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By Sunday Ani
Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Satellite Town, Rotary Club of Festac Central and Rotary Club of Canal Estate were, on Saturday August 17, at a one-day membership seminar, tutored on the rudiments of attracting new members and retaining members, as well as club development.
In her lecture, titled, “Membership and New Club Development,” the guest speaker and Rotary International District 9111 Learning Facilitator as well as Assistant Regional Coordinator, Region 27 and Zone 22, Omotunde Lawson, spoke on such essential tools of club’s development as acquisition, retention and sustenance of new members. She revealed some of the things that could attract new members and other things that could drive even existing members away from the club.
She told them that membership is what makes a club thick and that part of membership development should start from attracting members, stressing that when there is no attraction, there is no growth. And if your club is not attractive, you cannot attract any members,” she added.
On what should be done to attract new members, she said: “Your agenda for the meeting should be clear. Fellowship should be such that mere looking at what you have next week will make me attend the programme. Stereotypes should be avoided as much as possible; stop the stereotypes that don’t appeal to your guests. Guests should also be allowed to contribute; it gives them a sense of belonging.
“Mind the kind of songs you sing in your club meeting. Some songs put guests off completely and they misconstrue what the real intentions are. Know who you bring in as your speaker. Be mindful of who you invite as speakers. You also make too much noise, reduce it.”
On membership retention she said: “If you don’t retain what you have they will leave. Everyone must be engaged; everyone in the club has a position to fill. Fashion out something for every member and let each member do his/her own job. Don’t make members redundant. Don’t allow your members to leave. Always develop the spirit of appreciation not that of condemnation. Don’t discuss contentious issues on the floor of the club meeting because if guests are there when you are dragging contentious issues, it will scare them away. Postpone such an issue till your business meeting.”
Speaking on club growth, noted that a club could grow vertically or horizontally. She commended the three clubs for their effort and increasing membership but also pointed out that at some point, they allowed some of their members to go away; a development she said was not good at all.
Speaking about the seminar, President of the Rotary Club of Satellite Town, Elizabeth Tabara said the month of August is regarded as Rotary membership month in the Rotary calendar, hence the decision of the three clubs to collaborate focusing on growing their membership.
“This seminar is a great opportunity for the three clubs to showcase the benefits of Rotary membership and see how they can grow their membership. Rotary International has designated August as a time to emphasise the importance of membership and invite like-minded individuals to join the organisation,” she said.
Also speaking, President of the Rotary Club of Festac Central, Mr Udia Attai, corroborated Mrs. Tabara, saying, “Our focus is on growing our membership and welcoming new members into the Rotary family.” He vowed to ensure that all that the guest speaker thought would be implemented in his Club
For the President of the Rotary Club of Canal Estate, Mr Joseph Ugwu, the event was remarkable as it offered an opportunity for the three clubs to merge forces and train both Rotarians and Rotaractors on membership and club development.
The event attracted Rotarians from other rotary clubs, different works of life and age groups with special considerations given to fun and networking.
