Rotary Club of Midland, Morning

Strategic Plan 2008-2010

Revised 2008

Mission

The Morning Rotary Club of Midland is a dynamic organization of business and professional leaders who dedicate themselves to the Object of Rotary.  In an environment of fellowship, the club seeks to improve the quality of life in our community and the world through our own actions in partnership with other Rotary clubs of Rotary International.

Vision

The Morning Rotary Club of Midland is a leading service club in the Midland area.  Through the Four Avenues of Service, its diverse membership takes action to improve the quality of life in the Midland community and the world with a keen interest in the welfare and development of youth.  The club provides opportunities for its members to network professionally and socially while expanding their knowledge of current events.

Object of Rotary

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

• FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
• SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
• THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;
• FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Four Avenues of Service

Based on the Object of Rotary, the Four Avenues of Service are Rotary's philosophical cornerstone and the foundation on which club activity is based:

• Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club.
• Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards.
• Community Service covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community.
• International Service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary's humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace.

Strategic Framework Goals

1. Strengthen the membership of the club.

2. Increase the community impact of projects.

3. Increase the scope of programs to include not only social but also educational, governmental and economic themes.

4. Increase the visibility of the club in the Midland area.

The 4 – Way Test

From the earliest days of organization, Rotarians were concerned with promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives.  One of the world’s most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is The 4-Way Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy.

This 24-word code of ethics for employees to follow in their business and professional lives became the guide for sales, production, advertising and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company is credited to this simple philosophy.  Adopted by Rotary in 1943, The 4-Way Test has been translated into more than a hundred languages and published in thousands of ways.  It asks the following four questions of the things we think, say or do:

Is it the Truth?

Is it Fair to all concerned?

Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?

Will it build Good Will and Better Friendships?

Membership

Expectations

• 60% attendance at regular meetings or through make up options
• Be active on 1 committee – attend meeting/offer input/carry out tasks
• Participate in one of the following major activities:
• Rotary Auction
• Midland Blooms
• River Days
• Food Drive
• NMFC Christmas Party
• Buy or sell tickets to the Auction and River Days
• Contribute annually to the Rotary International Foundation Annual Fund
• Member participation is reviewed semi-annually, those not meeting expectations

will be contacted by a Club Officer to assess long-term interest in the club

Retention

• Semi-annual informal survey of:

                        What you like/dislike about the club

                        What would you like to change about the club

§ New member Orientation Program

                        What are you looking for from Rotary

                        Set up scheduled dates throughout the year for orientations

Growth

• Annual growth of 10% per year
• Conduct quarterly meeting devoted to new membership recruitment

Projects

Service – Conduct a community needs assessment to establish new service projects that will involve at least half of the club membership

Fund/Friend Raising - Annually review/critique current projects/events for:

• Return on investment
• Participation from both the community and membership
• Best practices
• Media coverage
• New projects or identify a signature project

Grants – Increase communication in regards to criteria, availability of funds and application timeliness

Programs

Solicit input from members to insure that programs include one speaker per month from the following sectors:

• Social
• Education        
• Governmental
• Business/Economic

This will not only broaden the scope of guest speakers introduced to our club but also provide interesting and informative topics that may draw new members.

Visibility

Develop brand for Midland Morning Rotary

• Will further develop and solidify our own identity
• Major project is needed to accomplish this, community input would be valuable

Develop and implement a formal plan to increase media coverage of our accomplishments

• Articles on our projects/fundraisers/exchange students
• Advanced notice/results in media regarding our projects/events
• Announcements regarding officer installations/conferences/training