Message from
Rotary International President
Stephanie A. Urchick
clubs. But every club should take its own path to get there, and the Action Plan can help you find your way. What
does that look like?
Take for instance the Rotary Club of Beveren-Waas in Belgium. It was chartered in 1974 but has evolved with the
times, developing both a strategic plan and a membership plan. To find new members, the club analyzes the city’s
professions to help focus its search, and all new members are quickly assigned tasks and roles.
The club also mixes up meeting times, alternating between evening and afternoon sessions, making them
accessible for all members.
Sometimes, circumstances force clubs to make changes. But as people of action, we know that behind every
obstacle is an opportunity.
The Rotary Club of Holyoke in Massachusetts was forced from its meeting place because of rising costs after the
COVID-19 pandemic, but members took this setback and turned it into a strength. The club started meeting in a
library community room that was available for no charge and catering lunch from a nearby deli. Lunch costs $10
per person but it’s optional, so no one has to spend money to attend a meeting. What a great way to work toward
being “fair to all concerned.”
Since making this change, the Holyoke club has gained 13 members. I suspect part of its membership growth is due
to the club’s sense of inclusivity — the first step toward belonging.
If you ask members what they expect from the club experience, you might find that your club doesn’t meet
expectations. Think of this as an opportunity to reshape your club in exciting ways, as alternative club models are
making a positive impact.
For example, a Rotary Fellowship called Beers Rotarians Enjoy Worldwide, or BREW, has worked closely with the
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Rotary Action Group for the past eight years to assist with clean water projects. In
that time, BREW has funneled 25 percent of its dues to those initiatives.
BREW is one of many examples of members pursuing belonging to improve the world.
I can’t stress enough the importance of belonging. Clubs become simply irresistible when all members feel that
they are exactly where they need to be. To me, belonging is the spark that ignites The Magic of Rotary.
As you receive feedback from club members and the community you serve, I urge you to pursue that spark. The
Action Plan can help you find the path to success, and if you light your way with the spirit of belonging, that path
will lead to a bright future for your club, your community, and the world.
STEPHANIE A. URCHICK
President 2024-2025
