Turn Prospective Members into Rotarians

Rotary International News -- 27 September 2011  

In the last 10 years, more than 50,000 men and women have completed the Prospective Member form to find out how they could get involved in their local Rotary club.  Imagine how many more members we might attract if every club and district included a link to the form on their websites and Facebook pages.

“I’ve had 50 to 75 people complete the Prospective Member form in the past two years,” says Winston Connolly, membership development committee chair for District 7020 (Caribbean), whose district website includes a link to the form. “Many of them have gone on to become members.”

Whether it’s community work, networking, or friendship, potential members are drawn to Rotary for a variety of reasons. Connolly received a membership inquiry from a minister in his community who had contracted polio when he was three and was interested in joining Rotary because of its polio eradication efforts. Connolly forwarded the information to a club in his district, and the minister was invited to a meeting.

And that’s exactly how the process is supposed to work. After a prospective member completes the form, that person’s contact information is forwarded to the district governor and district membership development committee chair, who send the information on to one or more clubs in the area. If a club is interested, it invites the prospective member to a meeting.

“This process has been well received by clubs in my district,” says Connolly, who urges all clubs to take advantage of this resource.

The form can also be used by club members who want to refer potential members, and by relocating or returning members who are looking for a new club. Make it easy for potential members to find your club byembedding ads on your website for Club Locator and “Share Your Passion for Rotary.”