By Kate McKenzie, a member of the Rotary Club of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia Since joining Rotary, I have discovered the ultimate travel accessory, my Rotary hat. Not only does it keep the…
Category Archives: Membership
Why LinkedIN Matters to Rotary
The Rotary changeover season is in full swing, as clubs install new leaders and the many significant achievements of Rotarians are recognised and briefly celebrated. With traditional modesty, the achievements of individuals are understated in favour of a more collective (and anonymous) sense that the Rotary club has done well. Again.
And another precious opportunity goes to waste as we fail to share the achievements of those Rotary champions with our communities.
The deeds of those individuals and teams whose work is recognised at changeover comprise the core of the Rotary Experience. The projects that change people’s lives through literacy development, disease eradication, provision of clean water, youth development and much more are the essence of Rotary. Their stories describe what makes Rotary great.
Celebrate those stories and we promote our Rotary clubs at the same time. The two are inextricably linked.
Social media (LinkedIN in particular) is a good place to tell those stories. Just by providing a single paragraph commendation for a successful Rotarian, we do two important things:
– Recognize an achievement and a job well done; and
– Demonstrate that Rotary clubs provide significant opportunities for personal growth while achieving for our community.
Go to LinkedIN, Facebook or your favourite social media channel and tell those stories now. The world is waiting.
Kero O’Shea
Membership Director, Rotary District 9465
Charter President, Rotary E-Club of Western Australia
The S.T.A.R. Program: How to Retain Members in Rotary
Mill Point Rotary Membership Director Kerry Green
Membership Director Kerry Green of the Rotary Club of Mill Point had one of her Rotary moments when she transferred to the Port Macquarie Sunrise Rotary Club in 2005. Although Kerry was by then an experienced Rotarian, her new club invited her to take part in the Special Training for Action in Rotary (S.T.A.R) program.
By the time Kerry returned to Mill Point Rotary some years later, she was a devotee of the innovative member induction and development program. Her enthusiasm and passion for the program persuaded the Mill Point Board to give S.T.A.R a try. They haven’t looked back and the program is now at the core of Mill Point’s member retention and development processes.
What’s so good about the S.T.A.R program? Listen as Kerry tells you the story of S.T.A.R and the Mill Point starlet who speaks so highly of this innovative program.
Beyond the JibberJabber: A Chat with a Young Rotary Leader
This week we had the rare privilege of hearing the perspective of a passionate young Rotary leader. Kaitlin Piggott is 21, has been a Rotarian for just over 12 months and is Secretary of the very progressive Rotary Club of Kent Town in South Australia.
Ever heard of “jibber jabber”? If you’re interested in attracting young members to Rotary, you might want to find out what Kaitlin means by the expression.
Kaitlin went on Rotary youth exchange to New Zealand five years ago and sees that experience as life-changing in terms of making her the better person she is today.
Listen as Kaitlin explains why she thought she would NEVER join Rotary, then shares her love of her Rotary Experience, what she likes about her club and the ways in which she likes to help others.
If you’re looking for inspiration, watch this:
PP Rob Webster receives the Club Builder Award from DG Erwin
CLUB BUILDER AWARD
DG Erwin Biemel presented the prestigious Club Builder Award to PP Robert Webster of Willetton Rotary at district changeover on 5 July 2014.
The Club Builder Award recognizes Rotarians who have made a
significant impact in supporting and strengthening their Rotary
clubs.
The nominee must be an active Rotarian in good standing, with at
least five years of membership.
Candidates must have done the following:
• Recruited at least five members who are active Rotarians at
the time of nomination
• Participated in Rotary training in their club
• Participated in at least one meaningful club-level vocational
service project
• Attended at least two district meetings in the three years
immediately preceding nomination.
Eligible candidates must be recommended by three past presidents of their own club.
Awardee: Robert Webster – Willetton Rotary Club
Past President Rob Webster is a Rotarian who has given long and
distinguished service This began when he joined the Rotary Club
of Scarborough in 1983. In the following 24 years he served with
distinction in many Club & District roles including Secretary and
President, Chair of the District 9450 Youth Exchange Committee
and Chair of the District 9450 Conference Committee. As a
consequence of these activities he was not only awarded a Paul
Harris Fellow but also two sapphires.
In 2007 Rob transferred to the Rotary Club of Willetton and continued his Club building ways by being actively involved in numerous Club activities including the Club’s Annual Community Fair plus the roles of Director International Service, President, Assistant Governor and in 2012/2013 Membership Director. In this
last role Rob was instrumental in recruiting, inducting and training nine new members, five of whom were females. All but one (who left due to employment pressures) are still members. In addition while President in 2010/2011, Rob was the instigator in the Willetton region of the very successful Vocational Service Project, Microscopes in Schools. He also represented the Club at the District Conference in 2011 and also attended the Busselton conference in 2013.
Not content with his many achievements, in 2013/2014 Rob willingly stepped up to Chair the District Conference Committee. He led the committee with distinction and brought his considerable managerial and psychological skills to bear to mould Club members into a very effective effective team who in turn produced an outstanding event.
