Rotary’s downward spiral

By Melissa Meehan
DECREASING numbers and misconceptions have the Rotary Club of Bunyip-Garfield on tenterhooks.
Without an increase in membership, current members are worried they will be forced to close down despite strong beginnings over 25 years ago.
Chairman of the club Peter Nadenbousch said that membership at the club was getting very, very low, and members needed to look towards the future of the club.
“The club was chartered in 1983 with 33 members and we still have six of those guys with us today,” Mr Nadenbousch said.
“We need to look at the youth, getting them on board so the club can continue.”
Guest speaker at last week’s meeting Neil Pascoe called on his market research experience to help find a way to boost numbers at the club.
“Peter (President Peter Heywood) came to me two weeks ago and said the challenge to increase numbers had been here for a long time,” Mr Pascoe said.
“I believe now is the time to start focusing on recruitment. It won’t be easy, but it’s important to start looking at it now rather than when it’s too late.”
Members discussed reasons why they joined Rotary, and how they wanted to further relationships in the community to get more people on board.
When asked reasons why they thought people weren’t joining their club, members said it might have something to do with the misconception that it was an old man’s club that had elitist links.
“We know it’s not like that,” President Peter Heywood said.
“But we can’t change people’s perceptions until they come to a meeting and see what it’s really like.
“We need to strengthen our bonds with the community and let them know what we are doing.”
The meeting closed with all members agreeing to back the move to think of ways to increase numbers – with a hope the club will continue for many years.