Tony opened his final presenter session with his support of its replacement with more member vocational talks.
He described the new-model RC of Seaford, between Adelaide and Victor Harbor to the south, a fast growing region of 30,000 that did not have a single service club. Cecilie Cardwell was an active young Rotaractor at Flinders University, and D9520 membership director Mark Huddleston challenged her at 28 to charter and lead a new club. She and friends took two years of work and chartered in November 2016 with 21 members, now risen to 28. Here’s a snapshot of Seaford RC:
- Two thirds are women; 95% of members are in career mode not retirement.
- Meets fortnightly in different venues – homes, coffee and bookshops, sports centres, libraries.
- Meetings can be free for members who don’t want to pay for a meal, and some bring-a-plate.
- All what Cecelie calls “Rotary Baggage” has been thrown out.
- It avoids guest speakers except those directly relevant to its service program.
- Meetings are baby, baby-feeding and kid-friendly.
- Seaford RC partners with local charities rather than DIY.
- It also invested in a $350 popcorn machine which starts recruitment conversations.
Cecilie thinks a club with many females is less intimidating to newcomers, especially as the women are so energetic about local community projects. “I look forward to more families getting involved with Rotary and to us changing the old images with new ones filled with diversity and love,” she says.