Last week and next week we're examining how to make it more attractive to members and how to engage better with the community.
 
Alex Rotary has a great history, and reputation on the community. Although we are a small club, we regularly "punch above our weight" and we want to continue with community fun activities and improve on 2018... So its appropriate that at the start of the year, we set out what we want to achieve and how we're going to do it. 
 
Of course the club has many strengths:
 
  • We're part of the wider Rotary organisation with good relationships with other Sunshine Coast Rotary Clubs
  • We're not just a fundraising club, although we are approaching $100,000 raised for drought relief
  • We support any worthwhile cause in trouble, and will generally support any member who has a "pet" project
  • We've great youth mentorship programs, including Rotary Youth Leadership, and the Youth Exchange Program
  • We're always looking for "doing" projects like the "Rotary Care Garden", Clean up Australia, Ironman, Alex Community, visiting community service organisations (IFYS, STEPS, the Shack etc.)
  • We bring in interesting local speakers to breakfast meeting, from Local Magistrates, Businesses, Sunshine Coast Council and State issues as well as local and international community groups.
 
So we want to keep that culture while some themes are emerging for 2019:
 
  • Increasing our membership
  • Learning from what other Clubs are doing to increase membership
  • Being more flexible with membership ( costs/ activities/ barriers) to attract younger members
  • Promoting Rotary programs, working with businesses and people we support to improve our community network
  • Maintaining the fun and social aspects of the club
Next Friday's meeting is intended to bring some of the thoughts into action plans, so please bring along ideas on what we should be thinking about doing differently to make 2019 a great year for the club.