Mind the Gap
“Mind the gap” is a catchy and familiar phrase to anyone who has ridden on
the London subway system and a reminder to be careful when stepping on to the subway car.
It can also be applied to the gap between generations – each has different life experiences that shaped them and are often difficult to recognize and accept.
We all know this, so why bing it up? Because it’s one of the things that can hinder Rotary membership growth.
The majority of Rotarians are Baby Boomers whose ages are between 58 and 78. Vietnam , the civil rights movement and Watergate were influential. They have a strong work ethic, are motivated by company loyalty and duty. Their communication style favors face-to-face and phone calls. Achievement comes after paying one’s dues and they are willing to sacrifice for success.
Gen Xers – the group Rotarians most want to attract – were born between 1965 and 1980, They were shaped by the AIDS epidemic, the dot-com boom and the fall of the Berlin Wall. They value a work-life balance placing their personal – professional interests above
the company’s interests. They are flexible, informal, skeptical and independent. They communicate in whatever is most efficient.They are quick to move on if their employer fails to meet their needs.
It is relatively easy to see how these two generations have different values, outlooks on the world and motivations. It’s apparent how what appeals to Boomers is off putting to GenXers. It’s also apparent that Rotary clubs must tailor their recruiting methods differently for each group.
Boomers see value in club meetings, routine and tradition (think reciting the 4 fWay Test, speakers at each meeting, Happy Dollars) while Gen X might prefer fewer or no meetings, club socials, and flexible structures.
It’s only by recognizing these kinds of differences and adapting a variety of approaches will Rotary recruit younger members.
WHY WE DON’T WANT ROTARY TO BE LIKE BASEBALL
By David Postic, a member of the Rotaract Club of Norman, Oklahoma, USA, and a member of the 2013-14 Rotaract and Interact Committee
“Baseball is a sport so historically beloved in the United States that it is called “America’s pastime. Yet few Americans I know actually watch baseball on a regular basis. Why? Because when you really look at the game, it can seem slow, boring, and it can get old pretty quickly. Most people love the idea of baseball; they just don’t love watching it.
Similarly, there are many young people out there (like me) who love the idea of Rotary. But when you really look at any given Rotary club it can seem, well, slow and boring.
I had the luxury of growing up around Rotarians, so when I see Rotary I see something groundbreaking, something transformational. Yet of all the Rotary meetings I have been to, never once have I heard someone say, Yet of all the Rotary meetings I have been to, never once have I heard someone say, “Did you know that, through Rotary, you can change the world?” That is Rotary’s most powerful message, and it is the one young people need to hear. And if they do not hear it, I can guarantee you they will not be engaged in Rotary.”