The benefits of dual membership in Rotaract, Rotary

By Muhammad Talha Mushtaq, a member of the Rotaract Club of Jhang Saddar and the Rotary Club of Jhang Metropolitan

When I joined Interact back in 2009, I had no idea the path it would set me on or that it would change my life forever.

I enjoyed many successful service projects with my fellow members of Interact, as we assisted victims of the great flood of 2010. One-fifth of Pakistan’s total land area and 20 million people were directly affected by floods. We were able to collect a sizable sum of money and donations in kind during three days of scorching July heat. It was then that I understand the meaning of this quote by Oprah Winfrey:

“The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.”

As soon as I turned 18, I joined the Rotaract Club of Jhang Saddar along with some of my friends from Interact, and continued to enjoy service projects that included installing libraries in five different schools, distributing school bags and stationary, helping deliver food rations to the needy, and holding a family festival attended by almost 10,000 people.

When I learned that the Rotary Club of Jhang Metropolitan was conducting a free medical camp for the poor in my hometown of Jhang, I wanted to join that club, too. This is something Rotary now allows, dual membership in Rotary and Rotaract, and I jumped at the opportunity. Rotary clubs provide young leaders like us with expanded opportunities for projects on a much larger scale.

Each week in my Rotary club, I get to listen to informative speakers on a variety of topics, learn what is going on in my community, and carry all that back to my Rotaract club. I can share ideas with them and inspire them to get more involved. Likewise, I have become the face of Rotaract to my Rotary club, sharing with them the issues that our important to my fellow Rotaractors.

Dual membership allows me to be a bridge. There are so many opportunities to welcome present members of Rotaract or program alumni into Rotary. I decided to serve as my club’s membership chair next year because I am convinced there are many who are willing to join Rotary, but just need proper guidance. For example, recently, my Rotary club invited six Rotaractors who had also been in Interact with me to enjoy the benefits of dual membership.

It is a love for humanity and our fellow countrymen that compel us to play our part. Both Rotary and Rotaract give us the platform. I will have the added joy of serving as my district’s Rotaract Representative in 2018-19, the same year that my father, Muhammad Mushtaq, will be serving as the district’s governor.

Rotary and its programs for young leaders have enabled me to develop my personal and professional skills. I find it much easier to meet new people, make friends, and speak in front of groups. I have learned to be more patient and listen before I speak. I have learned the value of helping others and giving. And I have a new outlook on life. My love for this organization knows no limit.

  Club flexibility

Research and our members' experiences have shown that when clubs have more freedom to decide how and when they hold their meetings, who they'll invite to become members, and what member engagement means, their ability to attract new members and keep current members motivated increases.

The 2016 Council on Legislation voted to give Rotary clubs more flexibility than they've ever had. The changes in policy affect when, where, and how clubs meet and the types of membership they offer.

5 ways to use the new flexibility

It's up to your club to decide how — and if — you want to use the new options. Start by reviewing the updated Standard Rotary Club Constitution to see which guidelines are flexible. Once you've decided what changes would benefit your club, edit your club bylaws to reflect them, and try them out. If you decide they aren't working, try something else.

Here are some examples of how your club can apply the new flexible options:

1. Change your meeting schedule. Your club can vary its meeting days, times, and frequency. For example, you could hold a traditional meeting on the first Tuesday of the month to discuss business and service projects and get together socially on the last Friday of the month. You just need to meet at least twice a month.
2. Vary your meeting format. Your club can meet in person, online, or a combination, including letting some members attend in-person meetings through the Internet.
3. Relax attendance requirements. Your club can ease attendance requirements and encourage members to participate in other ways, such as taking a leadership role, updating the club website regularly, running a meeting a few times a year, or planning an event. If your club is dynamic and offers a good experience for members, attendance won't be a problem.
4. Offer multiple membership types. Your club could offer family memberships to those who want to bring their families, junior memberships to young professionals with leadership potential, or corporate memberships to people whose employers want to be represented in the club. Each type of membership can have its own policies on dues, attendance, and service expectations. Rotary will count these people in your club membership and will consider them active members if they pay RI dues.
5. Invite Rotaractors to be members of your club. You can invite Rotaractors to join your club while remaining members of their Rotaract clubs. If your club chooses to, it can make special accommodations for these members, such as relaxed attendance requirements or reduced fees, as long as they are reflected in the club bylaws.

Find examples of bylaw amendments that clubs might use to try these new flexible options below, and review our frequently asked questions for more information.

Resources & reference

• Frequently asked questions
• Rotary's governance documents
• Start Guide for Alternate Membership Types (includes sample bylaws)
• Start Guide for Flexible Meeting Formats (includes sample bylaws)
• Club meeting flexibility and format (video)
• Membership types and attendance flexibility (video)
• Membership Flexibility Overview