned".

Make sure you think about how you will make "the Ask" (see Sept. 4th, 2015) and don't forget to prepare your club. Make sure it is going to be a good program, and get help from your fellow members in making sure your guest feels welcome. Make extra sure no one blurts out: "So, when are you going to join?" during the meeting. Rushing the question may put your guest under pressure, and spoil their first impression of your club.

So remember, to develop a strong and lasting relationship between Rotary and new members, take it slow, and don't rush the question!

Cheers!

As we enter the second half of the Rotary year, we are all focused on hanging on to the gains we have made in membership. On New Year's Eve most of us raised a glass and toasted last year, and next with a hardy  CHEERS! It reminds one of the old TV series Cheers, where each week we followed the exploits of a group of very close friends who met regularly in a bar. The name of the bar? Cheers. What made it so special? Everyone new each other's names, and when you got there, they were "always glad you came." A warm, welcoming and friendly place.

What a great way to approach making your club more attractive. Is your club like Cheers? How can you make changes that would make visitors feel even more welcome? How about your current members (especially those newer ones)? Does everyone know their names? What's more, do they know what they do in their work lives?

There are lots of creative ways to enhance your meetings to make them more fun and welcoming. One excellent idea is to invite a "Mystery Visitor" from another club that is unknown to your club. Have that person come to a meeting and afterwards give an honest appraisal of what kind of impression your club made on her/him. Put this information to use to "Cheer Up" your club and make it even more attractive to current and prospective members.

Engagement is the Key to Retention

As we near the halfway mark of the year our membership focus needs to be squarely on retention. Many clubs have added a significant number of new members. Unfortunately, all to often we lose as many (and sometimes more) out the back door as come in the front. Now is a critical time to stand up your retention committee, and start canvasing your members on how satisfied they are, and finding out how to properly engage them in your club.

For new members, the "12 Letters" is a great way to reach out to them and let them know how much you value their membership in the club. This program is explained on our District Membership Development page. Here is a link to the "12 Letters" program on our District website:

 http://portal.clubrunner.ca/50138/SitePage/membership

Just scroll the page down and look for the 12 Letters heading!

For members that have been around for a while, make sure you are calling those who may have missed a few meetings lately. Let them know that you and the rest of the club miss them. Make sure they are getting the return on their investment of  time and money that will make membership in your club worth it! Set up some holiday social events, and make sure those that have been out of the loop get a special invitation to come. You could also add a holiday service project to your club's suite of activities. Go caroling, or be a secret Santa at the local battered women's shelter. The main idea is to get your members, new and old, engaged in your club. That is the glue that keeps them coming back, and will give your club the vitality to continue to serve your community far into the future!

That's All!

How Do We Treat Our Guests?

Any club member can do a great service for membership development in her or his club by focusing on how they treat guests at their club meetings. Remember, they are not only visitors, but potential new members as well. They are going to form a first impression of your club no matter what:

• Their eyes will see your meeting room and everything in it … what will they see?
• Their ears will hear what is (or is not) said to them, and what is (or is not) said to others, before and during the meeting … what will they hear?
• Their hand will (or will not) shake the hands of members and other guests …who will they meet?
• Their mouth will (or will not) speak to members and others in the room … who will they talk to?

Any member can have a tremendous positive impact on a guest's first impression by treating them like the special people they are. You should show them how glad you are that they came, and express that to them. You should be interested in learning more about them: their name, vocation, do they have a family, how long have they been in the area, etc.

How do you feel when you walk into a room full of strangers, and few people even acknowledge that you are present? Has that ever happened? It happens all too often. When it does, we miss a great opportunity.

Alternately, how do you feel when entering the same room and people approach you with a smile on their faces, and their hand outstretched, letting you know how glad they are that you could take some time out of your day to come and visit. How would it make you feel to be invited to sit with them at their table? 

Remember, we don't get a second chance at first impressions. By going out of your way to give your guests special treatment, you will expand your own circle of friends, make someone else's day, and perhaps, just perhaps, help your club build its membership!

That's All!

A Real Mentor, or Just a Check in the Box?

Most clubs have the biggest retention problem with newer members. That is, members who have been in the club for less than a year, 1 to 2 years, and 3 to 5 years. The key to hanging on to more of the new members that you put so much effort into is to ENGAGE them!

Engaging new members in the workings of the club is crucial to
 improving New Member retention rates

Assigning a mentor is a good idea, but make sure that you give clear direction on what you want that mentor to do. Too many clubs that I know of just pick a person and say "tag you're it". It is crucial to make sure that your mentors are not over loaded, understand the expectations from them, are WILLING to do the job, and finally, report back to the membership committee on a periodic basis. 




You don't have to start from scratch, there is great information available on our website. Just click the link below and view it! There is additional information on engaging new members there as well.

https://district5190.egnyte.com/fl/VuFK0OXRmM

You can find lots of tools to improve your mentoring program
on the District Website under membership development.

Bottom line is that the first place for most clubs to get started in enhancing their retention is to focus on your newer members.

That's All!

Woody

What's Rotary?

How many times have you been asked the question: "What's Rotary?" only to have a difficult time coming up with a concise way to describe this movement we all know and love. These are great opportunities to reach out and interest potential new members, but we have to be prepared.

Be ready for the opportunity to
answer the question: "What's Rotary?"

When someone asks you "What's Rotary?" you have about 2 seconds to start to say something. After that, you only have about 20 seconds to "set the hook" and generate some interest in Rotary. If you go on much longer and the people are not interested, you'll bore them, if they ARE interested you'll be preventing them from asking questions. Here is a great answer to the question, that is short and succinct, and hits on the primary reasons WHY people join and stay in Rotary.

"It’s a leadership organization…We’re made up of local business, professional and civic leaders. We meet regularly, get to know each other, form friendships, and through that, we’re able to get things done in this community."

This simple answer is a great tool to start a deeper conversation about Rotary with those who are interested. Memorize it and have it at the top of your toolbox to use the next time someone asks you: "So, what's Rotary?"

That's All!