Rob’s dedication to Rotary and his unassuming but very effective style and presence have contributed in a most significant way to the Rotary cause and through that to building two Clubs the most recent being the Rotary Club of Willetton. He is therefore a very deserving winner of the Club Builder Award.
His nomination for this award is supported by
• Past President David Honeychurch
• Past President Peter Cullen
• Past President Wayne Hand
• Past President Stuart Diggins
RECOGNITION OF MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
Each year, Rotary International recognizes up to three clubs from
each district for implementing proactive and creative initiatives in
three areas:
• Attracting new members
• Retaining existing members
• Sponsoring a new Rotary club or clubs
DG 2013-14 Erwin Biemel congratulates the following clubs who have received these awards for their membership successes during 2013-14:
ATTRACTING NEW MEMBERS
Awardee: Rotary Club of Esperance
The Rotary Club of Esperance targeted prospective Rotarians from the business community within Esperance and the local district.
The Club sent invitations to prospective members inviting them to come to a Rotary information night, followed up by personal
approach from a nominated member.
All positive responses were allocated a member to pick up the possible new member and host them for that meeting and other following meetings.
These efforts resulted in an increase of 5 younger members in a 9 month period that joined the Club.
RETAINING EXISTING MEMBERS
Awardee: Rotary Club of Mill Point
The Membership Committee of the Mill Point Rotary Club have instituted a Special Training for Action in Rotary (STAR) Program.
New members and their ‘mentors meet on a bi monthly basis. Each meeting focuses on a Avenue of Service and allows participants to learn Rotary detail and how it relates at club level. The Membership Committee develop series of questions and these are distributed before the meeting. Committee take turns to host the evening and invite guests, as well as the current Director of the nominated Avenue of Service.
The President has also invited ‘observers’ from other clubs to encourage them to also adopt the STAR program.
Whilst the questions focus on the Avenue of Service, they include the activities that Club facilitates and coordinates.
Participants learn about the history of Rotary, of their Club and are able to question in an informal way. This encourages Mentors to take responsibility of the newest nominee, and gives the Committee the opportunity to gauge them.
Engaging new members from the start and ‘checking in’ on how connected they are to the club is vital. It spread a wider understanding of Rotary and the club, enables members to be aware of club activities and how and where they can contribute and take ownership.
SPONSORING A NEW ROTARY CLUB
Awardee: Rotary Club of Southern Districts
The Rotary Club of Southern Districts accepted the invitation from
DG Erwin Biemel to sponsor the new E-WA Rotary eClub.
In supporting the formation of a new satellite eClub, the Rotary
Club of Southern Districts has supported the formation of the first
satellite club in D9465.
The E-WA, Rotary Club of Southern Districts is helping to open a
whole new frontier of Rotary experiences in WA.
Once numbers increase it is anticipated that the E-WA will become
a provisional Rotary Club, the final step to chartering as a new club.
DG Erwin presents Club Builder Award to Scott Dwyer at D9465 Changeover on 5 July 2014
CLUB BUILDER AWARD
DG Erwin Biemel presented the prestigious Club Builder Award to PP Scott Dwyer of Mill Point Rotary at district changeover on 5 July 2014.
The Club Builder Award recognizes Rotarians who have made a
significant impact in supporting and strengthening their Rotary
clubs.
The nominee must be an active Rotarian in good standing, with at
least five years of membership.
Candidates must have done the following:
• Recruited at least five members who are active Rotarians at
the time of nomination
• Participated in Rotary training in their club
• Participated in at least one meaningful club-level vocational
service project
• Attended at least two district meetings in the three years
immediately preceding nomination.
Eligible candidates must be recommended by three past presidents of their own club.
Awardee: Scott Dwyer Mill Point Rotary Club
Scott Dwyer joined the Rotary club of Mill Point in November 1991.
His nomination for this award is supported by
• Past President Jon Lawrence
• Past President David Rowell
• Past President Wayne Muller
• Past President Jim Walker
He served as President in 2011/12 and is a Paul Harris Fellow. Scott has roles on all of the clubs committees, including Director of the Rotary Ramble and is currently assistant Treasurer.
Scott has nominated 11 new members in total. Scott continues to work with members on leave of absence to encourage them to attend social events and hopefully encourage him back into the club.
Scott attended the Club Visioning Workshop held by our club 1 December 2013. As a past president of Mill Point, he attended the necessary training to ensure he was prepared for his year of presidency.
Vocational Service Project – In Scott’s Presidential year a new award was introduced to the club. This is the ‘Unsung Hero’ Award. All service clubs, and not for profit groups in the City of South Perth are contacted and asked to nominate a volunteer who goes above and beyond. Every year the successful recipient receives a plaque to honour their volunteering commitments, and is given $500 towards a charity of their choice. In 2013 Scott and his wife Robynne attended a half day visit to a working farm in Perenjori to learn about biodiversity and the challenges of farming practices in extreme environments.
District meetings – Scott has attended the last three conferences
in Mandurah, Busselton and also Kalgoorlie, and was influential
in encouraging a strong contingent to represent the club at these
events. Scott has also attended the last three District Changeovers.