Breakout Session Presented at the Rotary International Convention in Lisbon on Tuesday 25 June, 2013.

1. 2013 RI CONVENTION
The Rotary Club of the Future -
What will Rotary look like in 2050?
Moderator: Mary Beth Growney Selene,
Panelist: Holly Ransom
Panelist: Jean Seidler Thompson

2. 2013 RI CONVENTION
1905
The Origin of Rotary
 Paul Harris wanted friends outside of those he
met in the practice of law
 Only one representative per vocation
 “Service” soon became part of the Rotary
movement

3. 2013 RI CONVENTION
2013
Rotary’s Core Values
 Service
 Diversity
 Integrity
 Leadership
 Fellowship

4. 2013 RI CONVENTION
2050 – Would Paul Harris
like what Rotary has become?
 Does human interaction continue to play a
role in world peace?
 Is fellowship (and fun) valued?
 Is service still a priority?
 Are we still changing lives?

5. 2013 RI CONVENTION
If a Rotarian asked
you to join Rotary,
would you?

6. 2013 RI CONVENTION
What if that person
was Paul Harris?

7. 2013 RI CONVENTION
What if Paul Harris asked you to join
Rotary?
 Welcoming?
 Friendly?

8. 2013 RI CONVENTION
What if Paul Harris asked you to join
Rotary?
 Like-minded?
 Engaging?
 Leader?

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What will Rotary
look like in 2050?

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11. 2013 RI CONVENTION
Survival of the Rotarian:
to 2050 and beyond!
Club President Holly Ransom
Rotary Club of Crawley, Australia

12. 2013 RI CONVENTION
Survival of the Rotarian: to 2050 and beyond!

13. 2013 RI CONVENTION
?
1905 Now 2050
Then and now

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What’s changed
• Growth of the non-profit/charity sector
• The rise of technology
• An increase in work hours/work travel

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What’s our current position?
Of Rotary’s
members worldwide,
only are and
only are

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Rotary
Old
Elitist
Traditional
BBQs and Car
Park duty
Youth
Exchanges
Men
What is it?

17. 2013 RI CONVENTION
Logo and
tagline
Social Media
Platforms &
Website
Internal &
External
Comms
Meetings Org Structure

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How do we manage change?

19. 2013 RI CONVENTION
What will 2050 look like?

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• More digital communications/more sophisticated
communication demands
• A demand for faster-paced meetings and a greater
outcomes focus
• Greater inter-country collaboration as the world
becomes even more globalized
• A need for meetings to be delivered in multiple
forms
• Moves to crowdsourcing platforms vs. traditional
fundraising like raffles.
What will 2050 look like?

21. 2013 RI CONVENTION
?
1905 Now 2050
What will 2050 look like?

22. 2013 RI CONVENTION
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23. 2013 RI CONVENTION
- The Future –
Rotary’s Frontier
Jean Seidler Thompson
Rotary Club of Seattle 4, USA

24. 2013 RI CONVENTION
ROTARY AND THE WORLD IN 2050

25. 2013 RI CONVENTION
2050 (FUTURE 37
YEARS)
Present
1986 (27 years ago)
WHERE ARE WE NOW? & WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?

26. 2013 RI CONVENTION
WHERE HAVE WE BEEN? A LOOK BACK…
27 years ago in 1986:
No women in Rotary
Clubs not as diverse
No Internet
No Email
Cell phones as large as a briefcase

27. 2013 RI CONVENTION
The founders of Rotary in 1905 were young professionals.
REMEMBER: We do not need to reinvent the wheel.
 Paul P. Harris was 37.
 Silvester Schiele, the
first President, was 35.
A LOOK BACK…

28. 2013 RI CONVENTION
QUESTION:
How old were you when you first joined Rotary?
STAND UP
if you were under 40 years old when you became a
Rotarian.
WHERE HAVE WE BEEN? A LOOK BACK…

29. 2013 RI CONVENTION
Only 12% of
all members
are under 40
WHERE ARE WE NOW? THE PRESENT…
SOURCE: Regional Membership Supplements on Rotary.org

30. 2013 RI CONVENTION
Only 19% of
all members
are women
WHERE ARE WE NOW? THE PRESENT…
SOURCE: Regional Membership Supplements on Rotary.org

31. 2013 RI CONVENTION
70% of all
members
work full time
WHERE ARE WE NOW? THE PRESENT…
SOURCE: Regional Membership Supplements on Rotary.org

32. 2013 RI CONVENTION
ROTARY’S VOYAGE TO 2050
Thriving Rotary Clubs in 2050 have learned to
successfully
 attract
 retain
 provide relevancy to:
• women,
• a more diverse population,
• young professional members under 40.

