August is Membership and Extension month. I'm glad Rotary International placed this emphasis on Membership early in our Rotary year. It's a good time to begin thinking how each of us can do our part in sharing this wonderful organization with those who have not yet experienced the joy of being a Rotarian. We learned this past year the two most significant reasons why people join Rotary: form new friendships, and to do good things in their community. I'll bet that's you too! So a good place to start is to develop or memorize the answer to the age-old question: "What is Rotary?" I'll share with you the one my club teaches: "It's a leadership organization made up of local business, professional and civic leaders who meet regularly, get to know each other better, form friendships, and through that, are able to get things done in our community". No "magic" here but something really good for each of us to know and have ready at that right time. Equally important is to be certain, week in and week out that our club is friendly, responsive, and looks inviting. Finally, let's also be sure we can answer these questions: How do I help my club go from good to great? How do I engage our current members? For your PhD in Membership (or just your Masters) log-on to your "My Rotary" account, and click on "Membership" on the "Learning and Reference" drop-down menu on the white bar at the top!

 

Jim Bell

Rotary International District 5240