Effective District Strategies for
Struggling Clubs
Rotary Zone 24 West
www.GreatIdeastoShare.com
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Today’s Facilitators
Zone 24W Coordinator Team Members
Gayle Knepper
Dave Stambaugh
District 5010
District 5060
Jackie Hobal
Al Bergsma
District 5370
District 5360
Topics for Discussion
Impact of struggling clubs
Assessing the risk factors
Developing a strategy
Forming a team
Taking action: 6 steps
A real life story
Poll Question
Identifying the
Impact
of Struggling Clubs
Al Bergsma
District 5360
Assistant Rotary Coordinator
Rotary Zone 24 West
www.GreatIdeastoShare.com
The Impact
of Struggling Clubs
Existing & potential members
Other clubs & district
Community
Potential partners &
funding sources
Service projects
Rotary’s image
Identifying the
Risk Factors
Rotary Zone 24 West
www.GreatIdeastoShare.com
Signs of At-Risk Clubs
 Progressively declining





membership
Few service projects
Lack of social events
Poor and/or cancelled meetings
Consistently late dues
Does not file required reports
Signs of At-Risk Clubs
More Examples
Little member participation in district
events
Difficulty in finding leaders
Few younger members
Little or no fundraising
Lack criteria of functioning club
Poll Question
How do we start?
Defining
Struggling
Clubs
Dave Stambaugh
District 5060
Assistant Rotary Coordinator
Rotary Zone 24 West
www.GreatIdeastoShare.com
Step 1: Assessing the Risk
Quantify club functioning
Continuity in review/
assessment
Annual review of all clubs; semiannual review of at-risk clubs
Track trends: club moves from
healthy to struggling over time
Step 1: Assessing the Risk
Ready-to-Use Tools
Rotary Club
Central
Vibrant Club Assessment
Club Self Assessment
Rotary Club Central
Governor & AG View
Vibrant Club Assessment
Club Self Assessment
Effective Rotary Clubs
Indicators - MOP
Measures club functioning
Effective Club Criteria
Minimum Standards
Effective Club Criteria
Sustain/Increase
membership
Implement successful
service projects
Support TRF
(financially & program
participation
Leaders beyond the
club level
Minimum Standards
Meet regularly *
Conduct effective
service projects *
Accept visits of district/RI leaders
Pay RI & district dues without
assistance *
Members receive a Rotary magazine
* frequently observed in struggling clubs
Minimum Standards
Maintain liability insurance
Act consistently with RI
policies
Provide accurate membership
lists
Resolve disputes amicably *
No litigation with RI
Cooperative district
relationship *
Creating the
Plan
Gayle Knepper
District 5010
Rotary Coordinator
Rotary Zone 24 West
www.GreatIdeastoShare.com
Step 2: Categorizing Clubs
Rotary Club Central
Rotary Club Central
Categorizing Clubs
5. Excellent – consistently engaged
4. Good – engaged, could increase
effectiveness
3. Satisfactory – is functioning,
could improve
2. Needs improvement - significant
assistance needed
1. Non-functional – failed to meet
functioning club criteria
Other Considerations
Number years at risk
Assistance already provided
Response of the club
Was structured follow-up plan
implemented?
Have targets been set & what is
the progress?
Step 3: Prioritization & Decisions
 How will resources be
allocated?
 What will have the most impact?
 Plan by category, customize by club
 Include in district strategic plan
 Involve DG/DGE/DGN/DGND for
continuity & long-term results
Step 4: Forming the Team
Who is responsible?
Team size: 4 to 7
Based on district & geography
District team or regional teams
DG participates (perhaps
adjunct member)
Consider “turnaround specialist”
Step 4: Forming the Team
Team Composition Examples
District leaders
Recent PDGs
Turnaround
specialized
From vibrant club
Regionally or district based
Poll Question
Identifying
the Action
Steps
Al Bergsma
District 5360
Assistant Rotary Coordinator
Rotary Zone 24 West
www.GreatIdeastoShare.com
Possible Action Steps
Visioning
Customized solutions
Pairing with a vibrant club
Assign a mentor for
development in areas
needed
Consider making it a
satellite club or merging
two clubs
“Required” for Results
Club is committed to change & to
accept help
Written plan and targets for club
Timeline sufficient for change and
regular progress reports
Step 6: Follow Up, Evaluate & Adapt
Consistent follow up & support
Regular progress reports & feedback
Adaption of plan, as needed
AG is key link
When might it be time…
for the club to close?
Years of consistent work & no change
Poor community reputation
Club is no longer relevant
Club unwilling to change
Does not meet functioning club criteria
A Real Life
Story
Dave Stambaugh
District 5060
Assistant Rotary Coordinator
Rotary Zone 24 West
www.GreatIdeastoShare.com
Blueprint:
The Morinville Club Story
Rotary Club of Morinville Story
Rotary Club of Morinville Story
Blueprint:
Creating a Vibrant Morinville Club
A. Commitment of Leadership
Membership chair & committee with 3 members
B. Begin with the End in Mind
Vibrant club – enough members to provide
service above self
Membership – discussed at each club meeting
Blueprint: Creating a Vibrant
Morinville Club
C. Create the Plan
Committee meetings to develop plan
Condense feedback into a 3-year plan
D. Ambiance & Friendliness
Location, room, décor, name badges
First impressions, greetings & more
Programs, monthly social activities
Blueprint: Creating a Vibrant
Morinville Club
E. Use Best Practices for
Development
 Review plan periodically
 Firesides for classification
development
 Annual meeting with Chamber of
Commerce
F. Engage all Members
Summary: Six Steps to an
Effective District Strategy
1. Assess clubs
2. Segment by vibrancy category
3. Plan: Prioritize, make resource
decisions, develop strategy
4. Form the team
5. Take action
6. Follow up, evaluate, adapt
Resources
Jackie Hobal
District 5370
Asst Rotary Coordinator
Rotary Zone 24 West
www.GreatIdeastoShare.com
Resources
rotary.org
Rotary Club Central
Club Assessment Tools
Be A Vibrant Club
(booklet)
Membership
Development Resource
Guide (assessments)
Resources
Vibrant Club Assessment
Club Self Assessment
Resources
In person
Community Expertise
Professional who works to turn
around struggling
organizations/ businesses
Your Rotary Coordinator
Zone 24W Coordinator Team
Gayle Knepper
Jackie Hobal
rotary5010@ak.net
Overall Coordinator
D2225, D5040 Liaison
jackiehobal@gmail.com
Asst Coordinator
D5060, D5360 Liaison
Dave Stambaugh
Al Bergsma
dstambaugh@elltel.net
Asst Coordinator
D5010, D5050 Liaison
bergsma.al@gmail.com
Asst Coordinator
D5370, D5550 Liaison
RotaryCoordinatorTeam@gmail.com
Send best practices, ideas and samples for sharing
Rotary Coordinators
Zone 24E/32
Lynda Ryder
Karien Ziegler
Zone 24E
lryder@silicates.com
Zone 32
karien@comcast.net
www.GreatIdeastoShare.com/membership
Resources
Workshops
Zone Pre-Institute
www.zoneinstitute.net
Toronto – October 15
Public image, membership & engagement,
training, The Rotary Foundation, youth
programs, future leaders and more
Webinars
RI & Zone
www.Rotary.org
Search “webinars”
Topics from membership
and service to leadership
and Club Central.
Zone 24 West
One Rotary: Building Highly-Effective Clubs
November 12 - 4:00 pm PST/7:00 pm EST
Thank you for
joining us today!
www.GreatIdeasToShare.com