Membership Retention
and Recruitment
Relevant Changes
From CoL
CoL 2016 – The Important Outcomes for Clubs
181 Proposals published
22 Proposals withdrawn pre CoL
34% of Proposals were approved
CoL 2016 – The Important Outcomes for Clubs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
10 Enactment Topics
Club Administration
Avenues of Service & Object of Rotary
Club Meetings
Make-ups & Excused Absence
Attendance
Membership
7. RI Officers & Elections
8. RI
9. RI Finances & Per Capita Dues
10. Legislative Procedures
CoL 2016 – The Important Outcomes
5 Resolution Topics
1.
2.
3.
4.
Programmes
Foundation
Club & District Administration
RI
5. Membership (all rejected)
THE HEADLINE CHANGES FOR CLUBS AFFECTING
MEMBERSHIP RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT
•
Clubs can vary meeting format, meeting times, whether to
meet online or in person, and when to cancel a meeting,
as long as they meet at least twice a month.
• Flexibility in membership rules and requirements.
•
•
•
Six membership criteria removed from the RI Constitution
and replaced with a simple requirement.
Rotaractors allowed to become members of Rotary clubs
while they are still in Rotaract.
The distinction between e-clubs and traditional clubs
eliminated.
CoL 2016 – The Important Outcomes
AVENUES OF SERVICES AND
OBJECT OFROTARY
Enactment Approved 16-10
The definition of Vocational Service is modified
(addition in BLUE italics):
“…..The role of members includes conducting
themselves and their businesses in accorddance with
Rotary’s principles and lending one’s vocational skills
to club-development projects in order to address the
issues and needs of society”.
CoL 2016 – The Important Outcomes
CLUB MEETINGS
Enactments Approved 16-21,26
 Clubs can determine when and how often the club
meets within the limit of meeting at least twice a
month.
 Clubs can determine structure of meetings and modify
attendance requirements.
 Clubs can determine that a club event constitutes a
meeting.
 Clubs can cancel a meeting scheduled to take place
during the week which includes a legal holiday, including
a commonly recognised holiday.
CoL 2016 – The Important Outcomes
for Clubs
ATTENDANCE
Enactment Approved 16-30
To enable attendance for members who cannot
make meetings because of business, travelling
or health reasons the options could now be to
arrange an online meeting or provide for online
connection for members whose attendance
otherwise would be precluded.
CoL 2016 – The Important Outcomes
for Clubs
MAKE-UPS AND EXCUSED ABSENCES
Enactments Approved 16-34,35
Excused absence is normally for 12 months with a
medical reason being accepted for possible
extension. The condition for extension beyond 12
months now includes “….after birth, adoption or
foster care of a child”.
The 85-rule for excused absence has been
redifined (see the BLUE italics) as “.......age and
years of membership in one or more clubs is 85
years or more, the member has been a member of
one or more clubs for at least 20 years.
FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS
4(5) likely to be the more popular choice. Four times a year the fifth meeting in the month could be a
Partners/Friends event. Option for no meeting in "Holiday Week" will be an individual club choice.
To encourage new/younger members meeting times may need change.
Different types of meeting in a month becoming popular e.g. two lunch time & two evening. Also one
meeting date/time the norm but also alternative e.g. traditional lunch time with an alternative evening
meeting also available in the week. An evening meeting club with a breakfast alternative has also been
introduced with positive effect. Two options for the same club can lead to new members.
If possible satisfy the needs of existing and new members and gear the club's operations to lifestyle
demands.
Avoid too many ad hoc changes of meeting times and diarise the meeting profile in directories and
websites.
Clearly identify meetings suitable for potential new members and include a brief introduction of "what
we do"
Special activity such as Charity Shop could replace a club meeting that week.
ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS
50% appears to be the most popular target. Have a clear policy on attendance and makeups.
Consider occasionally circulating attendance record to members.
One meeting per month plus participation in events, projects the minimum standard.
Inform and diplomatically check up on missing members via a buddy or delegated club
member. Club action may be appropriate linked to reason for absence.
Keep missing members up-to-speed on club events including a report on regular meetings.
Use Rotary Club Central for everyone to keep up to date.
Enable member to join a meeting if long-term absent, using Skype, Facetime, Conference
Call or similar. A remote link probably be better into smaller groups, e.g. a committee
meeting? Also consider informal face-to-face catch up meetings.
A long term absent member could send an occasional audio/visual message.
