Weekly Elixir - Week of September 10, 2007

Rotary Volunteers

Numerous opportunities for Rotarians to serve as volunteers exist in our own communities.

Many projects in developing countries would benefit from a Rotary club's involvement.

These projects come under International Service, and could involve applying for a Foundation Matching Grant.

There might also be an opportunity to serve as an international volunteer with a project.


Project Ideas – Children at Risk

-- Host an immunization clinic or distribute immunization history cards to new mothers to prevent childhood diseases

-- Support a school-based meal program to improve students’ nutrition. Do all students in Anguilla enjoy a good breakfast before school?

-- Conduct a literacy program focusing on girls

-- Offer vocational guidance and training to increase a young person’s opportunities for employment and break the cycle of poverty.

-- Host a community-based workshop focused on raising awareness of children’s issues

-- Promote a local program that assists victims of child abuse

What other ideas are there that are directly relevant to Children in Anguilla? The club can benefit from community projects that require hands-on support and participation from the Rotary Club members.

That is what Rotary is all about. Actually sharing your time and your expertise in the community.

Get involved. Share Rotary!

Weekly Elixir - Week of September 3, 2007

Share your motivation and enthusiasm

Nothing could be more important to prospective members than the level of energy they feel during a club visit.

Prospective members need to see and feel your enthusiasm as well as your pride for your membership in Rotary. When club members are friendly, inviting, and inclusive, a potential Rotarian receives the most important message: You are welcome here and will have the opportunity to participate in something important.

Recruitment Strategies for Rotary

August was Membership and Extension Month, but we can keep membership top of mind all year by implementing one of the following ideas each month:

-- Place a promotional ad or insert in your local chamber of commerce directory.

-- Create business cards printed with your name, the Rotary logo, and the phrase "Be My Guest," along with the day, time, and location of your club's meetings. The cards serve as an invitation to attend a club meeting at the club's expense.

-- Develop a spreadsheet or database of program alumni (e.g., Rotaract, Interact, Youth Exchange, Group Study Exchange) so that these individuals can be invited to become Rotarians once they are qualified.

-- Invite program alumni as guests to your meetings, and propose any qualified alumni for membership.

-- Ask members to consider recruiting their spouses to the club, and offer that spouse an incentive, such as no club dues for a full year.

-- Send a welcome letter to the owners of new businesses in your community.

-- Hold a luncheon for community leaders. Each club member is responsible for inviting a set number of prospective members who are community leaders, and club members donate a set amount for the cost of the meal and invitations. Show the six-minute video This Is Rotary (449-EN), and bring in a dynamic Rotary leader as a speaker.

-- Scan local business journals and newspapers for the names of influential business people and community leaders.

-- Invite a prospective member or members to participate in a club activity or project that demonstrates the meaningful work of your Rotary club.

-- Ask members to wear pins or T-shirts with the slogan "Ask Me About Rotary" to generate conversation about membership in Rotary.

-- Create a prospective member leaflet or brochure called "What's in It for Me?" that lists recent speakers at your club meetings, area companies that are represented in the club membership, and current local service projects.

-- Obtain space in a prominent shop window to display information about the club's activities in the community.

-- Collect business cards from individuals who attend a meeting as a guest or speaker, and send a follow-up note or postcard thanking each visitor and inviting them back. Buy a supply of Rotary Notecards (980-MU) or the RI Theme Postcard (910-07MU) to use for this purpose.

-- Wear the Rotary logo on your clothes during service projects.

Make it a point of honor to propose a new member. But be sure that the member is educated about Rotary before joining. That is very important!

Recognize the proposer in the club bulletin or at the weekly meeting.

RI President Wilf Wilkinson is encouraging all Rotarians to help strengthen Rotary's membership by bringing at least one new member

Weekly Elixir - Week of August 27, 2007

ROTARY SHARES

Share Rotary with a young person – Mentors make the grade

…Vincent T. Davis, Express-News Staff Writer, San Antonio, Texas (This article appeared in the local Texas newspaper.)

Margaret Tovar, a senior at Burbank High School, knows how empowering it feels to have someone listen when she talks about her future. She knows students believe that adults underestimate them and doubt their opinions.
Margaret is lucky to have found a one-on-one match in Yvonne Perez, her Big Sister and a member of the Rotary Club of San Antonio.

Perez is always ready to lend an ear as part of the Diploma Plus program, sponsored by the Rotary Club.


"She helped me open up as a person," Margaret said. "I can talk to her about any problem."

The club partnered with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of South Texas, which provides mentoring for the program.

In the photo, Margaret Tovar, 18, shares a light moment with her mentor, Yvonne Perez, in the school’s library, where they meet once a week.


ROTARY SHARES - MEMBERSHIP

Consider the following membership development strategy implemented by the Rotary Club of Lacombe, Alberta, Canada:

For each quarter of the Rotary year, club members must prepurchase a punch-card meal ticket, bearing the club's meeting dates for that quarter. For each meeting a member attends, the meeting date on the ticket is punched. The only way a member can redeem unpunched dates on the ticket is to bring a guest.

The club has seen an increase not only in the retention of existing members (who have an extra incentive to attend because they've already paid for the meal) but also in the number of potential new members attending meetings, as existing members use their unpunched tickets. This system has helped members develop a habit of inviting new business and professional guests to accompany them to a Rotary meeting.

FINAL QUESTION -

How is the Rotary Club of Anguilla prepared to increase membership?

It must be a long-term program where each Rotarian will sponsor one new member every year to SHARE ROTARY.

If it is to be, it is up to me!