Happy Summer to D5150!

August is here and we are now well into our 2019-2020 Rotary voyage! August is Membership and Club Development Month! It is fitting we start the Rotary year focusing on membership which is the lifeblood of Rotary! Membership impacts the amount of good we can do in the world, whether by volunteering our time or sharing our treasure!

 

But who are our members? A recent Rotarian magazine article reminds us that Rotary has adopted a diversity, equity, and inclusion policy to underscore that Rotary embraces inclusivity. Rotary already reaches a diverse range of people whom we serve. But how about broadening our membership?

In the context of Rotary membership, this means not only inviting people from diverse backgrounds to our meetings and events, but also including them in club planning and decision making and showing that we value their contributions.

Consider these ideas to cultivate a culture of inclusion:

Is your club accessible? Do you meet at a convenient time and location for working professionals and others and for the demographics you want to attract?

Do new members feel valued and included? Do you include new members in club planning and decision making and show that you value their input? Do the club president and committee chairs take time to delegate meaningful tasks to them?

Does your club have a culture of inclusiveness? Do club members avoid making comments and jokes or exhibiting behaviors which exclude or make members of particular groups uncomfortable?

Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, we are fortunate to live amidst a diverse population. Let our District 5150 Rotary clubs reflect the richness of this diversity to have lasting impact not only in ourselves but in all the good we do as Rotarians!

Sue Rokaw
Rotary Club of SF Fisherman’s Wharf
District Governor 2019-2020
Rotary District 5150