Rotary Club of Midland

Rotary Club of Midland

Strategic Planning Results

June 2006

Rotary Club of Midland

Strategic Planning Results

Table of Contents

Membership Feedback

Member Recruitment Event Ideas

Fundraising Ideas

Fellowship Event Ideas

Program and Speaker Ideas

Community Service Project Ideas

International Service Project Ideas

Vocational Service Project Ideas

Hands-On Project Ideas

Committee Feedback

Membership Committee

Program Committee

Public Relations Committee

Fundraising Committee

Club Administration Committee

Community Service Committee

International Service Committee

Vocational Service Committee

Board of Directors
Rotary Club of Midland

Strategic Planning Results

Membership Feedback

Club members through the club survey process identified the topics and specific ideas in this section. On June 28, 2006, members were then asked identify what they felt should be the priorities of the club under each section. The graphs in each section show the prioritized list and will form the club’s priorities in the coming years.

Member Recruitment Event Ideas

·  Prospective Member Day - bring a guest day – invitation cards – paid by club – great speakers.

·  Get each table to name 2 potential members.

·  Every member every year to bring in a new member.

·  Dedicate membership month – November.

·  Recruitment cocktail party.

·  Hold a high profile community event that can highlight members and membership.

·  Recruit sons and daughters of Rotarians, youth exchange parents, GSE team members, past youth exchange students, etc.

Fundraising Ideas

·  Rotary should look at different ways of partnering with other organizations for fundraising to help with volunteers necessary, help with capacity building for the other organizations.

·  Cottage or home draw.

·  Partner with other clubs – Penetanguishene, Wasaga Beach, and Barrie.

·  Lobster dinner.

·  Chili cook-off.

·  Fantasy night with large prizes.

·  Across town or country garage sales.

·  Marathons.

·  Bike rides.

·  Christmas tree of lights festival.

·  Strike a committee dedicated to exploring and advancing new fundraising activities.

·  Men of Rotary calendar.

·  Cash calendar.

·  Gala.

·  Antique car draw.

·  Lottery draws.

·  Go to the community ask for small donation that banks can collect on our behalf. Monies will come out of their accounts each month – many banks would participate.

·  Theatre night with dinner.

Fellowship Event Ideas

·  Tie a social event into the completion of a community project or fundraising drive.

·  Summer/Fall barbeque.

·  Boat in.

·  Boat in to Hope Island which would be social and work party.

·  Theatre in Toronto.

·  Lobsterfest.

·  Dinner parties – travel house to house.

·  Scavenger hunt – ask Dave Mink – couples go in cars to find stuff.

·  Ladies nights.

·  Theme dinners.

·  Work projects as opposed to fundraising projects.

·  Euchre, bridge, poker card party – could be a potluck dessert thing.

·  Horse races.

·  Trip to other Midlands (Texas, Michigan).

·  Trip to Chicago Club #1 and RI head office.

·  Home meetings hosting to better meet new members.

·  Ballgames.

·  Cultural events.

·  Sponsor theatre night with dinner – could be a fundraiser.

·  Disco night.

·  Karaoke night.

·  Golf tournament.

·  Bowling.

·  Skating.

·  Hockey.

·  Corn roast.

·  Christmas party – formal.

Program and Speaker Ideas

·  Stay away from packaged speakers that solicit funds for their cause.

·  Speakers that keep us informed of what is going on in our community are a priority.

·  Speakers who address Rotary projects especially international are to be encouraged.

·  More speakers who inform.

·  Fewer speakers who ask for money.

·  Local, county, provincial topics speakers important.

·  Topic of wills.

·  Topic of Power of attorney.

·  New privacy act.

·  Acquiring human resources for our community.

·  Global business trends an issues e.g. the new economic Super Powers.

·  Community participants of Rotary projects.

·  Share steps of what to do with aging parents – when to call villa or hospital – what services available to care for parents at home.

·  Business related – growth locally.

·  Anything unique.

·  World travelers.

·  Rotary trips.

·  Club members with interesting stories.

·  Test might be – would people read this program if it was an article in the paper or watch it on TV.

·  Business, community, political information.

