Posted by RI Membership
 
Membership Minute
December 2020Ideas for strengthening membership
Looking ahead to 2021 — important year-end updates
This year has been a challenging one, and 2021 brings hopes for better times and new opportunities. In-person meeting possibilities remain limited in many places, but now is the perfect time to visit and connect with other clubs around the world through online meetings and virtual events. The newly improved Club Finder tool can help with this. Don’t forget to update your club meeting information (time, place, meeting language, and whether your club meets in person, online, or both) so fellow Rotarians and clubs can easily find you.

Every January, we see a significant increase in inquiries about joining Rotary. District and club leaders, these future members are waiting to hear back from you. Remember to follow up with these prospective members and ensure that their experience with Rotary is a positive one. Consider generational or other cultural communication preferences when contacting them. Some prospective members may prefer phone calls, while others might be more likely to reply to a text message.

Whether it’s by building new relationships or helping expand Rotary’s reach, a new year is the ideal time to set new goals and work toward achieving them.  
 
Recognizing exemplary service to The Rotary Foundation

The Distinguished Service Award honors individual Rotarians who have demonstrated exemplary service to the Foundation and received the Citation for Meritorious Service at least four years earlier. If you know someone who fits this description, tell your district governor. District governors can nominate candidates between 1 January and 28 February. Write to us at riawards@rotary.org if you have any questions.

Improve your communication skills to be a more effective leader

Communicating effectively can help you get ahead in the workplace and in life. Sharpen your communication skills with these new courses in Rotary’s Learning Center (My Rotary login required): 

These courses, developed exclusively for Rotary by Toastmasters International, include assignments that put your new skills into practice and peer evaluations that expand your knowledge through collaboration.

 

Rotaractors promote diversity, equity, and inclusion 
Rotaractors from the Big West Rotaract MDIO, California, USA, are having much-needed conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Find out how they are helping implement DEI practices in their district, learn more about Rotary’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement, and see how you can put it into practice to create positive experiences. 
 
 
Why I finally joined a Rotary club
Even though she’s been involved with service for much of her life, Erin Maloney held back from joining Rotary for many years because the traditional club model did not appeal to her. Her thinking changed when she attended the 2020 Rotary Virtual Convention. Read about the three things that convinced Erin to join Rotary.