Clubs need flexibility re interpretation of makeup.
Club events & activities could equal attendance.
CONTENT OF MEETINGS
Vary the format make it exciting; speakers, fellowship, quiz, scatter. Formalities need to be minimum
e.g. is toast and grace relevant. Get opinions of newest members.
Less formal dress code.
Circular tables enable fellowship. Consider options to encourage mobility of members.
Consider having a Chairman for the meeting and effective use of Sargent at Arms fines.
Less speakers who accept invitation to speak hoping for donations to their funds. More fellowship,
family orientated, Interact/Rotaract/Alumni mixed meetings.
Consider simpler meal alternative or even no meal? Optional meals taken from venue's public menu - it
could range from a cup of coffee to a full meal
Invite other community & business groups to meetings.
More post-meeting fellowship e.g. coffee & port in Queensland.
Reinforce the understanding ".... you don't know Rotary until you've experienced clubs outwith your
own...."
LOCATION OF MEETINGS
Consider less formal venues e.g. fire station crew room.
At least one different venue from the norm each month. The variations will suit different
members and some venues will have limited day/time options
Meet where the public can see you in action, e.g. community centre.
Occasional meeting elsewhere e.g. fish & chip shop, Indian Restaurant.
Consider online meeting possibly including a club elsewhere in RIBI or even RI. However this
could exclude some members without IT facilities.
Share meeting with other community groups in their premises.
Hold a meeting in local business premises.
CoL 2016 – The Important Outcomes
for Clubs
Clubs can adopt the new options that the
CoL approved by amending their bylaws.
Clubs that wish to follow their traditional
requirements for meeting, attendance,
structure and categories of membership may
do so.
CoL 2016 – The Important Outcomes for Clubs
MEMBERSHIP(Part 1)
Enactments Approved 16-36,38,40,47,48,49,50,51
 A member is now more simply defined as “…..
Adult persons who demonstrate good character,
integrity, and leadership; possess good reputation
within their business, profession, and/or
community; and are willing to serve their
community and/or around the world”. Six
categories have now been removed.
 A Rotaractor can also be a Rotarian.
Good
Reputation in:
Business or
Of Good
Character
Profession or
Community
With
Leadership
Qualities
Willing to Serve
Communities:
With Integrity
Locally
Nationally
Internationally
A Rotarian
Adult
The Official
RI
Definition
?
Worthy
Representative
of their:
Business or
Of Good
Character
Profession or
Community
Willing to
Take
Responsibility
Willing to
Support
Communities:
With Integrity
Locally
Nationally
Internationally
A Rotarian
Adult
An
Alternative
Definition?
Team Working
Qualities
Empathy,
Courage,
Having
sufficient
merit, value,
importance
Control,
power,
leadership,
Fortitude,
management,
Loyalty
influence,
authority
Honest and
Having Strong
Moral
Principles
Willing to
Support
Communities:
Locally
Nationally
A Rotarian
Adult
A Revised
Definition
(Meanings)
Internationally
Team Working
Qualities
CoL 2016 – The Important Outcomes for Clubs
MEMBERSHIP(Part 2)
Enactments Approved 16-36,38,40, 47,48,49,50,51
 For Honorary Members the world “permanent” has
been withdrawn from the previous definition of “....for
their permanent support of Rotary’s causes.....”
 Three Enactments (16-48,49,50) update the rules for
suspension of membership.
 Enactment 16-51 updates the rules concerning potential
debts associated with a member transferring from one
club to another.
CoL 2016 – The Important Outcomes for Clubs
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
Enactments Approved 16-81,82,83,84,86
•
A procedure allowing the RI Board to take action when a club or Rotarian sues RI or
The Rotary Foundation prior to exhausting the remedies provided for in the RI
Byelaws for disputing elections.
• There is no longer any distinction between
traditional clubs and e-clubs.
• The minimum members for a new club is set at
20.
•
•
The RI Board has authority to change boundaries for any district that has more than
100 clubs or fewer than 1100 Rotarians.
All redistricting processes must be completed at least 24 months before becoming
effective.
CoL 2016 – The Important Outcomes for Clubs
RISK TO REPUTATION & BRAND FROM
APPROVED ENACTMENTS?
Qualifications for members have not changed
The Object of Rotary have not changed
Values of Fellowship, Integrity, Diversity,
Service & Leadership have not changed
The Four Way Test has not changed