Part One: Membership Strategies from District 6270 Clubs

Several Rotary Clubs in District 6270 have adopted creative and varied membership strategies to foster engagement, inclusivity, and growth. Here's how seven clubs in the district responded to a call for information on their membership programs:

1. Oshkosh Southwest Rotary: Oshkosh Southwest provides three categories of membership: Regular, Associate, and Corporate. The Associate Membership is a local-only (i.e. not with District or RI) membership limited to two years for a very low cost. This is good for younger or prospective members to “get their feet wet.” The club’s corporate membership notably allows organizations to send different representatives to meetings, encouraging broad corporate engagement.
2. Port Washington-Saukville Rotary: A multi-tiered approach offers memberships as
3. Waukesha Noon Rotary: Embracing a structured corporate membership model, Waukesha Noon allows corporations to appoint up to four designees, with specific rules around senior leadership involvement. Their detailed guidelines ensure corporate members remain engaged and entail meeting attendance requirements, financial obligations, and participation expectations comparable to individual members. Additionally, Waukesha has a “Share Rotary” program whereby each meeting has one member assigned to bring a prospect. They have found that this approach is more effective than a simple call to everyone to “bring someone some time!”
4. Lake Geneva Rotary: This club offers flexibility with an annual “meal or no-meal” option and a corporate membership arrangement. Their corporate membership allows organizations to have a primary and an alternate member, fostering increased organizational representation and participation.
5. Fond du Lac Noon Rotary: Fond du Lac Noon maintains a traditional "old school" approach, emphasizing personal invitations targeting community leaders and new business owners. Recognizing their club’s tilt toward a "check-writing" as opposed to a primarily “hands-on” group, they align recruitment with member expectations, effectively integrating philanthropy and business networking.
6. Elkhorn Rotary Club: Elkhorn introduced an innovative "Golden Ticket" initiative to boost engagement and create excitement around Rotary events. The club issues “Golden Tickets” to each member, to give to a prospect, redeemable for a “Free Lunch.” This strategy emphasizes direct participation, offering opportunities for members to engage actively through enticing incentives and unique experiences. 
7. Fond du Lac (General Observations): Highlighting local industry shifts, Fond du Lac observed decreased local business involvement due to changing corporate ownership structures. This prompted a shift in recruitment towards locally-focused professions such as healthcare, real estate, and legal services.

Part Two: Innovative Membership Structures for Regular Clubs

Rotary Clubs can adopt several alternative membership structures to enhance engagement, appeal to diverse members, and accommodate varying lifestyles within their regular club format:

• Flexible Attendance Membership: Allow members more flexibility by reducing attendance requirements, offering virtual meeting options, or counting participation in service activities as meeting attendance, accommodating busy professionals and young families.
• Tiered Dues Structure: Introduce graduated membership dues based on participation level, age, or financial capacity. Reduced dues for young professionals, retirees, or those unable to regularly attend meetings can encourage broader membership.
• Family Membership Plans: Implement family membership options that include spouses and adult children, promoting family involvement in club activities, increasing retention, and enhancing community engagement.
• Mentorship-Based Membership: Pair new or prospective members with experienced Rotarians for a mentorship period, encouraging strong personal connections, fostering a sense of belonging, and easing new members into the club’s culture and responsibilities.
• Sponsored Memberships: Offer sponsored or subsidized memberships to attract individuals from underrepresented communities or professions, thereby broadening the club's diversity and community reach.
• Micro-Memberships: Introduce short-term or limited-engagement memberships, enabling individuals to participate in Rotary projects or special events without long-term commitments. This approach can attract new members who may transition into regular members after experiencing the value Rotary offers.

These alternative structures provide clubs with versatile approaches to membership, catering to varied individual needs and promoting sustainable club growth and member retention.

If you have any thoughts, questions or ideas, or if your club has another approach, please reach out to Membership Chair Cathleen Christensen at cathleen.christensen@m3ins.com or DG24/25 Pete Bosch at Peter.Bosch@rotary6270.org.