·  Rotary quiz.

·  Rotary highlights.

·  Rotary magazine.

·  Rotary information.

·  Financial.

·  Travel.

·  Heath care.

·  New business opportunities.

·  Current issues.

·  Timely.

·  Life style orientated.

·  Tax information in April.

·  Technology.

·  Owners/presidents of local companies tell us how they are doing and how we can help them grow.

·  Hot topics and good speakers.

·  No mini classification talks.

Community Service Project Ideas

·  Rotary Trail – actually get out there and help with construction.

·  Help non-profits become self sustaining e.g. restore – help get it up and running to reduce their need of continued financial assistance.

·  Heart defibulator in the arena and community centre.

·  Museum expansion.

·  YMCA expansion.

·  Literacy.

·  Playground equipment – most schools still desperately need. Pick one piece of equipment and give it to every school in the area – great PR.

·  Civic luncheon.

·  Redo a park to include a ball diamond for handicapped children – wheelchair accessible.

·  Build a residence for Wendat.

·  Build an outdoor theatre at the Wye Marsh.

·  Fishing dock at Little Lake Park.

·  Hospital equipment.

·  Outdoor community skating rink and basketball court (like in Perkinsfield – none in Midland now).

·  Little Lake Park trail renovation and expansion.

·  Band shell cover.

·  Planting trees.

·  Park equipment.

·  Low income housing.

·  Food bank.

·  Soup kitchen.

·  Homeless shelter.

·  Outside washrooms and showers.

·  Children’s playground for handicapped.

International Service Project Ideas

·  We should play a larger part in supporting projects undertaken by the district.

·  Any projects that help people become self-sufficient.

·  Wells/Water.

·  What we support, someone from the club should deliver, bring back presentation.

·  Rotary endorsed WCS projects.

·  Specific benefits to identifiable recipients.

·  Any project that is RI approved.

·  Medical/Healthcare.

·  Education.

·  Literacy.

·  Focused and where we can monitor results.

·  Leprosy elimination.

·  Agricultural training.

·  Environmental training.

·  Polio Plus.

·  Food and shelter.

Vocational Service Project Ideas

·  We should devote some additional time and energy to ensuring that our club members really understand what vocational service is all about.

·  Promote the values of Rotary vocational service in our community.

·  Vocational service award (special meeting or event).

·  Rural and urban meeting (invite local farm community to a special meeting).

·  Citizen of the year.

·  Have Fred Hacker speak on vocational service.

·  School projects.

·  Short Term Youth Exchange.

·  Youth development (non leaders) e.g. team building/ self-confidence building through different activities.

·  More visits to local industry.

·  Bringing speakers to schools as well as our club. President of Canadian Bar Association speak to club and schools the same day.

·  Invite business leaders in the community to come in to speak on their vocation.

·  Promote literacy.

·  Student of the Month in elementary schools.

·  Civic luncheon.

·  Start Rotaract – good farm team for the club.

·  Student sponsorship and bursaries beyond Student of the Month.

·  Advertising program promoting e.g. business ethics.

·  Senior Recognition (volunteerism as a vocation).

Hands-On Project Ideas

·  Plan an international service project where members go to another country to do a hand on project.

·  Rotary trail extension.

·  Continue to help Food Bank.

·  Help build a Habitat house (labour).

·  Planting trees.

·  Help elderly – provide barbeque and serve it.

·  Help youth.

·  Renovation of trails in Little Lake Park.

·  Old projects do they need renovations.

·  Handicap children’s park.

·  Ball diamond.

·  Rotary room at the museum.

·  Fishing dock.

·  Structure for an outdoor community skating rink.

·  Band shell finish (seating, roof).

Committee Feedback

The following topics do not require further club feedback and have been given to each committee for their review and consideration in the development of direction and plans for 2006/07 and beyond. The items contained in each area are not to be seen a “must do” items. They are for consideration only. Some items will require committee approval only, some will require Board approval and some would require club approval before proceeding. Committee chairs must verify their direction through their Board representative.

