We know that Rotary Clubs support members and their families across significant life events, including births, deaths, milestone celebrations, and professional transitions. Recognising that the arrival of a new family member can impact a Rotarian’s availability and motivation to engage in volunteer activities, clubs have a particular challenge to maintain engagement – and ultimately membership – of members during the ‘family rearing’ years.
Photo: Sarah's daughter Addie meets her Rotary mentor, Neville Taylor
How does your club support members when they become new parents?
Do you have a documented policy? Does it just happen? Are new parents part of your current or future membership?
In my experience….
I joined Rotary Central Melbourne in 2016, and gave birth to my first child in 2018. The club executive made a concerted effort to keep in touch during my first months as a new mum, and welcomed both me and my baby to meetings and club activities when I was ready. Recently Addie was by my side at District Assembly! Her little brother Hank, who was 15 months old when I took on a role as District Vocational Service Chair, has made many a cameo appearance during Rotary meetings by zoom.
My experience was only possible thanks to the support of leaders who understand Rotarians “give the time we can, when we can.” This culture focuses on commitment, not presenteeism, and allows me to stay connected to Rotary while balancing my other roles as a mother of young kids and full time working professional.
Clubs that support new parents are more likely to gain and retain younger members.
Reasons to adopt best practice to support Rotarians who are becoming parents
- Member retention
- Member attraction
- Diversity of club membership
- Growing the Rotary family
- Leading by example
- The key is consistency
- One size doesn't fit all
- Transparency
Where to begin?
If you’re motivated to put a Parental Policy in place within your club, the best place to start is by gathering information and preparing a plan that makes sense for your club. Start a conversation with your club executive, find supporters, and share your ideas with other members. The outcome may not be a hard-and-fast policy, but a new level of awareness about how Rotary fits with current and potential members, at each stage of their lives.
And don’t forget about the marketing!
Research tells us that 3-in-10 Australian adults volunteer – offering a huge pool of ~6 million potential participants – and that younger people volunteer more than any other age-group, even retirees. Their social conscience, energy, ideas as well as their connections to friends, colleagues, employers and social media network, are all fantastic attributes.
Younger volunteers, particularly in the 30–45-year-old age bracket, are a great fit for the opportunities Rotary provides: personal-professional development capabilities such as project and club leadership, not-for-profit board experience, vocational service and mentoring. These volunteers are also in the prime years for starting and growing families. Make sure they know how your club can support and grow with them during these exciting, daunting, busy, and life-changing years.
This article is a condensed version of an article published in RDU magazine (login required)