When Debbie Setlock and I started the Membership Huddle two years ago, we had a simple idea: create a place where membership leaders could come together, share what they were experiencing, and learn from one another.

What happened next was something we hoped for—but could not have predicted. The conversation grew into something much bigger. Rotarians from across District 5450 joined us with questions, ideas, challenges, and a shared desire to strengthen the experience of being a Rotary member.

One of the most rewarding parts of hosting these Huddles has been watching the conversation evolve. Clubs began seeing membership through new perspectives—recognizing that every connection, every interaction, and every opportunity to engage can shape whether someone feels welcomed, valued, and inspired to stay involved.

As we enter a new Rotary year, we know the time is right to build on what we have learned together. 

Take a look at what is next for membership Huddles across District 5450—and discover how we are preparing to take the next step together.

Membership Huddles: From Conversation to Action

June 2026

Clubs are looking at membership from new perspectives. They are recognizing that membership is not just about inviting someone new to join—it is also about the everyday choices we make that influence whether people feel welcomed, connected, and valued. Members are seeing how their own actions can strengthen their club experience and the experience of those around them.

Over the past year, more than 600 Rotarians registered for ten Membership Huddles. While those numbers make us proud, the real measure of success has been the conversations that continued after the sessions ended—the ideas shared between clubs, the new approaches explored, and the growing understanding that we do not have to solve membership challenges alone. The conversations have given us new insights, new energy, and a new vision for how we can help clubs turn ideas into action.

The Huddles have shown us that great ideas are already happening across our district. Sometimes we simply need a place to share them, ask better questions, and learn from one another.

Now, we are excited to take the next step.

Beginning this July, the Membership Huddle becomes Huddle Up!—an action-focused experience designed to help clubs move one step closer to scoring in the game of creating club experiences that make being a member more fun, more rewarding, and more meaningful.

Each session will focus on one specific membership “play” that clubs can take back and put into action right away. We will explore practical ideas, share examples from clubs across our district, and focus on the small changes that can create a big impact in the way members connect and engage.

Instead of simply talking about what could work, Huddle Up will help us discover how we can make it happen.

Our goal is simple: leave each session with a practical idea, a new resource, or a strategy that clubs can put into play immediately.

We are incredibly proud of what the Membership Huddles have become and grateful to every Rotarian who has brought their experiences, questions, and ideas to the conversation. What started as a small gathering has grown into a community of Rotarians who believe that strengthening Rotary starts with strengthening the experience we create for one another.

The next chapter is here. The Huddle is becoming Huddle Up!—and we cannot wait to see the plays clubs create, the connections they strengthen, and the excitement they bring back to their members.