Membership Committee

Meeting Items

·  Reduce the cost of meals, have the meal at a place that may benefit from it not a profitable business have lunch at soup kitchen or Lions Club ladies

·  Morning meetings

·  Get better value for meal charges; either too high or sometimes poor meals for amount charged *

·  Make sure the meeting ends on time

·  Breakfast & lunch meetings

Membership Retention

·  Keep a focus on the amazing work of Rotary around the world.

·  Ensure that all members are involved on a committee.

·  Promote use of the on-line Rotary training.

·  Increase the amount of fellowship opportunities (i.e. golf day, pig roast, etc.). *

·  Have members give regular speeches and classification updates.

·  Make them feel more comfortable/welcome by greeting and seating them, as we were discussing doing with guests. ***

Membership Committee

·  Consult RI for recruitment suggestions and follow through.*

·  Put together a new member recruitment package for existing members to use. As part of this package, explain the process of bringing in a new member.

·  Complete a classification survey and identify open areas.*

·  Redo/update membership booklet and post on website *

·  Prospective Member Interview

o  All prospective members read Rotary basics and ABC’s of Rotary prior to induction.

o  Why do you want to join?

o  What does it mean to be a member? – (cost, time, participation, attendance)

o  Spell out opportunities of Rotary.

·  Member Retention Strategy

o  Assign each new member to a mentor and clearly define mentor responsibilities.

o  The new member must complete an orientation checklist.

o  Ensure that attendance and make-up requirements are understood.

o  Assign new members to a committee based on their interview.

o  Use the “Rotary College” approach for new members and partners.

Induction Ceremony

·  Invite family, coworkers and employer – become the Family of Rotary.

·  Make the full program a new member induction day by making the theme about membership.

·  Have a member assigned to inductions to ensure that they are well planned.

·  Put new member picture and announcement in the newspaper.

·  Where ever possible, involve the DG, ADG or a PDG at inductions.

·  Induct them ASAP. Too much lag time has been taking place

Program Committee

·  Need more fun- less drudgery

·  Local business owners/presidents as speakers

·  Four planned events – ensure partners are present

Public Relations Committee

Club Image

·  Service Above Self

·  Caring, committed, honest, energetic, vibrant, leading.

·  Serving local and international interest.

·  Best service club in town

·  Stress the ideals and standards of Rotary in promotional materials

·  Community mixed – active and professional

Improving Club Image

·  Effective “Public Relations” leadership in the Club.

·  Everything Rotary does in the community receives public recognition

·  More hands on, Rotary only projects for better visibility.

·  Invite the press to weekly meetings

·  Invite a member of the press/radio to join Rotary

·  Weekly/monthly column with pictures of events and speakers, interviews with members or with inbound and outbound exchange students.

·  Develop a brochure – distribute around town doctors lawyer’s offices

·  Make annual presentation to Midland Town Council regarding our projects and programs.

·  Talk about activities on Bingo.

·  Ambassadors – speak to other groups.

·  Take more opportunities to have invited guests as we do with Service about Self award.

·  Wear something that designated them as Rotarians

Fundraising Committee

Improving Promotion of Fundraising Activities

·  Good initial planning and solid organization

·  Better public relations and advertising.

·  Improve member participation.

·  Appoint high visibility person to represent the club – President

·  Need members to be able to be proud of the club and ask for community support

·  Better public relation campaign using newspaper, radio, internet and cable coverage

·  Incorporate in bingo script.

·  Press – stories and columns, not just pictures of us handing over cheques

·  Ambassadors – speak to other groups

·  Taking on more community work projects e.g. literacy, where Rotarians are seen participating

·  Handwritten thank you to those who donate auction items - Keep donors aware what we do with the funds.

·  Rethink what we are doing, maybe too many things

·  Fundraising activities must be for a defined project that has community recognition e.g. trail, Rosewood.

·  Need to insist photo op with cheque being presented

Fundraising Activity Comments

·  All of the existing Rotary activities should be maintained so long as:

o  They are profitable

o  They continue to be supported by the membership

o  They reflect favorably on Rotary and they do not get stale

·  Trip of the month is good but not all members are good at selling tickets and those who do not sell should not be pushed to sell tickets

·  If not run by Rotary, not a Rotary project