Increasing Membership across District 1070 Guidance Notes on

Increasing Membership across District 1070 -Guidance Notes on Encouraging Volunteers to work with Rotary clubs. Developed by Membership Services team April 2020 05/11/2020 1

• Most clubs are finding ways to engage with their members but not externally. • Recruiting new members is currently difficult • Demographics in 1070 mean that the impact of controls on social movement are likely to continue for longer than other age groups. Context • Rotary has been making small changes over the last few years to become more flexible and interesting to others but the current challenges demand more radical thinking and action. 05/11/2020 However ! 2

WE HAVE A GREAT OPORTUNITY TO TAP INTO THE WIDESPREAD PUBLIC INTEREST IN VOLUNTEERING. 05/11/2020 IT COULD LEAD TO INCREASED MEMBERSHIP IN ROTARY. 3

a) Getting your club ready to work with volunteers 05/11/2020 • Have you made changes to become more flexible and welcoming to potential new members ? • Do you have good projects / service opportunities for volunteers to work alongside club members ? • Is your club willing to welcome new volunteers who bring existing projects with them ? • Have you some members who are willing to take the lead on this initiative ? • Can you put in place arrangements to effectively communicate with all club members to inform them of progress ? 4

• Use a range of social media tools as most volunteers use these means of knowing what is going on. • Consider placing local adverts, bill boards etc to promote the opportunities to “ Work with Rotary “. b) Finding the volunteers • Approach volunteer groups directly if you are willing to sponsor / support their projects. • Talk to local Rotaract Ambassadors to determine if the NCS partnership is available locally • Liaise with local authorities, businesses, employers pre retirement courses, religious groups and other volunteer groups to gain access to promote the opportunities • Secure the support of local media to promote your scheme – stories and pictures of “ volunteering in action”. • Attend Volunteer fairs 05/11/2020 5

c) Working alongside volunteers 05/11/2020 • Become actively involved in projects where this is possible. • Adopt flexible working arrangements to suit the volunteers as many may be working. • Determine how best to work with volunteers on their projects; leadership arrangements, monitoring/reporting details • Comply with Rotary risk management arrangements. 6

• Invite volunteers to appropriate events to see another side of Rotary, include them in internal communications • Explain the range of ways that new people can join Rotary – Associates, Corporate members, Satellite groups etc. d) Keeping Volunteers • Provide appropriate induction for interested volunteers • Rotary membership can be as little as £ 5 a month (associates) and most clubs offer full membership at £ 10 a month. • Encourage the continuation of groups of volunteers working together under a Rotary umbrella – single issue satellites. • Offer mentoring support to volunteers to help them expand their skill base. • Offer help and support to Volunteer organisations to help their development. 05/11/2020 7

Why Rotary and Why your club ? • Clubs need to reframe some of their thinking from “ what can you offer Rotary "? to “what can Rotary offer you” ? • Be clear about your USP’s and what you can offer younger, and busier people, often with other responsibilities. • Listen and respond to the needs of the groups • Apply the 4 way test to all your activities but everything else is for local agreement ! • Good Luck – you may actually enjoy doing something different ! 05/11/2020 8

Some examples of areas where Rotarians are already working with volunteers in local communities 05/11/2020 • Delivery of PPE to hospitals care homes and other health care locations • Collection and delivery of pharmacy products • Transportation of individual and equipment • Making contact with isolated and vulnerable individuals • Meal delivery’s to at risk groups • Provision of Home starter boxes 9