New MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT RESOURCE GUIDE Available!

The Membership Development Resource Guide (417-EN) has recently been revised and is available to all Rotarians.

The Membership Development Resource Guide covers all three components of membership development (retention, recruitment, and organizing new clubs), offering effective strategies for clubs to implement as part of a complete action plan for membership development.

Club Assessment Tools is a new online supplement to this publication. It provides guidance for clubs on how to best use and reap the most benefit from RI’s many club assessment tools. Read the publication, and encourage district membership committees to promote this resource to clubs!

The Membership Development Resource Guide (417-EN) is available to download at www.rotary.org (type 417 in the main search box) or can be found here. You may also order a copy online at shop.rotary.org or through the RI Catalog.

Club Assessment Tools (available online only) can be viewed and downloaded at www.rotary.org or you can find it here.

Bill Gates Increases Polio Challenge Grant by $255 Million

At Rotary’s International Assembly in San Diego last month, Bill Gates announced that his foundation will increase its challenge grant by $255 million – for a total of $355 million. By accepting the increase, Rotary also accepts the challenge to raise an additional $100 million in matching funds by 30 June 2012 and raises the combined Rotary-Gates Foundation commitment to a total of $555 million.

Make the new Gates challenge a part of your membership development strategy and promote it on your websites, newsletters, and blogs. Because public image affects both recruitment and retention, work with your District Public Relations Committee to get the word out on this important and high-profile Rotary program. Help Rotary International and the Gates Foundation ensure the success of the PolioPlus Program and set an example for the rest of the world.

The Joint Letter from President D.K. Lee and Foundation Chair Jonathan Majiyagbe announcing the new challenge can be viewed here.

Watch Bill Gates make the announcement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH1vPTVGHOk

1 July 2008 Membership Start Figures

The membership start figures for 08-09 have been calculated; these reports have been converted to an electronic form and are posted by zone on the MC Forum. Follow: Downloads - Start Figures 2008-09.

Discussion topic by Diane Kessel Knight

I'm sure you are as troubled as I am about our economy and what it might mean for Rotary membership over the next few years. I wondered if any of you are having proactive discussions in your districts about how to best support Rotarians who might be losing businesses or jobs....ways for them to network and support one another (i.e. classes or seminars, job postings from your district websites, etc). I know we often talk about strategies for helping clubs reduce the cost of membership, but I'm referring more to how to specifically help struggling Rotarians, who we will lose from Rotary if they lose their jobs or businesses.


Are there any good ideas out there to share?

Diane

Membership Reports

Please be reminded: each year start figures are complete no sooner than the last day of October. Another email alert will be sent to you as a reminder that you can find them on the MC Forum at that time.