Why is the graduation rate of Rotaract to Rotary so low? How can we nurture the relationships between Rotaract Clubs and Rotary Clubs to encourage more of our Rotaractors to be longstanding Rotarians?

1. 2014 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
Rotaract & Rotary
Shortening the Gap

2. Virginia Kirn – Seattle, WA - Rotary
John Smola – Birmingham, AL- Rotaract
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3. • Rotaract Member
• Rotarian who has supported Rotaract
• Rotarian interested in the topic
• Previous Rotaract Member and now
Rotarian – you are very special!
Who is in the room?

4. Virginia Kirn - intro
• Joined Rotary at age 32 in 2007
• Joined largest Rotary Club in the world
– 620 Members
– Founded in 1909
– Downtown Formal Club
• Started “Young Rotary Leader” Committee
• Recruited 85+ members in 10 years < 35
• Rotary Magazine and RI Conventions

5. John Smola - intro
• Joined Rotaract at age 25 in 2008
• Birmingham Rotaract has 260 members
and was founded in 2004
• Relationship between Rotaract and
Sponsor Club is very active and strong
– But the process of advancing from Rotaract to
Rotary is very unclear to Rotaractors

6. What are Rotaractors thinking as they age out of their Club?
• Will Rotary be just as exciting and
energizing as my Rotaract Club?
• What are the time and money
requirements to join?
• What is the application process?
• Will the Rotary Club be “in action”?
• Who will my friends be (age demographics)?
• Which Rotary Club is right for me?

7. Strategies for Shortening the Gap
• Two-Way Communication
– The lines of communication can be opened up by either
Rotaract or Rotary, and hopefully both!! 
• Personal Connections
– Rotarians, it is not a foregone conclusion that Rotaractors
will join Rotary Clubs, they need to be personally invited
just like anybody else
• Take a Chance
– Rotaractors, the VP of Membership at any Rotary Club is a
great place to start if you’re interested in membership and
not sure who else to talk to

8. Strategies to Shorten the Gap
District Club
Individual

9. Strategies to Shorten the Gap – as a DISTRICT
• Encourage Rotaractors to attend District
Conference and give them podium time
• Provide scholarships to Rotaractors to
attend District Conference and RI
Convention
• At District Conferences provide mingling
time for Rotaractors and Rotarians to form
mentor/mentee relationships

10. Strategies to Shorten the Gap – as a CLUB
• Create opportunities for Rotaractors to
speak on their projects at Rotary Clubs
• Host an event specifically for Rotaractors
coming of age to be recruited by Rotary
Clubs
• Encourage attendance at each other’s
meetings, fundraisers and service
opportunities

11. Strategies to Shorten the Gap – as a CLUB
• Create opportunities for Rotaractors to job
shadow and be mentored by Rotarians
– Professional Connections
• Create a New Generations Chair
• Host an annual joint luncheon and fellowship
• Once the first Rotaractor joins a Rotary Club,
encourage other Rotaractors to join too

12. Strategies to Shorten the Gap - as an INDIVIDUAL
• Attend each other’s meetings
• Look for each other at District and Zone
events and make a new friend
• Create fellowships specifically for Younger
Rotarians and Rotaractors to meet
• Create service opportunities where
Rotaract and Rotarians work side by side

13. Strategies to Shorten the Gap between Rotaract and Rotary
• Very simply: Take an interest in each other
• The lines of communication can be opened
by either Rotaract or Rotary.
• Rotaractors are Rotarians! 

14. The Birmingham Rotaract Club was surveyed on the topic of “Shortening the Gap between
Rotaract and Rotary”
• What about your Rotaract membership
has made you consider joining a Rotary
Club?
• What is the best thing Rotaract can do to
make joining a Rotary Club more
attractive?
• Why have you not considered joining a
Rotary Club?

15. What about your Rotaract membership has made you
consider joining a Rotary Club?

16. What's the best thing Rotaract can do to make joining a
Rotary Club more attractive?

17. Why have you not considered joining a Rotary Club?

18. Rotaractors who have become Rotarians
• Describe your journey from Rotaract
to Rotary….
– What made it easy?
– What made it challenging?
– What advice do you have for increasing
the graduation rate from Rotaract to
Rotary?

19. Open for Commentary on Shortening the Gap
• What is working in your district to shorten
the gap between Rotaract and Rotary?
• What is not working?
• What else would you like to say on the
topic of shortening the gap between
Rotaract and Rotary?

20. Virginia Kirn – Seattle, WA - Rotary
John Smola – Birmingham, AL- Rotaract
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