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Assistant District Governor of Rotary International District 9127 and Past President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Kubwa Gateway, Rtn. Sunday Fasipe, has urged Rotary clubs to make membership recruitment and retention a deliberate priority, stressing that sustained growth depends not merely on attracting new members but on creating an environment that keeps them committed to service.
Fasipe made the call while delivering a lecture titled, “Membership Recruitment and Retention: My Experience,” at the fellowship meeting of the Rotary Club of Abuja United, District 9127, on Thursday.
His presentation was delivered in line with the Rotary International focus for August 2026, designated as Membership and New Club Development Month, and centred on practical strategies for building stronger, more vibrant and sustainable Rotary clubs.
According to him, membership remains the lifeblood of every successful Rotary club, noting that a club can only remain relevant and impactful when it continually attracts people who are committed to its ideals while also giving existing members compelling reasons to remain.
Drawing from his extensive experience within Rotary, Fasipe said his service journey had taken him through several leadership positions in the Rotary Club of Abuja Kubwa Gateway, including Club Director on two occasions, Vice President, President-Elect and President, currently, Assistant Governor.
He said his experience had taught him that joining Rotary was only the beginning of a member’s journey, as people ultimately remain in organisations where they discover friendship, purpose, recognition and opportunities to make meaningful contributions to society.
“People do not remain in a club simply because they joined. They stay because they find friendship, purpose, recognition, and opportunities to make a meaningful difference,” he said.
On recruitment, the Assistant District Governor said every Rotarian had a responsibility to serve as an ambassador of the organisation, arguing that members’ conduct, integrity and commitment to service often provide the strongest invitation to prospective members.
He encouraged Rotarians to identify professionals, entrepreneurs, young leaders and other community-minded individuals who share Rotary’s values, and deliberately invite them to experience the organisation’s fellowship and humanitarian projects.
Fasipe, however, cautioned that recruitment alone could not guarantee membership growth, stressing that clubs must equally develop effective retention strategies.
He recommended that every new member be warmly received, properly oriented and assigned a mentor who could guide the individual through the early stages of the Rotary journey.
He also advocated greater involvement of members in committees, leadership responsibilities and service projects, saying participation gives members a sense of ownership and demonstrates that their contributions matter to the organisation.
According to him, recognition is another critical factor in retaining members, as appreciation for attendance, service, financial support and leadership can significantly strengthen commitment.
“Simple gestures of appreciation often have a lasting impact,” he said.
The Rotary leader also identified effective communication as a major component of membership retention, urging club leaders to keep members informed, listen to their concerns and ensure that they are meaningfully involved in decision-making.
“A club where every voice matters naturally enjoys stronger member loyalty,” he stated.
Fasipe further called for fairness, respect and empathy in resolving conflicts within Rotary clubs, noting that the manner in which disagreements are handled can either strengthen or damage relationships among members.
“Members may forget disagreements, but they rarely forget how they were treated,” he said, stressing that a culture of mutual respect was essential to building unity and enduring relationships.
He warned that clubs that focus heavily on recruitment without paying equal attention to retention risk losing members faster than they can attract them.
“Recruitment without retention is like pouring water into a leaking bucket,” Fasipe said, urging Rotary clubs to pursue membership growth alongside the development of healthy and inclusive club cultures.
He maintained that the ultimate objective should be to build clubs where members are proud to belong, eager to serve and enthusiastic about inviting others to join.
Fasipe concluded that his experience had demonstrated that membership growth becomes considerably easier when clubs deliberately create welcoming environments, engage members meaningfully, recognise their contributions and remain firmly committed to Rotary’s principle of Service Above Self.
The lecture formed part of efforts by the Rotary Club of Abuja United to deepen members’ understanding of Rotary’s membership priorities and strengthen the club’s capacity for sustainable growth and effective community service.
Rtn Fasipe was recently assigned to oversee the newly chartered Rotary Club of Abuja United for the 2026-2027 Rotary Year. The club was chartered by the Rotary International on July 16, 2026.
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