Presidential Citation, Changemaker Award can help your club set tangible membership goals - By Joseph Derr

What is your club’s approach to recruiting and keeping members?


August, Membership and Extension Month, is an ideal time to discuss membership strategies for the year.
The Presidential Citation and Changemaker Award both include membership criteria and are excellent resources to help you set your goals.

Clubs aiming for the Presidential Citation this year must add at least one new member and keep at least 85 percent of their membership. Additional goals include recruiting RI and Rotary Foundation program alumni and young professionals, and increasing diversity by adding more female members. Districts must meet similar goals.

The Changemaker Award, established by RI President Kalyan Banerjee, also puts membership in the spotlight. Clubs must achieve a specific set of club service goals, including adding one new member under the age of 40 for each 50 members, implementing a comprehensive strategy for keeping members, and demonstrating that they have retained 85 percent of their members for the three Rotary years ending with 2011-12.

Both recognitions also include criteria for supporting Foundation programs, crucial to Rotary’s continued global success.


Past RI Vice President Monty J. Audenart, chair of the RI Membership Development and Retention Committee, encourages all clubs to focus on their membership goals as they take a fresh look at strengthening Rotary.


“When building strong clubs, attracting new members and retaining existing ones are given first priority. Then, the rest of our service activities and programs will take care of themselves,” says Audenart.