August 2020 District Governor’s message
Dear fellow Rotarians,
Rotary continues to evolve as we navigate through this global pandemic. Rotarians engage one another and with the community using a combination of online(virtual) and physical meetings as some economies around the world gradually ease lockdown measures. August is membership and new club development month. Membership is the bedrock of the club and important to the running and renewal of a Rotary Club. With more members, clubs can do more for the community and attract new members.
The membership average growth rate in our district for the last 4 years is at a conservative net of below 2% despite chartering new clubs. Our district can do more to retain existing members. Engage existing members and take care of them. In the last Rotary year 2019-20, the retention rate was 87.37% for existing members and 91.09% for new members. Despite admitting 287 new members, we lost a total of 317 members in one year. The COVID-19 factor must have played a part as well for this increase in resignations.
In line with RI President Holger Knaack’s message for this month, I like to encourage every club within the district to think about how we can grow organically and sustainably and how we can retain current members and attract new ones to fit our clubs. Our aim is not to go into a number game. Numbers have been only statistics and did not help Rotary to grow. Age is no barrier to joining Rotary. A diversity of members from different age groups will bring about a wide array of ideas and ways of contributing to the community at large. RI President Holger Knaack also encourages the district and clubs to create innovative club models to expand the outreach to bring in new potential members.
The District Membership Chair PP Saravanan and New Club Development Sub Committee Chair PP Simon Sim and their committees are putting together a plan to achieve the District membership goals. A vibrant club (Membership/TRF and Public Image) seminar organized by the respective District Committee Chairs with the help of D-LEAD committee has been scheduled for the 15th and 22nd August 2020. Do lock the date into your calendar and support the event.
We can expect a challenging year for membership this year, but we must continue with our efforts to retain and attract members differently from what we have been accustomed to. Lastly, I wish to reiterate that membership development does not lie solely with the President of the Club or Membership Chair. It is the collective responsibility of every member of the club. Let us look for new opportunities to develop our friendship and serve the community as Rotary Opens Opportunities!
Yours in Rotary,
Rajamohan Munisamy
District Governor RID 3310, RY 2020/21