Public Relations and Membership Development

There is a correlation between Rotary Public Relations and Membership Development.
We talk about attracting new members and recruiting them. We talk about membership retention. And we talk about membership loss. Building membership is, of course, crucial to building Rotary. Rotary is nothing without its members and its clubs.
The best way to strengthen our numbers isn't by focusing on our numbers -- it's by focusing on our clubs. A truly strong club is tremendously attractive. A strong club offers opportunities for friendship, fellowship, and meaningful service. It offers new connections within a community and a chance to meet like-minded friends, the kinds of friends who will still be close decades from now. The check-list may help -
1. Assess. Listen to each other, and find out what members want.
2. Emphasize. Accent the social aspects of Rotary. They are the glue that binds us.
3. Market. Don't sell your club as a product -- market it. Find out what people want, and do your best to give it to them.
4. Induct. Bring new members into your club with dignity and class.
5. Involve. Make the whole family part of Rotary. Don't let it be another commitment that takes members from their spouses and children.
6. Mentor. Make sure that a seasoned Rotarian helps new members get started and stays involved for at least a year. Newcomers can get lost easily.
7. Educate. Provide education continuously, but give a little at a time. There's a lot to learn about Rotary, and it can be overwhelming.
8. Enthuse. Show enthusiasm openly! Rotary should be fun. 

Membership comes down to one simple statement: Strong clubs lead to a strong Rotary. Without strong clubs, no amount of recruitment and retention efforts will help Rotary grow. With strong clubs, Rotary will flourish and provide another 100 years of service to humanity.
PDG Subhash Saraf, Rotary Leadership Institute