Retreat Breakout Session Summary

At this year’s retreat, attendees were asked to participate in discussions leading to consensus on three major issues. Membership, Giving, and BBRC Centennial. Jenny Andrews chaired the session on Membership and here is her report:

Annual Planning Retreat
Membership Enhancement Breakout Session

The membership enhancement breakout session focused on three major membership issues. Club members were asked to identify three concrete things that we, as a club, will commit to in the next Rotary year. The issues and action items are:

What three things are we willing to commit to in the coming Rotary year to support Rotary International’s goal of inducting younger members? How do we, as a club, define a “quality” member?

1. Invite/Ask/Educate
    
2. Investigate the feasibility of “tiered membership” to encourage younger members who may not currently have the resources to meet the overall club goals for financial contributions.
    
3. Implement a method of keeping in contact with our students of the month to ensure that Rotary is more than just a passing influence in their lives.

What three things are we, as a club, willing to do in the coming year to increase the club’s diversity in the areas of classification, age, gender, and ethnicity?

1. Create a classification “wish list” from the phone book and assign members to “go after” specific individuals.
    
2. Educate all members on Rotary International’s modification to the “discretionary authority” rule and the RI mandate to recruit a more diverse population.
    
3. Present a full program on membership, including role playing opportunities, brain-storming on people to invite to a meeting and “team challenges.”

What three things are we willing to commit to in the coming year to move “new members” to highly committed, highly involved, highly visible club leaders?

1. With the start of the new Rotary year, all new members should be placed into the same committees as their sponsors to foster instant involvement.
    
2. Include committee chairpersons in the induction ceremonies so the new member can put a name with a face.
    
3. ASK them to participate in work parties and committee activities, personally invite them to attend fellowship gatherings, get to know them.