2014 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
Rotaract & RotaryShortening the Gap
Virginia Kirn – Seattle, WA - RotaryJohn Smola – Birmingham, AL- Rotaract
JOIN LEADERS, EXCHANGE IDEAS, TAKE ACTION
• Rotaract Member • Rotarian who has supported
Rotaract • Rotarian interested in the topic• Previous Rotaract Member and now
Rotarian – you are very special!
Who is in the room?
Virginia Kirn - intro
• Joined Rotary at age 32 in 2007• Joined largest Rotary Club in the
world– 620 Members– Founded in 1909– Downtown Formal Club
• Started “Young Rotary Leader” Committee
• Recruited 85+ members in 10 years < 35
• Rotary Magazine and RI Conventions
John Smola - intro
• Joined Rotaract at age 25 in 2008• Birmingham Rotaract has 260
members and was founded in 2004• Relationship between Rotaract and
Sponsor Club is very active and strong – But the process of advancing from
Rotaract to Rotary is very unclear to Rotaractors
What are Rotaractors thinking as they age out of their Club?
• Will Rotary be just as exciting and energizing as my Rotaract Club?
• What are the time and money requirements to join?
• What is the application process?• Will the Rotary Club be “in action”?• Who will my friends be (age
demographics)?• Which Rotary Club is right for me?
Strategies for Shortening the Gap
• Two-Way Communication– The lines of communication can be opened up by
either Rotaract or Rotary, and hopefully both!!
• Personal Connections– Rotarians, it is not a foregone conclusion that
Rotaractors will join Rotary Clubs, they need to be personally invited just like anybody else
• Take a Chance– Rotaractors, the VP of Membership at any Rotary
Club is a great place to start if you’re interested in membership and not sure who else to talk to
Strategies to Shorten the Gap
District Club
Individual
Strategies to Shorten the Gap – as a DISTRICT
• Encourage Rotaractors to attend District Conference and give them podium time
• Provide scholarships to Rotaractors to attend District Conference and RI Convention
• At District Conferences provide mingling time for Rotaractors and Rotarians to form mentor/mentee relationships
Strategies to Shorten the Gap – as a CLUB
• Create opportunities for Rotaractors to speak on their projects at Rotary Clubs
• Host an event specifically for Rotaractors coming of age to be recruited by Rotary Clubs
• Encourage attendance at each other’s meetings, fundraisers and service opportunities
Strategies to Shorten the Gap – as a CLUB
• Create opportunities for Rotaractors to job shadow and be mentored by Rotarians–Professional Connections
• Create a New Generations Chair• Host an annual joint luncheon and
fellowship• Once the first Rotaractor joins a Rotary
Club, encourage other Rotaractors to join too
Strategies to Shorten the Gap - as an INDIVIDUAL
• Attend each other’s meetings• Look for each other at District and
Zone events and make a new friend• Create fellowships specifically for
Younger Rotarians and Rotaractors to meet
• Create service opportunities where Rotaract and Rotarians work side by side
Strategies to Shorten the Gap between Rotaract and Rotary
• Very simply: Take an interest in each other
• The lines of communication can be opened by either Rotaract or Rotary.
• Rotaractors are Rotarians!
The Birmingham Rotaract Club was surveyed on the topic of “Shortening the Gap between Rotaract and Rotary”
• What about your Rotaract membership has made you consider joining a Rotary Club?
• What is the best thing Rotaract can do to make joining a Rotary Club more attractive?
• Why have you not considered joining a Rotary Club?
What about your Rotaract membership has made you consider joining a Rotary Club?
What's the best thing Rotaract can do to make joining a Rotary Club more attractive?
Why have you not considered joining a Rotary Club?
Rotaractors who have become Rotarians
• Describe your journey from Rotaract to Rotary….–What made it easy?–What made it challenging?–What advice do you have for
increasing the graduation rate from Rotaract to Rotary?
Open for Commentary on Shortening the Gap
• What is working in your district to shorten the gap between Rotaract and Rotary?
• What is not working?• What else would you like to say on
the topic of shortening the gap between Rotaract and Rotary?
Virginia Kirn – Seattle, WA - RotaryJohn Smola – Birmingham, AL- Rotaract
JOIN LEADERS, EXCHANGE IDEAS, TAKE ACTION
