Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour Daybreak

Presentation by President Geoffon Club Planning Outcomes

23 September 2009

Why bother to even do this exercise?

1. To ensure we’re not doing things just because we’ve always done them.

2. To help us to look beyond single presidential years, and therefore generate a higher level of continuity.

3. To provide a clear rationale on which to base the Club’s future activities, whilst at the same time allowing flexibility within that framework.

Our future is in our own hands!

Some basic questions the directors tried to answer

• What is our ambition as a club?

• What are our club values, and do we live up to them?

• What current activities are really important to us as a club?

• Are we too busy as a club? Could we better coordinate our activities across the year?

• Do we have the balance right between local & broader Rotary programs?

• Why have our membership numbers been static?

• How can we make being a member of the club more enjoyable?

Main strengths to build upon

• Good gender balance, range of ages & diversity of professions & personalities.

• Only morning club in Coffs.

• Welcoming club – good fellowship – vibrant & friendly – like a “family”.

• Members pull together to support the Club’s major projects.

• Strong framework of social & fundraising activities, backed by an effective management structure.

Major weaknesses to be addressed

• Lack of public visibility for club projects and activities.

• We could be better at welcoming visitors & guests, and mentoring new members.

• We could improve our internal communications (both provision of info and our “listening” skills).

• Reluctance/delay by some members in committing to activities, causing unnecessary stress for organisers.

• Sometimes too many things happening at once – need to coordinate activities better.

Major threats to be considered

• Increasing competition in community fundraising, including from other local Rotary clubs.

• Inability to retain members.

• Increasing cost of membership in terms of time and money.

Some things that can be changed in the short term

• Encourage committee chairs to delegate tasks within their committees - hopefully everyone will take on some responsibility to help share the load.

• Enhance cooperation across committee lines.

• Ensure that we follow Marilyn’s new member mentoring guidelines.

• Occasionally devote some time at meetings to inform people about Rotary.

• Ensure we all take note of info provided to us in meetings, bulletins etc (and we act on that info in a timely way).

Recommendations for the next three years

• Build upon our existing program of major service projects & events:

– Take the Ocean Swim to the next level – aim for $30K pa.

– Retain the Trivia Night as a key fundraiser.

– Develop the Golf Day into a second substantial fundraiser – aim for $25K pa.

– Ensure Rymarine remains our “flagship” New Generations activity.

– Develop our Pride of Workmanship Awards into a highly regarded event on the Coffs Harbour community calendar.

• Continue developing a program of inexpensive social activities that fit well with our service projects & events.

Recommendations for the next three years

• Significantly lift our profile in the community.

• Follow a fundraising strategy that effectively utilises all available avenues (incl grant funding & sponsorship).

• Ensure planning info for all key events is fully documented & made readily available on the club website.

• Increase our membership to at least 40. Look to recruit “younger” members so that our club remains vibrant and effective in the long term.

A proposed Ambition for our Club

It is our ambition to be recognised as Coffs Harbour’s leading service club.

We will achieve this by providing an enjoyable fellowship experience for our

members, whilst delivering, in an ethical, committed and professional manner,

projects, events and fundraising activities that support both local and international

service objectives.

Some suggested club values to strive for ….

• We endorse the Rotary International values of Service, Fellowship, Diversity, Integrity and Leadership.

• We follow the creed “Service above Self”, and we adhere to Rotary’s Four Way Test.

• We pursue excellence in all that we do.

• We share the load and work as a team.

• We share ideas and talents to create solutions.

• We recognise the contributions of every individual.

• We are friendly and welcoming to all.

• We value diversity of membership – profession, age, gender.

Next steps

• Seek feedback from all members through committees on:

– proposed Club Ambition and Values.– broad direction for the next three years as outlined.

• Adjustments then to be considered by the Club directors in light of feedback received.

• Things that need to be done will then be defined.

• Aim to have process complete by Dec 2009 so that Allison has firm basis on which to plan & organise her presidential year.

Final thoughts ….

• “If we do what we’ve always done, we’ll get what we’ve always got.” Unknown.

• “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Peter Drucker.

• “The mind is like a parachute – it only works when it’s open.” Unknown.