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The Check-Writer Rotarian

by Gary Fletcher

When a Rotarian completes the request for a make-up at eClub One, they are required to complete a number of areas. Recently, a Rotarian provided the following question in the area for suggested programs.

How do we solve the problem of Rotarians who are willing to put down money in support of a project but are reluctant to give of their time and talents?

This question really hit home for me. With more than 20 years in Rotary, and I am one of four remaining Charter Members in my own club, Smoky Hill – Aurora, Colorado, I remember asking that very same question in my Rotary early years. A period when I had more time than money.

I remember in my first few Rotary years, being really irritated that we had some “check-writers” that really did not like “rolling up theirs sleeves” and getting involved in the actual project. I had heard about such people at PETS and from other Rotarians when I attended various District events. I was particularly sensitive to the situation when I was club president, which was about 5 years into my membership. I just could not imagine how individuals could not be as excited about getting involved, like I did. I assumed that everyone joining Rotary  because they were anxious to serve.

However, as club president I discovered some interesting facts. Virtually all of the check-writers Rotarians were active in other areas of their community, and often putting in their time and talents to other organizations. Virtually all were individuals who were liked and were definitely individuals we wanted in our club.

My biggest revelation was that for any club to be truly successful, you need both check-writers and those who might not be able to write the checks, but have the time to devote to a specific project. It was at that point I changed my attitude and instead of being annoyed at them, I simply helped with the amount of their check to support the projects the club defined. I discovered that we could both be happy with supporting Rotary in a way that made sense to each of us.

My club has found that a variety of projects, small/large, local/international, will provide a greater chance that each member of the club will find something that excites them. When this happens, even the check-writers will spend some of their own time and talents by shifting priorities from something else they may be doing that may not be Rotary. It has also proven a positive element in member retention.

We all have 24 hours a day. We don’t all have the money to write the checks that may be needed. A check-writer, however, can redistribute minutes or hours to be part of a project they find interests them and still write that check. If a club is limited in what they do for projects, or maybe has only one big project, it may be difficult to get all members involved. Also, a club that has fundraisers every time a member turns around, will likely result in members becoming check-writers.

Our club has one major fundraiser each year. With less than 50 members, we net over $25,000 per year. We budget specific dollars to many different projects we support, both within our own community and internationally. We have a signature initiative we call Special Things For Special Kids. This initiative has it’s own logo, website and appears in all our literature. Under that signature, there are three or more “projects” with more being added. These distinctly different projects allow different members to be involved, while the signature initiative allows check-writers to help with their funds, and for us to “market” the initiative to those outside our club who also want to share funds.

Finally, if a club is made up of a high percentage of check-writers, I would suggest the membership team needs to get busy and find new, young members, who might not be quite as high on the “financial ladder” yet, but would be happy to roll up their sleeves and put the check-writers money to good use. When this happens, both get that warm and fuzzy feeling that what they do is making a difference to those who need Rotary help.

Seems to me, the acceptance of all contributions…time, talent and money…fit very nicely into the Four Way Test. All we have to do is work within our individual club to help each person participate in a way that best fits their comfort zone, at this place in their life. When this happens, Rotary wins…we all win.

Gary Fletcher

Past President

Smoky Hill Rotary Club
 

Webmaster

www.rotary5450.org/shclub

www.specialthingsforspecialkids.org

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