ZONE MEMBERSHIP SEMINARS a first for Down Under

by Jenny Coburn
Rotary Club of Mont Albert & Surrey Hills, Vic.
District 9810 Past Governor
Regional R.I. Membership Co-ordinator,
Zone 8A

With membership always at the forefront and an ongoing challenge for clubs and Districts, the philosophy of combining our membership and marketing or public image chairs throughout the zone evolved.

In my role as regional R.I. membership co-ordinator (RRIMC), I felt it important to link with, and include, BOTH the membership and marketing chairs in our Districts.

After approaching R.I. Communications Committee Chair, District 9680 Past Governor Bob Aitken, of the Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains, N.S.W., we joined forces to develop a Membership & Marketing Seminar focussing on the key membership elements of recruitment, retention and extension.

Incoming governors, membership chairs and public image chairs (marketing) were invited to seminars in Melbourne, Vic., and Sydney, N.S.W.

The outcomes were excellent, given that this was a new initiative and planned with short leadtime.

Best practice initiatives were shared and discussions centred on solutions to declining club size, club attractiveness and thinking outside the square as well as funding of new club opportunities.

Some of the “What Works” ideas which evolved from the seminars were:

• Involving your members in programs of their choice, rather than what you think they should do.
• A quality and vibrant program is essential.
• People like vibrant clubs – people like winners!
• An excellent venue, the ambience, welcoming club.
• Enjoyment at Rotary – it is important.
• Education – Sponsor a New Members Breakfast – develop knowledge, share thoughts and promotion.
• Sharing knowledge of your club – insight into club administration – invite new members to your club board meeting. Copy board minutes to all members.
• Mentoring, including the clarification of Rotary acronyms!
• Five-minute chats for both old and new members.
• Fireside meetings can have many approaches with some to analyse the club, some to meet and get to know each other.
• Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.
• President invites new members to dinner or for a drink, etc.
• Club Forums with discussion to ensure airing of problems.
• Vocational workshops and case studies.
• Positive social program.
• Awareness of financial and personal challenges of your members, including their changing circumstances.
• Providing value and satisfaction to your members.
Special thanks go to membership supporters of incoming R.I. Director Ian Riseley and Juliet and to Past R.I. Director Barry Thompson for their involvement and presentations in Melbourne and Sydney.

Equatorial Guinea 168th R.I. country
Equatorial Guinea, a nation off the West African coast, became Rotary's 168th country with the charter of the Rotary Club of Malabo on May 16, 2005. Maria Julia Andeme Ndong Mangue is the club's charter president. She said: ‘‘It is not going to be easy. We are a new club not knowledgeable about Rotary and we don't have enough money to implement the projects that the poor people in this country need.’’ She learnt about Rotary while on a business trip to Madrid, Spain, when she confided in a friend from her church that a group of other service-minded people in Malabo, the Equatorial Guinean capital, wanted to help improve lives. With the mentorship of African and Spanish Rotarians and the support of Club and District Administration staff from the R.I. Europe and Africa Office in Zurich, the provisional Rotary Club of Malabo took shape. The club has 25 charter members, seven being Rotarians who have relocated from other countries.

For more details about the Rotary Club of Malabo, e-mail Maria Julia Andeme Ndong Mangue mailto:hotelstella@hotmail.com.