District Governor Paul Brown - Membership Message

Posted

on Aug 23, 2014

Fellow Rotarians, Rotaractors and Family of Rotary

We have just completed our first month of the year and what a month it has been! The pace has been hectic to say the least!

Kay and I started off with a series of Club Installations in the first two weeks - all interesting, and reflecting a level of enthusiasm and expectancy from the Clubs. It was capped off by my own Installation Ceremony, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica on July 12, 2014. From all reports, it was a successful event and was well supported, mainly by local Rotarians and their partners and spouses. We also had good support from the Leadership in the District. Our Keynote speaker, RID Robert Hall was well received.

Over the ensuing two weeks, we visited Clubs in the Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands. We met with six Rotary Clubs and four Rotaract Clubs in these two locations. We had Board and Club meetings, and we saw small, medium and large clubs at work. We were all warmly received, and the time spent with the Clubs was both enjoyable and informative. We were taken on tours of some fantastic projects in the two islands. I can safely say that all clubs were doing excellent work and having an impact on their respective communities. What was equally noticeable was the level of camaraderie and energy exhibited by both large and small clubs alike. They appeared to be having

fun as they do their service to the community. All indications were that the communities were very aware of Rotary, and they openly expressed their appreciation for what was being done in the areas.

There is the concern however that the membership issue affecting our District was evidenced by the recognition of two small clubs [<15 members]. The spirit in these Clubs was good, and they were both doing great projects in their communities. However, the load on individual Rotarians was telling and has brought home the need for us to refresh our clubs - especially so during the month of August when the theme of the month would centre around Membership Development and Extension. If these clubs needs are not addressed, they will, over time, become unsustainable.

It is true that Membership Retention and Engagement are elements that need to be focused on, but as our theme suggests, Inspire Youth…Build Rotary, I am encouraging all clubs to look at how we can grow our numbers in our clubs. I would like to encourage clubs to examine their needs, and see where they can improve on the diversity of their clubs, always mindful of selecting quality
dedicated and energetic persons respectful of our core values and attitudes. We must also bring our Youth Arms closer to us and seek to assist them in transitioning to Rotary. We must look to be creative, innovative and flexible. These are our future Rotarians and we must nurture and prepare them. Several clubs have been doing so successfully, and are happy for the transitions. Let us make this a part of our program for this year in all our clubs.

Fellow Rotarians, Rotaractors and Family of Rotary, let us use the month of August to begin to address our membership goals as stated in our District Plans, [Net growth of at least three or more]; let us “Light up Rotary Membership” and as we do so, let us “Light up Rotary” in our Communities, both locally and internationally.

Let’s Light up Rotary in 2014-15!

Paul Brown

District Governor 2014 -2015

Rotary District 7020