A UNIQUE YOUNG MAN CAME TO ROTARY...
I want to share a little story with you about a different kind of Rotarian we had in our community some years ago. This young man - at least young by many Rotary standards - had run his own business for several years and had achieved a targeted level of success.
He was seeking a venue to start giving back to the community. Since both his father and brother had been Rotarians, he claimed, he sought out our club because it was close to his office. I remember his scenario well. His first visit to the club was in July 1996. At about his fourth or fifth meeting, as I recall, someone at his table finally asked if he was thinking about joining the club. He said he had already asked for and completed an application but no one had told him what he was supposed to do with it, or how to proceed from there. HE HAD ASKED TO JOIN... NO ONE HAD INVITED HIM. He was obviously ready to participate.
HE HAD ASKED TO JOIN... NO ONE HAD INVITED HIM.
Hearing this, the member seated closest to him, who had gotten to know him a little at previous breakfasts, volunteered then to sponsor him - and even offered to mentor him through the process. Great - but this prospect had to ask him about joining, He had to ask for an application, and no-one ever followed up on him even after he had received one to turn in. A sad occurrence all too prevalent in Rotary. I was that prospect.
I ultimately became club president and later even District Governor, but how many prospective members have we lost in our clubs over the years because no one seemed to care or took the initiative to welcome or assimilate prospective or new members? I could just as easily have "walked" or gone to Lions or Kiwanis. I'm sure some people probably wish I had done so.... but we CAN grow as an organization, and increase our stagnant international membership numbers, and our participation and retention levels, ONLY if we just ask others to join our service focus.
I guess I was an anomaly, but I think we can all learn from my experience.
Gene Holiman, Rotary Club of Northwest Austin, 5870 District Governor 2017-18