Build stronger clubs with strategic planning

How to set goals that work for the long term

RI General Secretary John Hewko challenges new Rotary club presidents to

think strategically about the future of their club, not just the year ahead.

Some club presidents begin their year intent on making a splash with a once-in-a lifetime project or event. But such efforts can leave club members exhausted and disinterested the next year, when the new president steps up with yet another big idea. By creating club goals and projects that are based on long-term strategic planning, an incoming president can leave a lasting legacy: a successful club during his or her year and also in the following years.

“Presidents must realize that the days of ‘projects for my year’ are a thing of the past, and that the most successful clubs plan multiyear, sustainable projects,” says Michael Levitt, 2010-11 president of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman-Sunrise, Cayman Islands. “These projects engage members, especially new members,” he says. “And the best way to retain members is to keep them engaged.”

The Club Leadership Plan provides guidance for developing a strategic plan or long-range goals, which should address membership, service projects, support for The Rotary Foundation, and leadership development. Include the following:

·         Long-range strategic goals that cover the next three to five years, with updates as the club evolves

·         Shorter-term annual goals that align with your overall strategic goals

·         Strategies for maintaining clear communication among club leaders, club members, district leaders, and potential members, including regular updates to your club’s website

·         Continuity in leadership and training for future leaders

“We need to focus on projects that can grow over time, with our members, and that consequently allow us to increase our impact,” says Holly Ransom, president of the Rotary Club of Crawley, Western Australia, Australia. “We need to keep pace with the changing world and the changing demands of prospective Rotarians.”

“As club presidents, you are the most important officers in all of Rotary.”