33. 2013 RI CONVENTION
1) Create a
welcoming
environment
3) Engage &
embrace their
passion
2) Invite
professionals
under 40
3 STEPS TO ATTRACTING & RETAINING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

34. 2013 RI CONVENTION
STEP 1– WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT
Is the culture of your club fully ready to welcome younger members?
1. Create a
welcoming
environment &
club culture

35. 2013 RI CONVENTION
EXAMPLE – YOUNG ROTARY LEADERS (YRL) INITIATIVE:
YRL INITIATIVE FOR SEATTLE 4:
• Discounted Club dues until age 35
• More flexible admission requirements
• YRL Initiative listed on Club application and recruitment
materials
• Support from the top, Senior Club Rotarians are involved in
the initiative

36. 2013 RI CONVENTION
STEP 2: ATTRACTING NEW MEMBERS
• The traditional Rotary invitation.
• Simple math. Example: a club in our District invited 100 young
professionals to their club events during the past year and 10 became
new club members.
During the past year, how many prospective members under 40 has
your club invited to a club event?
2. Invite Young
Professionals

37. 2013 RI CONVENTION
STEP 3: RETAINING YOUNG MEMBERS
3. Engage &
Embrace Their
Passion

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EXAMPLE: YOUNG ROTARY LEADERS (YRL) SEATTLE 4 COMMITTEE:
VIRGINIA KIRN & JEAN THOMPSON FOUNDED A YRL COMMITTEE
with supportive Mentors.
 The Mission is to
focus on recruitment,
retention and
relevancy of our clubs
younger members.
 For Rotarians under
40 and the Young in
Spirit.

39. 2013 RI CONVENTION
YOUNG ROTARY LEADERS (YRL) COMMITTEE
YRL COMMITTEE – SAMPLE ACTIVITIES:
• Dinners and receptions with an experienced Rotarian.
• Joint activities with other committees and joint service
projects such as Rotary First Harvest.
• YRL Happy Hour fellowships.
• Welcome young professionals to Club service projects
and meetings.

40. 2013 RI CONVENTION
EXAMPLE – OTHER CLUBS IN DISTRICT 5030
ENGAGING YOUNG MEMBERS
LAKE UNION CLUB (a breakfast club):
• One meeting a month is an evening fellowship with
fundraiser.
QUEEN ANNE CLUB:
• Innovative Club Schedule:
– 1st Monday Face-to-face meeting
– 2nd Monday Service/networking activity
– 3rd Monday Face-to-face meeting
– 4th Monday Virtual (On-Line)
– 5th Monday Visit Other Club

41. 2013 RI CONVENTION
ROTARY IN 2050 WILL:
• Be More Youthful.
• The vast majority of clubs will admit women.
• Have harnessed the pipelines of Rotaract, Interact,
GSE exchange, and RYLA programs.
• Have nearly all members integrating technology in
Club life.
• Have eradicated Polio & reduced Malaria by 75%.

42. 2013 RI CONVENTION
WHAT IS ROTARY’S FUTURE WITH TECHNOLOGY?

43. 2013 RI CONVENTION
BEAM ME UP SCOTTY?
In 2050:
reality or
science fiction?

44. 2013 RI CONVENTION
3D HOLOGRAMS
In 2050: will
Rotary clubs use
Holographic
meeting rooms?

45. 2013 RI CONVENTION
FIND OUT MORE
• The Rotarian Magazine September 2012 YRL Article
www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/TheRotarian/Pages/Seattle1209.aspx
• Recruiting video focused on younger members – watch for the cameo
appearance of Bill Gates Senior at the end! Youtube.com/seattle4rotary
• District 5030 video on Rotary First Harvest service project and promoting
membership: alifebuildinghope.org

46. 2013 RI CONVENTION
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47. 2013 RI CONVENTION
QUESTIONS?

48. 2013 RI CONVENTION
THANK YOU
FOR ATTENDING TODAY’S SESSION