Attend just about any luncheon meeting, Rotary Alternative Meeting or service project and you’ll hear from Amy or Angela about our Club’s exciting membership opportunities.
Yet, enthusiasm and a renewed momentum are only part of a focus of the dynamic duo of Angela Tatum and Amy Kaunas’s duo-pronged strategies for engaging new members to the Rotary Club of Harrisburg.
Co-chair Tatum talks about the overarching strategy of…the ask. She says, “First, we-re asking current Rotarians to ask friends, work associates, people you know wanting to serve their communities to regular meetings or Rotary Alternate Meetings (RAM). These are notable examples of the vision of Rotary – Service Above Self.”
And, our addition of the less formal evening meetings called RAMs, we have been able to engage community leaders and even a new Corporate Sponsor to join our Club. At our most recent RAM, we spent a few minutes talking about two phenomenally successful service projects including cleaning the newly expanded and updated Dauphin County Library prior to its grand opening and completing construction projects for Habitat for Humanity in much less time than expected because of our members’ involvement.”
According to Tatum, “A membership drive planned for the 2020 was started but put on hold for two years due to the pandemic. Trying to bring on new members when meeting virtually and not hosting needed service projects was a real bummer.
But, make no mistake, we are e-energizing now under a theme of Each One, Bring One. And the momentum is key to our new membership growth.”
With 33 Committees New Members Can Be Overwhelmed – But Retention Is Key
Tatum remembers, “When I was a new member to the Rotary Club of Harrisburg, I knew I wanted to serve, but on which committee, what service project? I had too many options. This leads to our second prong on membership – retention.
That confusion led to a new, key component of the current membership drive. Every new member is teamed up with a current member who shows them the ropes. The current member explains the many opportunities and communications tools of the Club and Rotary International such as Club Runner.”
Kaunas adds, the “non-luncheon” gatherings as mentioned previously help members and potential members that can’t be tied to a lunch meeting find RAMs and service projects excellent options to fulfill their membership commitments. These non-luncheon meetings, such as a recent RAM meeting at Harrisburg’s Beach Club, prove to provide positive member interaction.
Membership Growth Is a Rotary International Global Initiative
Tatum attended the District 7390 Membership Training Program when best practices of regional clubs were reviewed and studied as options for RCH. Says Tatum, “We had already initiated the RAM meeting options and it was clear this membership outreach was promising.”
One powerful question at the District Training program was, “who do you want to attract as a new member.” That question is being explored by our Membership Chairs and Club leadership. Is that question something beyond the fact that a potential member is interested in serving their community?
During the recently completed RCH Strategic Planning sessions this dynamic duo was pleased to be asked what they felt would be appropriate goals for the Club. This year’s goal is 155.
As in years past, when current members leave the Club, they are asked to provide some information about their decision. According to Tatum, “It is Interesting, the most recent trends of members leaving the Club are job changes and moving from the area.
Tatum notes, “It is comforting to see that we are recovering our new member momentum following the pandemic. She notes the new corporate member Belco Community Credit Union (check name) and five new members in the last two weeks.
This membership growth duo also asks, “If any member has an idea on how to grow our membership or wants to be part of this critical committee, just contact Amy or me. We welcome all ideas.”
|