Rotary University

District 5840 Rotary University

If our District had retained the new members that we brought in over the last 5 years, our District would have 4,500 members!

DG Jim Montgomery 2008-2009

Rotary University is a program which any club can immediately adopt to help Rotarians become true Rotarians and keep them in Rotary by getting them involved and engaged in their club, meeting the members of their club, learning about Rotary, and educating them on how Rotarians serve their community and the World.

The entire program is based on a few traits that we human beings seem to share.  We learn by doing.  We like to be challenged.  We want to measure our progress.  We want to be connected and involved.  If we cultivate good habits early, we will keep them for a long time.  

Rotary University was designed for new members and their retention, but we have learned that many of the tenured Rotarians become intrigued and want to join in and are reinvigorated in the process of earning their degrees.  And, of course, this adds nicely to what Rotary University means for the new members.

Rotary University originally was formed in the Rotary Club of San Antonio where it had great success.   We found it difficult to move Rotary University out to other clubs when we left the specifics of the design and implementation in their hands.  It was generally just too much effort when they already had so much for their officers to do.  So we decided to make a Rotary University at the District 5840 level and design it so that it would apply to all of the clubs regardless of size.  We also do the work of preparing degree certificates, degree stickers, etc.  The University is specifically designed to be "plug and play"  for a club.

The beauty of this approach, too, is that it is ready for any District to put it to work in their area.  I am taking the liberty of attaching my power point presentation and the forms we use so that you can understand more about what is involved.  Of course, I have a good bit of experience over these 5 years since I created it so I add a lot of comments as I go when I am making the power point presentation.  But I think you can see that is ready for anyone interested to pick it up and run with it.  And, of course, I am always willing to answer any questions or make suggestions upon request.

Yours in Rotary,

Keith Orme, Founding Dean

I heartily endorse Rotary University as a District program and recommend that every club in the District adopt the University as its member retention program and use the University as part of its New Member Orientation program (not in place of the club's existing orientation).

Jim Montgomery

District Governor 2008-2009

Rotary District 5840

Download Powerpoint Presentation

View Rotary University Handout