Membership a key for Rotarians

Steve Brown, District Governor nominee and a member of the Kilgore Rotary Club, was the guest speaker for the local club this past Wednesday. He discussed membership and how to recruit and retain members.

Brown said he was a Rotarian, when he first joined, that just came to eat and see people. He didn't participate in activities or try to find new members.

"I got a letter asking me to either be active in Rotary or leave," he said. "So, I got active. It was nearly a shame. Not that Rotary would have had to do without Steve Brown, but that Steve Brown nearly lost Rotary."

Brown listed five P's of membership that he feels are important. The five are planning, prepared, persistent, passionate and proactive.

He said planning is important because there must be a plan in place to find new members. A project without a plan does not stand much of a chance of succeeding, he said.

Rotarians must also be prepared to find members, wherever they are. A friend, a co-worker, a customer or any person we come in contact with is a possible Rotary Club member. So, we must keep our eyes open and always be willing to talk about our club.

Brown knew a man who asked a person 15 times to join Rotary before that man finally did. The man became a great Rotarian and has gone on to great things in the organization. The man was able to do wonderful things just because his friend was persistent in asking him to join Rotary.

If people are passionate about Rotary, excited about Rotary and want to be involved in the organization, then they will be more willing to be part of it too, he said. Young people, especially, have little time to give to projects or organizations where there is no substance, no passion.

And, finally, Brown said Rotarians need to be proactive in getting new members and making Rotary exciting enough that current members want to stay. Also, it needs to be good enough to make those new members who join want to stay.

"Members are rarely going to just walk in the door and join," he said. "We have to be ready to seek them out and get them active in the club."

Brown said the Kilgore club won a prestigious award when he was president because they got five quality members while another club got 30 members but only had six or seven that were active.

"We need to have achievable goals and to set a goal and get everyone involved," he said. "We also need to chart the progress of the program, target members where they are, tell them what Rotary is about and don't give up on anyone."

And, when they get in, the club needs to find them something to do.

"Members are important, and having a plan, procedure and a passion to get new members is also important," he said.

In other Rotary news, Haily Bishnow of Sabine High School was honored as Student of the Month. She is a senior who is active in cheerleading, band, dance team and numerous other activities. She is the daughter of Joe and Jan Bishnow.

She plans on attending Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches and wants to become a nurse.

John Lockman was honored for 21 years of perfect attendance.

The district conference was Saturday, and Greg Murphy, Pam DeCeault, Steve Brown, Kay Castles, David Castles and several others were in attendance.

David Castles thanked all of the club members who worked during the NJCAA All-Star game recently, and Greg Murphy thanked all of the members who worked during the Relay For Life last weekend to raise money for cancer research.

On Wednesday, David Goodwin will speak about Syringomyelia.

Kilgore Rotary Club meets each Wednesday at Meadowbrook Country Club. Guests are welcome.