Rotary International has been trying to retain members since 1905! The problem is not a new one but we should have some new solutions. Ten years ago Rotary International had around 1.2 million and right now we have around 1.2 million. Every ten years we lose 1.2 million members and, and so that means that in 20 years, we lose 2.4 million members.How can we stop this!

Numerous ideas have been floated over the years but no one has yet come up with a solution to the massive exit of our members. We need to know more about:

• What are we NOT doing to keep our members happy and content to stay with us?
• Why are they leaving?
• Have we kept them interested in Rotary?
• Do we make sure they are involved from day one?
• Do we have an orientation program before induction that educates them about expectations?
• Do we conduct formal and meaningful induction ceremonies with family invited?
• Is there a “red badge” program to integrate them into the Club?
• Do they pick a committee to be involved in from the beginning that matches their passion?
• Do we have a “New Member Service Project” program that lets all new members for the year select and complete a service project?

I have been working with Jaclyn Donovan, our District Membership Chair, to explore this topic. We’d like to share the following information with you from “ROTARY RESEARCH” (access from rotary.org), RETENTION ASSESSMENT AND ANALYSIS section.

Understanding why members leave is crucial to strengthening your club. The Exit Survey in Understanding Why Members Leave is designed to gather this information. Rotary International has conducted extensive research on the reasons members leave their clubs worldwide. Here’s a summary:

Members who stay less than one year: Many members leave within the first year because they were not fully informed about the responsibilities of membership before joining or not fully educated about Rotary after joining, or they struggle with financial obligation, or their networking expectations were not being met.

If your club loses members within the first year, consider focusing on:

• Communicating better to prospective members, both about the personal and professional benefits that your club has to offer, as well as about the responsibilities of being a Rotary member
• Planning meaningful induction ceremonies that celebrate this special step and making sure current members make new members feel welcome
• Making club meetings fun, energetic, and humorous, without losing sight of Rotary’s mission
• Assigning new members mentors who can explain club workings and traditions, answer questions, help them get to know other members, and, if they miss any meetings, make sure all is well
• Offering useful new member orientation programs
• Assigning newer members to committees or otherwise involving them in the club
• Connecting often with new members to answer questions and teach them about Rotary RETENTION ASSESSMENT AND ANALYSIS 4.4

Members who stay between one and two years: Many members who leave after spending one to two years in a club do so because they do not feel engaged in club events and activities, their fellowship expectations aren’t being met, or they have difficulty meeting the attendance requirements because of competing priorities. What can you do?

• Identify members who have been in your club for one to two years and make sure they are involved in a project or committee that interests them.
• Ask these members for their feedback. They may have ideas for revitalizing the club’s fellowship activities or service projects.
• Suggest hosting a Youth Exchange student, or see if they would like to serve as a liaison to your Rotaract or Interact club.
• Assign mentors to members who don’t have them, or suggest that they change mentors if they would like to.

Members who stay for three to five years: Members who leave after spending three to five years in a club may do so because their fellowship expectations are not being met, they are frustrated with the club’s leadership, or they have difficulty meeting the attendance requirements because of competing priorities.

What you can do for members who have been in your club for three to five years:

• Provide leadership opportunities. Members can get more involved by serving as club officers. Encourage those who have already held club leadership positions to mentor newer members or participate in district activities. In taking on leadership roles, they will feel useful, valued, and connected with the club’s decisions and events.
• Organize new activities, such as continuing member education, or revitalize established club activities so that members remain engaged and excited about attending club meetings and fellowship opportunities.
• Get members’ feedback on their club experience and ask for their ideas on what could be improved.
• Put their expertise and skills to use and recognize them for their efforts.

Members who stay six to ten years: Some members who leave after spending six to ten years in a club report that their fellowship expectations weren’t being met and that they were frustrated with the club’s leadership. Others leave when they retire or need to relocate. For this group:

• Recommend they mentor newer members and get involved in more district activities, such as planning the district conference or serving on a district committee. Or they might wish to join a Rotary Fellowship. Both can help them meet more people and experience Rotary beyond the club.
• If members are planning to leave upon retiring, remind them that retired members are an important part of Rotary. They provide valuable perspective and can serve as mentors to younger professionals in the club.
• If members are relocating, forward their contact information to the clubs in their new area, refer them through My Rotary, or encourage them to let Rotary know they want to change clubs.
• Put their expertise and skills to use and recognize them for their efforts.

Members who leave after 10 years: Many members who leave after spending more than 10 years in a club say they are not interested in the club’s meetings and activities. Other members choose to leave because of retirement, family obligations, financial constraints, or health problems. For this group:

• Spend some time with them to learn whether any of the reasons above could prompt them to leave your club. Some reasons for leaving are beyond your control, but learning why members might leave can help you find ways to prevent it.
• Ask for their opinions on how to energize or reinvent your club meetings, or gauge their interest in taking on a district leadership position — assistant governor, district governor, or district committee chair.
• Consider easing the financial obligations of members of this group, who may be under financial strain because of retirement or other factors.
• Put their expertise and skills to use and recognize them for their efforts.
• See if they would be interested in mentoring a new member.

For all groups, consider an exit interview so that we can continually improve?

Jaclyn and I invite you to try some of these ideas and add some of your own. Let us know what you plan to so that we see what works for you. Let’s get a training retention model going for our Club’s and our District that will give us more hands and hearts to do the good work of Rotary in our Club, Community and around the World!

Suggestions –Best practices – Solutions requested.

Claudia Mertl- cmertl42@gmail.com

Jaclyn Donovan - jaclyn.k.donovan@gmail.com