Rotarians, we are now four months into our Rotary year, and I’m excited to share more great news! Our District continues to thrive—by the end of October, we recorded a net gain of 11 new members, bringing our total to 2,220. This momentum is incredible, and we want to keep it going.
Membership Olympics is still in full swing, and November features Game Four - Engagement Activity:
Organize a membership engagement activity that supports personal growth, leadership development, service, or networking opportunities.
Please email your club’s completed Membership Engagement Activity to me at maugs13@gmail.com
So how do we retain members and help them feel valued? Rotary International reminds us that strong retention is one of the clearest signs of a healthy club. If your club has lost members over the past few years, take time to review their profiles—age, profession, length of membership—and look for patterns. Consider inviting former members to participate in an “exit interview” to better understand their reasons for leaving.
Rotary International identifies several common reasons why new members depart within their first year. While most say they understood the expectations of membership, 40% cite cost or time commitments. Others mention losing interest, not feeling included, unmet expectations, or feeling unable to engage meaningfully with the club—or sensing that the club was resistant to change.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Work with your membership to develop an action plan. Ask questions like: What does our club do well? What could we improve? How can we better engage members who aren’t as involved? Invite ideas from members at all stages of their Rotary journey.
Resource:
Download RI’s Retention Assessment and Analysis (PDF) for additional guidance.