There are two ways to add to the number of hands we have joining us in Rotary service. One way is to bring in new members, either in existing clubs or by forming new ones. The other is the subject of focus for RI President R. Gordon R. McInally, and that is engaging existing members to retain them. This month is a great time to evaluate existing clubs and make any needed adjustments. As Paul Harris said, “This is a changing world, we must be prepared to change with it. The story of Rotary will have to be written again and again.”

We’ve recently seen changes in the qualifications for Rotary membership, the meeting attendance requirements, etc. These have helped our membership challenge, but more change may be needed to assure existing members find their club membership valuable and engaging. Rotary.org has a large assortment of membership resources to help you assess and reinforce that value.

Action steps you can take today:

• Download and distribute a survey to find out how your club’s members are interested in serving or what projects they’d like to undertake;
• Create an online survey to assess club members’ satisfaction with how the club is meeting their needs;
• Have your board or club members take a club “health check” to identify any gaps in its offerings to keep members engaged and satisfied;
• Have board members take the 15 minute “Creating an Inclusive Club” course in the Rotary Learning Center.