Membership Director Joan Hart
An example of the way Rotary is changing and facing the future declining membership is the formation on the Queensland Gold Coast of a new Rotary Club recently chartered with Corporate members only. The Gold Coast Corporate has 27 senior corporate members from over 14 international and national companies. The Club has over 60% women and 40% of members are under 40 years of age.
The new Club meets physically once a month for drinks and nibbles. Each member takes a turn as host and there is little personal outlay for members as the Corporation pays the District and RI dues. Rotary is therefore more affordable for everyone.
In our District 9685 a new Club has been formed called the Social Impact Network. It meets online on Sunday evenings at 7pm and aims to have members locally and internationally and a worldwide focus.
Rotary will need to change if it is to ensure membership growth and relevance in a fast changing world.
COVID -19 has given us the opportunity to try new ways of meeting. Let’s make a change for the better – fresh ideas, new meeting styles and more focus on the community and its needs.
(With acknowledgment to ‘Rotary on the Move’)