MAKE THE CLP WORK

I love going to Rotary clubs and giving talks. It's a process by which I learn more than I teach and it's a great opportunity to meet up with old friends and make new ones. One of the talks I used to give was on the Club Leadership Plan (CLP) several years ago, when the buy in to the idea in the District was not so good. In fact they had a special district committee on CLP Training which I chaired.  

The CLP for me was a way for clubs to renew their Rotary spirit and to reinvigourate the club. Put simply, the CLP means that 25% of the clubs' efforts should be to bring in new members and sustain the existing members. 25% on carrying out service projects of benefit to the community. 25% on supporting the work of the Rotary Foundation and 25% on developing leaders beyond the club.

Our Rotary clubs have made the constitutional and structural changes to accommodate the CLP but in substance, many clubs do not adhere to the spirit of the CLP. That is why 80% of our clubs are hovering below 30 members and 70% below 20 members. We are doing fantastic service projects even though our numbers are becoming smaller and this seems to be the justification for not being alarmed. But there will be a critical tipping point when it will be too late to save Rotary. 

If our clubs are to exist in perpetuity then we must share Rotary with younger and more energetic people OR ELSE, when we die, so does our Rotary club! It is vital for Rotarians, especially Past Presidents to take a more active interest in club and district matters. This allows the District to benefit from the experience and service of these great Rotary soldiers.

I know many Past Presidents, who think that they have done their bit for Rotary by serving their club as President. But my friends, the journey must continue because the destination has not arrived.

Let me share a wonderful poem by Robert Frost with you,

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there’s some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.