Last Week Reggie Mark-Hansen gave a talk on his Rotary Membership Research of Bethesda demographics. With his professional Human Resources back ground, Reggies analyzed where we should look for new Rotary members. Our club has 37 active members of a total of 43 and needs 4 new ones per year to stay level. His studies indicated that we should look for more younger, women, and minorities members. Montgomery County is increasing and becoming more diverse. Minorities make up 39% and 47% of those are Asian and Hispanic. Our club is mostly 50+ in age and needs young and active members. We need to answer the question “why join us?”; evaluate the projects to promote new membership: and make new members feel inclusive.

The National Gallery of Art of Washington has the temporary exhibition: “Sergey Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes”. S. Diaghilev was the Russian Aristocrat, who create and performed around the world with a new type of ballet dance – Contemporary Ballet. That started in 1906 in Paris. For the next 20 years a lot of very talented dancers from Russia were employed by his ballet company – “Ballets Russes”. And a very productive collaboration with musicians and composers: I. Stravinsky, S. Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Delibes…..artists and designers: Picasso, Bakst, Coco Chanel ….etc.. have bring to the Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes the success and recognition. S. Diaghilev die in Italy in age of 43 from the blood-poisoning. The ballet dancers left their ballet-shoes at his tomb by professional tradition at San Michele Cemetery in Venice.

AG Greg Williams talked about some suggestions on increasing membership. He said that the age and classifications have been loosened and that we should go after younger members. He thinks we should build on our Bike Ride by introducing a contest between high schools with a $1000 reward; also promote the charities that the funds are going toward. Look to the Montgomery County Chambers for potential members. Talk about the Polio + project started by Dr John Sever of the Potomac Club. We have the best web sight in the district and we should use it to promote membership liked the uploading of pictures. Good speaker programs are important.