The Presidential Citation due date for achieving and reporting goals is 30 June. The citation is an award that clubs can earn by achieving goals for timely payment of semiannual invoices, membership growth, Foundation giving, humanitarian service, and more. Earning the citation is a high honor that only 15 to 20 percent of clubs receive annually.

All members registered on My Rotary can view their club’s progress toward achieving the citation. Your members can learn more about citation reporting in this video, and see tips on reaching each goal from the citation achievement guide. Learn more about the Presidential Citation by participating in a discussion group — and achieve one citation goal by doing so. If you have questions about earning your club’s citation for 2016-17, write to us at riawards@rotary.org.

Many clubs have been benefiting from the new membership flexibility resulting from the 2016 Council on Legislation decisions. The changes in policy affect when, where, and how clubs meet and the types of memberships they offer.

The Rotary Club of Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., USA, has doubled its membership in six months by creating two new membership types with reduced dues — one for young professionals, and one for spouses or partners. The Rotary Club of Singapore East has changed its meeting structure: Members now meet formally for lunch only twice per month. The other two weeks, the club meets in a less formal environment. The Rotary Club of Deerfield, Illinois, USA, now offers shared membership as an option. 

Learn more about how these clubs are staying relevant and attracting more members. How is your club using this new flexibility? Share your story with us at membership.minute@rotary.org.

Please note this important change that affects your Rotary membership figures:

If you have new members you want counted in your membership achievements for the current Rotary year, they must now be reported to RI on or before 30 June.

• Members added with 1 July 2017 effective dates will no longer be included in your annual 1 July 2017 membership start number, but they will be billed on the 1 July 2017 club invoice and counted toward 2017-18 membership growth. 
• Members terminated with effective dates on or before 1 July 2017 will reduce your club’s 2016-17 membership achievement, reduce your 1 July 2017 membership start number, and will not be billed on the 1 July 2017 club invoice.

As a result, it is possible for your club’s July 2017 annual membership start number to be lower than your July 2017 invoice if new members were added with a 1 July 2017 effective date.

In summary, beginning immediately with the 2016-17 Rotary year, new members added on or before 30 June will count toward the current Rotary year, while members added with 1 July effective dates will count toward the new Rotary year. We hope this simplifies your reporting and reflects your membership more accurately.

If you have any questions, write to membershipdevelopment@rotary.org.

Resources & reference

District Membership Seminar Leader’s Guide (ZIP)
Rotary Brand Center
Rotary Club Health Check (PDF)

Membership Minute is a bimonthly newsletter that provides the latest membership trends, strategies, best practices, and resources to help strengthen membership in your clubs. The newsletter is sent to Rotary coordinators, district governors, district membership chairs, club membership chairs, club presidents and subscribers. Please forward this to anyone who may be interested. 

Send questions or comments to membership.minute@rotary.org.

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