This is a time of financial strength for many of our members and it is simultaneously a time of financial stress for many others. Some of our members are limiting themselves to one cruise a year. Maybe they are not experiencing financial stress, but want to demonstrate concern for others who are. Meanwhile, we have members who have lost their jobs, closed their businesses doors or are even on the verge of losing much of what they have worked to create over the past few decades. These are truly challenging times.
What can we do to deal with this dilemma? It would be a poor practice to simply let members experiencing hard times accumulates enormous past due bills for dues, meals and fines. Not only does it hurt the finances of the club, but can be the cause of members’ lack of participation out of exasperation and embarrassment. Adding to that concept is the unfairness of that idea to members who stay current on their bills.
Suggesting that members experiencing distress should take a leave of absence or resign to return at a later date should be a realistic option. The problem is that these same people may be in more need of their ‘network’ of friends and compatriots from Rotary at the time of greatest financial distress. As the old saying goes, “A friend in need is a friend in deed.” That idea can be read in many ways, but I would like to think it means you are an outstanding friend when you reach out to others when they are in need, Hopefully that will turn in to a friend who will pass on the consideration when they get their life back on track.
All of us should be especially diligent in the times of stress to control the cost of membership for all members of our clubs and especially for those under the most stress. This may be a good time to hold the line on dues and meal cost. A club may even want to consider lowering their minimum guarantee with their caterer and offer an option for attending the weekly meeting without eating a meal.
Another creative thought is the idea of the eClub where members under stress can maintain their membership at a far lower cost. If you find a member choosing to move to one of these newfangled clubs that meet in cyberspace it would be a good idea to maintain contact by inviting them to fellowship activities and service projects. When things return to normal in their lives they just might want to return to their traditional Rotary Club.
Another idea of note might be along the idea of scholarships. We could call them ‘dueserships’ or something similar to a dues bank. I would personally commit to reasonable (10%) increase in my dues to provide a slush fund of sorts (at the confidential discretion of the board) to assist members in distress. I would hope that those who take advantage of this idea are seasoned members who eventually repay these advances on future service. I know these are examples of ‘thinking outside the ball.’ These are times that call for a little creative leadership to maintain and grow our membership because there are a lot of things we need to accomplish with those hands, hearts and heads of members we need to retain.