You Had Me at Hello:Creating a Welcoming Rotaract Club

from your First Conversation

PDRR Oliver Alvarez &AG (PDRR) Simone Carot Collins

In your experience...

How welcoming was your very first club meeting?

What things does your club do well in creating a welcoming atmosphere?

Are there things your club does that does not create a welcoming atmosphere?

Remember...

A member should continue to feel welcome long after their first meeting, no matter how many years they have been attending!

Retention is just as important as recruitment.

A welcoming club has Rotaractors who are...

Cheerful and smiling sincerely when you walk in the room

Interested in your background and your needs for development

Willing to share their knowledge Able to open up about their own aspirations

and interests

Some ideas to consider...

Find out a prospective member's passions as early as possible

Escort a prospective member to their first meeting

Conduct an ongoing orientation and mentoring program, starting with a Welcome pack at their very first meeting

Explain things at meetings so that new members don't feel left out

Some ideas to consider...

Assign a buddy to every member Have a full calendar of fun social events Celebrate! Birthdays, achievements... Conduct fun and engaging meetings Have a wide variety of meaningful projects

to get involved with Make sure that every member has a role to

play

Some ideas to consider...

Communicate regularly between meetings, so that those who can't make it don't miss out on information

Regular newsletter Effective use of social media Phone someone who has been absent for

a while and make sure they are ok!