TELL ME MORE ABOUT SATELLITES
Posted by Laura Smith (Boulder New Generations) Satellites@Rotary5450.org
An Innovative Way to Attract New Members
As explained by Rotary International, a Satellite is an extension of an existing Rotary Club and offers an alternative meeting time and place to the sponsor club. The addition of a Satellite is a fantastic opportunity to attract a different demographic to Rotary or sub-group of individuals, to be innovative and re-imagine what we have traditionally thought of as Rotary, and to re-energize Rotary!
District 5450 has been especially prominent in the Rotary community with our addition of Satellites given our early success. We added our first Satellite in 2011, the Boulder New Generations Rotary Club. Since realizing the potential through this award-winning model, we have now gained more than ten active Satellites and have several more in the works. District 5450 serves as an example around the world for clubs and districts looking at this new membership opportunity.
However, it is important to stress that the Satellite option is not the right answer for every club. Satellite formation and management requires a significant amount of time and ongoing effort by the Host Club and should not be considered the “quick fix” or a silver bullet to growing membership. Regardless of a Rotarian’s membership in a traditional Rotary club or a Satellite, the focus will always be on “Service Above Self” and Rotary International’s guiding principles, Avenues of Service and Areas of Focus complemented by personal and professional networking.
If you or your Club is considering the Satellite option as a next step, please reach out to me as I am the District Membership Team (DMT) Satellite Liaison and will be happy to provide guidance and my insights. We have developed a number of materials to avoid groups “reinventing the wheel” and to create a more formalized structure to aid the District in being the best support system we can be. The Satellite Liaison is your go-to for questions big or small, presentations about how to start the establishment of a new group, and ideas for how to strengthen your existing group.
If you or your Club is considering the Satellite option as a next step, please reach out to me as I am the District Membership Team (DMT) Satellite Liaison and will be happy to provide guidance and my insights. We have developed a number of materials to avoid groups “reinventing the wheel” and to create a more formalized structure to aid the District in being the best support system we can be. The Satellite Liaison is your go-to for questions big or small, presentations about how to start the establishment of a new group, and ideas for how to strengthen your existing group.
To learn more or to contact the DMT Satellite Liaison, please visit http://portal.clubrunner.ca/50085/SitePage/satellites. And you can email me at Satellites@Rotary5450.org.