Common methods to increase Rotary Club membership

Time and again when Rotarians are asked why they became a member the most common response is "Because I was asked." So how to you find those community members that are interested in Rotary? Perhaps the easiest means is to expose them to some of your Club's functions, activities, or causes.

If their initial response is positive then consider one of the following:

• Invite friends, colleagues, or neighbors to participate in one of your club's projects.
• Talk with potential members about Rotary's humanitarian work, including programs like Polio Plus, Group Study Exchange, or ShelterBox projects. You will get an interesting reaction from them should you mention the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's involvement in the polio eradication effort and the Rotary Polio Challenge.
• Invite professional women in your community to one of your club meetings. Initiate projects that focus on women's issues, and invite prominent women in the community to participate, speak, or lead.
• Maintain contact with all local alumni of Rotary's educational and service programs, and organize events for them. These people not only have first hand experience with Rotary programs but can serve as a means for your Club members to learn more about the programs.
  
• To attract potential members consider advertising special programs or projects on social networking sites such as your Facebook Fan Page, LinkedIn, Craigslist, or Orkut, and invite visitors to your club meetings and events.
• Consider placing announcements for these special programs in you local newspaper as well as their on-line calendar of events.
  
• To target specific demographic groups or classifications consider sponsoring an open house (or an open meeting with a special guest) that caters directly to them.
  
• If you have a Club website make sure that the calendar of events is kept current. Periodically check to confirm that your list of Club projects and activities are current. Also confirm that it is easy to find how to get more information on your Club.