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Submitted by: Lu Ann Hurd-Lof, Park Rapids Rotary ClubThe Park Rapids Rotary Club tackled an ambitious membership drive last spring.
Working with an expanded Membership Committee and the club’s board of directors, Pat Sullivan laid out a plan for a kickoff at the club meeting on St. Patrick’s Day. Pat, who owns an insurance agency, patterned the launch after a corporate sales conference with teams and incentives. Committee members led four teams with fun names and provided details of the challenge.
The groundwork was laid in advance. More than 100 new member packets were assembled with a member information form, new club brochure, a weekly club bulletin, a Dist. 5580 monthly newsletter, club photo directory, a newspaper insert published prior to July 4th, Rotary Basics and Every Rotarian Every Year brochures and a Rotary International magazine all inserted in an official Rotary pocket folder.
Pat also ordered prizes: caps, coffee travel mugs and Rotary logo clings. And he developed a scheme for earning Foundation points for those bringing guests.
As importantly, all members were asked to consider their “Why Rotary?” elevator speech. Lists of area business owners and others who might be interested were given to team leaders and team members chose people they know to invite.
On April 4, the club launched the drive at a noon meeting promoted as open to all in a newspaper column with information about qualifications, dues, what happens at club meetings, volunteer opportunities and other information. For the program seven new and experienced club members told a bit about themselves, why they joined and what Rotary has meant to them.
By June 30, when the drive ended, 11 members introduced 26 people to Rotary, with four new members inducted during that time. At the end of the Rotary year, the club had 74 members.
Pat considers the introduction of community members and leaders to the club as important long-term. Some may join at a future date or at least know more about the club’s activities and projects.
“We also learned a lot about the barriers for some people to become a Rotarian. Usually it was cost and noon meeting time,” Pat says.
In October, the Membership Committee met to plan a new member orientation and discuss the possibility of a Satellite Club. It was agreed to do a feasibility study, develop a proposal and bring it to the board by Jan. 1. It will be a goal not to peel off club members with the exception of those for whom attendance at noon meetings or the amount of dues are a hardship.
And next spring, the committee will use a similar format and relaunch the challenge.
Sally Wizik Wills was one of four new members inducted during the Park Rapids Rotary Club’s membership drive last spring. Participants in the induction were (from left) Ed Poitras, her sponsor; Wizik Wills; Maria Pretzer, past president; and Patrick Sullivan, membership chair. Wizik Wills owns Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery in Park Rapids.