new club building - rotary zones 30-31 – heart of america · can link to interact or rotaract...

Building New Rotary

Clubs

Presented by:

Paul Bucurel, PDG District 6820 paul_bucurel@yahoo.com

Dick Erdmann, District 6510 richard.erdmann@yahoo.com

Carl Michel, District 6840 carldmichel@gmail.com

Dan Ryan, District 6540 danryan.rotary@gmail.com

from others who have had

success in your own

District or the Zone.

SEEK HELP

Rotary International

New Rotary Clubs

Quick Start Guide

(808 EN)

Where to start…

1. Increase the positive impact or Rotary in a new community,

or add to a community that has an existing club

2. Increase diversity

3. Attract younger Rotarians

4. Explore new forms of club organization

(original, e-club, satellite)

5. Can lead to new project leads

6. Can link to Interact or Rotaract Clubs

Why start a new club?

Determine areas for

new clubs

Consider population, demographics,

key areas

Survey the area/town, and its needs

Consider areas or towns

that once had a club

Consider a “restart”

Consider underserved areas

Helpful tip:

Seek a District New Club

Chair who is familiar with

the district and is known to

the existing Rotary Clubs

Review area Rotary Clubs to

consider sponsoring clubs.

Although not required, it can be

critical to success.

Seek vibrant and engaged clubs to

be sponsors.

*Form a committee with key

members from each club which can

include past presidents, or those

actively involved in the club such as

the Membership Chair.

*Consider the immediate past

President, President, and

President-elect.

Each Sponsoring Club

should provide a Special

Representative, an

experienced Rotarian who

will serve as an advisor.

No cloning around!

Stress to the new club members

that they can create the club the

way they want it to be –

emphasize flexibility!

ACTION ITEMS:

• Develop a Prospect List.

• Begin with the Chamber of Commerce or

other organizations’ rosters.

• If there was a former Rotary Club, seek

past members.

• Identify “movers and shakers”, people of

influence: business owners, public

officials, and the school superintendent.

• Once the prospect list is complete,

have the “movers and shakers”

review it for additions, revisions,

and deletions.

• Seek as many quality prospects as

possible, not just the required

twenty members to charter.

Once the list is complete, prepare a

mailing to the prospects. Your location, date, time and presenters should

be known.

Include a letter, signed by local, well known

prospects.

Consider including a Rotary publication, such as

“Get More out of Membership, Connect for

Good.” (595 EN)

Invite the prospects to a couple of

informational callout meetings in

successive weeks. You will need a

budget depending on the location and

if you plan to serve appetizers and

soft drinks (bar?).

Consider storyboards, Rotary

International videos and

brochures, including The

Rotary Foundation.

Allow for social time, 30 minutes,

and then an hour for the

presentation.

Advise of the flexibility Rotary

offers specific to club meetings.

Advise future organizational

meetings will be weekly prior to

being chartered.

Break the presentation time into

three segments:

What Rotary Means to Me

(this could include testimonials of New Club Presidents)

Local Projects

International: Grants, Scholarships, Vocational

Teams, and Youth Exchange.

Promote – Promote –

Promote becoming a

Charter Member!

*Have each prospect complete

an informational form which

includes expressing an interest in

leadership.

*If the prospect is willing to

commit, complete the individual

form that is part of the RI Charter

Application.

*Continue to have weekly

organizational meetings.

*Use Survey Monkey to tabulate

consensus regarding location,

meeting day, time, club name,

dues structure, and (if applicable)

the preferred corporate

membership option.

*Continue to seek new members.

*Review the Prospect List, asking

for assistance in reaching out to

other prospects.

*Club officers will need to

be determined as part of the

RI Charter Application.

Your Special Representatives

will be invaluable in running

the initial meetings and as a

resource.

Encourage members/prospects

to visit other area Rotary Clubs,

especially those expressing an

interest in leadership.

*Encourage them to look for

local projects, or to assist with

other Rotary Clubs’ projects.

the Charter approval

and publicize the Club – look for

every opportunity.

As the leaders of the new club

gain confidence, they will want

less and less of your active

participation.

Continue to support them!

You will thrive on the

excitement and come

to count the new

Rotarians as friends!

Questions?

Comments?

Helpful hints?

Paul Bucurel, PDG District 6820 paul_bucurel@yahoo.com

Dick Erdmann, District 6510 richard.erdmann@yahoo.com

Carl Michel, District 6840 carldmichel@gmail.com

Dan Ryan, District 6540 danryan.rotary@gmail.com