Bucking the Trend

It was both surprising and disappointing to learn that Rotary in North America has lost a significant percentage of membership in the past decade.  It was further demoralizing to learn that most other community and service organizations are part of the same trend.

RI President, Wilf Wilkinson decided to do something to stem the exodus from Rotary.  As a first step, he organized several Presidential Membership Conferences around the U. S. and Canada.  This idea hit a responsive chord within our zone.  The conference slated for Richmond, BC (south of Vancouver) was sold out weeks before it began.

Last weekend, Jerry Van Vliet our Membership Chairman, JoAnn and Dave attended the Presidential Membership Conference.  What a rush!!  One can never participate in a large-scale Rotary meeting without getting juiced (not the Barry Bonds variety).

We came away with many ideas for enhancing our Rotary club with the infusion of new members and, just as importantly, maintaining and retaining the excellent members we already have.  We are also hoping to attract some former members back into the club.  That program which we have dubbed "Re-member", if successful,  will add experienced former Rotarians back into our fold.   

To accomplish this task, every member must be a participant in the membership thrust.   Please attend our special meeting next week, August 22, when Jerry Van Vliet will highlight the program with a listing of ways we can gain members for the challenging work we have ahead.

At the Richmond meeting, we became acquainted with Ken Balsley who lives in Lacey, WA.  Ken is a dynamic and fascinating person who, over the span of his Rotary career has recruited 83 new members.  Yes, that is not a typo.  Ken has added 83 persons to Rotary.  If one person can do that, how can we say we can't recruit one new member?

Physiologists tell us that our body adds a huge number of cells each day as others are either lost or need to be enhanced.  The result of not having that physiological addition is death.  So it can be with a Rotary club.  Without newly charged members, we run the risk of becoming staid and stodgy.  A description that certainly does not fit our group now - and we hope, never in the future.

Please join with us to dedicate your efforts in Rotary to further building our club.  Look at the terrific new members we have added recently.  Look at all they are now doing to make our club vital in the community.  You surely will want to be part of that outstanding outreach.

With every good wish,

JoAnn and Dave