THE MAYOR ED KOCH METHOD
Is your membership proud enough of your
club to want to invite potential members? Is your club enthusiastic in a
way that will attract and keep good members? Are you adding or losing
members? Why? If the answers aren't what you would like, take a look at
the following areas to make a positive change. Feedback and direction from
older members, behind the scenes leaders of the club and the current board
of directors will help you get a reading on the attitude of your club,
what you can do better and puts key club members on notice that some
positive changes are about to take place. It also lets key leaders feel a
part of the process and helps them buy in to it and support your efforts.
Club Classification
Inventory - which classifications are open, share
with members to find names.
Food Quality
- good variety, affordable and edible?
Program Quality
Assessment - good variety, interesting, field trip
meetings, cover area of service in programs according to the Rotary
calendar, club and Rotary history program.
Fellowship Evaluation
- outside gatherings for spouses and families, newsletter, fun meetings,
intergenerational Christmas meeting with Santa and carols.
Four Areas of Service
- good chairman with 2 activities/area of service with one offering members
hands on participation.
THIS IS NO "FIELD OF DREAMS",
IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL NOT COME YOU HAVE TO REACH'EM
A prophet is not recognized in his own
town. Bring in an enthusiastic Rotarian from the district staff or another
club to present the club with the contest format.
Name a respected member as the Membership
Development Chairman (MDC). The MDC divides the club into 4 to 5 member
teams and names solid members team captains. He announces the teams and
gives each member a list of teammates with their phone number and provides
them with a copy of the club classification inventory. The contest lasts
for 6 weeks and teams compete for points with the top scoring team winning
a prize (steak diner at a regular meeting for example). The scores are
totaled each week and announced at the meeting by the MDC. Post the scores
on a grease board placed in front of the meeting room. Praise top scoring
teams for sharing Rotary with their friends and perhaps tease those that
don't give an honest effort.
- 1 point for each member of the team
attending the meeting.
- 1 point for each team that has all team
members attending the meeting.
- 2 points for each guest the team brings
to the meeting,
- 5 points for each new member,
CRITICAL WORK BEHIND THE SCENES
Have good meetings and programs of good
quality during the contest and make the guests feel welcome. Let your cook
know that you are having special guests and that you would appreciate a
special effort on the meals. Record the names of the guests and get their
address and phone number from the member. Have the president write a
letter to each guest. Thank them for their visit, share some general
information about Rotary and let them know they are wanted. Have the MDC
write a personal note to the members thanking them for inviting a guest.
The president or membership development
chairman needs to call the team captains each Sunday night or Monday
morning to remind them to invite someone and to call their team members to
keep inviting a guest on their mind. After the first week of the contest,
have the president write each member and challenge them to participate.
After the third week, have a well-respected older member write a similar
letter to each member. During the meeting at the end of the contest have a
special recognition of the member that brought the most guests and the one
who proposed the most new members.
YOU REACHED'EM! NOW YOU'LL HAVE TO
TEACH'EM TO KEEP'EM
Hold a 'fireside chat' at a member's home
for all new members within two weeks of the contest. Have members that
proposed the new member make sure they get there, call to remind them to
attend the first meetings and take them to other clubs so they will know
how to make up meetings. Have "Rotary Minutes" at meetings
following the contest to expose new members to Rotary philosophy and
organizational structure. Give them a something to do in the club ASAP so
they will take ownership in the club.
Don Young, President Fort
Smith Southside Rotary
Need Help? Contact the
membership committee member nearest you. |
