NEW MEMBERSHIP ORIENTATION IS FOR ANYONE
Contact:
Joan Pierce
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08 Nov. 2026 |
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 Manhattan Konza
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Too often, we assume the new member’s sponsor has done the Membership Committee job and told everything there is to know about Rotary…. really, how many of us do it? Not many…or maybe it is just that we forget what it is like to be a new Rotarian; they have a thirst to learn about us but it is hard to do when everyone else talks about Rotary as if the world knows all about us. We need a role in our clubs that is charged with doing regular NEW MEMBERSHIP ORIENTATION MEETINGS. Yes, it is more than a cup of coffee at our local Timmy’s.
How about developing a schedule for potential, new Rotarians or for that matter any Rotarian who wishes to participate in getting together to talk about Rotary.
Who should assume this role? Who is passionate about Rotary? Do you have someone who knows the club history, is easy to talk with, one who seeks out the new members to welcome them? Either the President or the Membership Chair should make a personal plea….no emails. You want the person to ignite the attendees; therefore it’s necessary they can draw people into conversations. The other side of this equation is the compilation of the material you wish to share during these Chats. Perhaps that can be someone else who has time to research your archives for juicy tidbits of club history and develop the material from District and Rotary International into take aways that will be kept and referenced from time to time. You want to take the time to develop the hand-outs to ensure each groups hears the same messages.
What do potentials and new Rotarians want to know about? Who is Rotary? What do we do for the community? Or in the world-wide community? How much is Rotary going to cost me? I have no time, “I hear I have to attend every week?” Address the commitments, talk to the participants about how they can contribute in a manner that fits their personal schedule to ensure regular attendance… two hours on a Saturday morning to clean up trash on the road side, attend a committee meeting, help with a community project, or do a make-up locally or an on-line make-up. Not just that every November members are asked to contribute to the Foundation. Show them how our moneys are used and how it comes back to our District; how your club has received District grants for local projects or how your club has contributed to international projects. A great discussion starter is the 4-Way Test and what is means in the lives of Rotarians, of how others in the community know that those wearing a Rotary pin live up to the Rotary standards and can be counted on to do the right thing.