• Membership Chair: Nugene Harvey
• Associate chair, Gene Harvey
• Recruitment, Gene Harvey, Steve Strumpf
• Orientation & Induction, Gaston Reboredo, Fred Sadoff, Bob Sands
• Star Program & New Member Reception, Jeff Casey
• Continuing Education, Debbie Maymon
• Classification & Past Member Commun, Jim Norton
• Retention, Michael Ross Lobiondo
  

• To use all available tools to promote RC of Weston in the community and attract viable new members who share ideals of “Service Above Self”
• Educate existing members in all aspects and at all levels of the Rotary organization and encourage participation in club, district and international programs.
• Organize and maintain an updated classification list and actively stay in communication with former members.

When Paul Harris, the father of Rotary, began meeting with other professionals, he probably had business in mind. He thought he could expand his circle of friends and create a larger potential customer base. Why do so many Rotarians today think this is wrong?

Most people join Rotary to network, business or otherwise. It is simply good thinking to associate with established business professionals and community leaders. These are the type of people who contribute time, talent and treasure towards making communities a better place to live

Let’s look at the first “Object of Rotary”, THE DEVELOPMENT OF AQUANTANCE AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SERVICE. This approach in reaching out to new potential members is often overlooked. It is also forgotten when we assess our existing members. Are we so concentrated on projects and programs in Rotary and simply overlooking basic networking and friendship requirements?

Rotary for ninety years was an entity of dynamic growth. The clubs attracted business, professional and community leaders by meeting their basic needs. And then Rotary hit a wall and a membership freefall occurred.

Let’s not lose sight of what is important. Yes projects and programs are vital, but if we don’t keep our eye on the ball and continue to satisfy our member’s (the club’s customers) needs, new growth and strengthening our existing club will not happen. Rotary is changing with the times. Our outlook toward a bigger, better and bolder club must change as well.

The membership freefall that Rotary has experienced over the last twenty years has had little to do with the organization's ability to attract quality new members. Where the local clubs have faltered is in becoming more "Effective Rotary Clubs" What do I mean by this?

The explanation lies in clubs not understanding as well as their inability to recognize that the problem comes from within! Clubs have to be clear that Rotary needs to be run like any other business. It has to provide a good product that serves its purpose and is targeted to a particular customer base. Not everyone is or will ever be a part of that customer base. To those that are, clubs must be attractive on many levels.

It prides me to share that the Rotary Club of Weston does meet many if not all of the definitions of "effective". We have a fantastic product to share. We have a vast pool of prospective new members and we have the mechanism to put those two variables together.

As we grow in numbers, note that we are growing in quality as well. Witness the involvement of our newer members in everything we do. And with all that being said, we are working very hard to "close that back door" with our retention strategies.

It all paints a very bright future for our club so let's keep the momentum going toward being a BIGGER, BETTER and BOLDER Rotary club!

Joe Roth, Membership Chairman