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New Generations Month
September is New Generations Month! After attending the Presidential Membership Conference in San Jose this past month, it is very appropriate that Rotarians around the world work at attracting new members into the organization. The focus this month is to build strength in our Interact and Rotaract Clubs as these young people represent the Rotarians of tomorrow. But more than that, it is to make Rotary "irresistible" so Generation x (30-40 years) and Millenials (less than 30 years) will be drawn to the largest service organization in the world.
The Presidential Membership Conference, with the theme of "Sharing the Magic of Rotary", was one of seven held around the world aimed at discussing new methods of attracting and retaining members. Wilf Wilkinson, Rotary International President, spoke of the declining number of Rotarians in North America and how we must change our ways of doing business. The average loss in the first five years of a new Rotarians is 12-15% with the majority leaving within the first two years. Greater efforts must be made to keep new Rotarians actively involved in the activities and fellowship of the Club.
Past RI International President Cliff Dochterman talked about "friendly fire" being a primary cause of Rotarians not being retained. By "friendly fire" he talked about the Traditionals (60+ years) wanting not to change to meet the needs of a newer and younger generation: A generation that may be challenged by a 100% attendance requirement or demands of a different kind of business world. Cliff endorsed new methods that would both attract and retain generational and ethnic diversity within a Club.
As we move from a Membership month to a New Generations month, I would like to challenge each of you "to ask someone to a meal" and introduce them to the world of Rotary. As you seek potential new members for your Club, let them be a reflection of the diversity that is represented within your own community.
Membership in District 5130 has not declined in the last five years as we have grown by 23 members. This does not represent our goal of a net one growth for each Club each year. Let this be the year that we minimally grow our District by at least 44 members and in doing so increase our ability to "wage peace" and reduce "human suffering"!
My best wishes for a successful month of September.
Yours in Rotary, Ken
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2009-2011
Rotary International
Director Selected
DG Ken and John Blount
A warm congratulations to Sebastopol's PDG John Blount for recently being selected as one of 17 board members on the Board of Directors for Rotary International. This is a huge honor for Patti and John Blount and District 5130. The Board of Directors is the administrative arm of Rotary International and John will serve as Director beginning in 2009-2011. John will represent Zones 23-24 that include portions of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California and Hawaii.
John Blount served as District Governor in 1990-91. He has subsequently served Rotary International as a trainer of incoming District Governors from around the world at the International Assemblies in 1993 and 1994. John has taught District Governor Elects Training Seminar (G.E.T.S) 13 different times and has served as the Curriculum Chair for the past four years
John has also served District 5130 as Chairman of Curriculum and Instruction for the Far West President Elect Training Seminar (P.E.T.S) and as General Chair in 2003. The innovations introduced by John Blount have made Far West P.E.T.S one of the strongest Rotary Club President training programs in the world.
In his spare time, John Blount is a practicing dentist and lives with his wife Patti in Sebastopol. Both belong to the Rotary Club of Sebastopol and continue to work on behalf of children through the Sebastopol Rotary Education Foundation.
On behalf of all Rotarians in District 5130, I would again like to offer my congratulations to John Blount and his "uncommon commitment" to Rotary International
Sincerely, District Governor Ken
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