Growth Through Planning

The growth of Rotary depends on
more than an increase in the number of
Rotary clubs throughout the world.
Growth in Rotary is something that
concerns every individual club, its of-
ficers, and its committees, for it is in
the individual club that growth has its
foundation—a foundation based on the
individual Rotarian.

In every community there are men of
fine calibre, who would be good Ro-
tarians,—the kind that would help
form a solid foundation for the growth
of Rotary. Yet, in many communities
Rotary clubs with the opportunities of
membership to offer have made little
or no effort to increase their member-
ship—to fill their unfilled classifications.

Perhaps this lack of effort is a result
of poor planning; perhaps it is due to
no planning at all, for good planning
certainly brings results. .

Growth in Wartime

There are bound to be losses as mem-
bers are called into military service and
other essential occupations. But the
gaps must be filled. The Rotary club,
if it is to be of greatest service to its
country in wartime, must represent the
best possible cross section of the busi-
ness and professional life of the com-
munity. By having this finer cross sec-
tion of the community, the club will
be able to render greater service with
greater efficiency. There is power in
numbers; but more than that, every
new member means contact by the club
with another business or profession,
consequently a wider sphere of activity.
Then, too, if the membership, which
consists of the outstanding men of the
community, begins to fall off, the peo-
ple of the community may interpret

this as a sign of pessimism. Such atti-
tudes reduce morale.

_ Special efforts will have to be made
to maintain the membership, for these
are critical times that require the best
Rotary club that the community can
support.

Who Is Responsible for Club Growth?

Occasionally a club will operate on
the mistaken idea that the membership
committee is directly responsible for
obtaining new members. As individual
members, of course, the chairman or
members of the committee may and
should propose men for membership in
the club. As a committee, however, they
are responsible only for the quality of
the membership and not the quantity.
The classifications committee will keep
the membership posted with regard to
open classifications and should urge the
members to propose names for these
open classifications. Thus, the club as
a whole is responsible for club growth
—directed, of course, by the board of
directors, assisted by the classifications
committee.

How the Membership Committee Can
Help

Often the failure of a club to grow
can be traced to the fact that the mem-
bers are not thoroughly conversant
with the different kinds of membership
in Rotary. The membership committee
should have this information, and (un-
less the committee is secret) can inform
the membership through the medium
of a club program.

The different kinds of membership
are explained in Article III of the
Standard Club Constitution (found in
Pamphlet 12). See, also, pages 16-19,
“Membership and Classifications in
Rotary” (Pamphlet No. 17).

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