Thanks go to the 52 Rotary Club of Members who answered our club's 2017 member survey. Here is a quick look at the results:
- Top programs you would like to learn more about: Transportation, current events, arts and culture, health and medicine, economy, history, environment, our club projects, sports and technology.
- The topic you say you want to hear the least about is Rotary district topics (sorry, John Padgett!).
- 88% of respondents have been on at least one field trip, social or community service project in the last year. Most gave these optional outings high marks. "You learn a lot and get to know other members in a way that meetings don't allow," one respondent said.
- There were lots of comments regarding memorable speakers and activities and ideas for ones to feature in the future. Suggestions for improving our meeting include: getting a portable microphone, stopping members for scrolling through their phones during the meeting, having a person designated to dim and raise lights for the speaker, holding applause for guests until all are introduced, doing more community service during the week, having new members give talks so we know them better, leaving more time to question speakers, having some breakfast meetings, having activities that help people better converse at lunch tables, increasing lunch attendance and having an incentive for attending, having a botanist explain different trees in area parks, returning to meeting every Tuesday, finding ways to keep senior members involved, reducing repetitive announcements at meetings, having a happy hour, eliminating singing, moving out of Scope and having speakers talk for less time.
- Community service suggestions include helping at Norfolk schools, working with organizations receiving club grants, having less strenuous projects so older members can help, working at Norfolk Botanical Garden or the Virginia Zoo, doing something with children and music, having monthly service opportunities and also a bigger project, helping at the Salvation Army, helping at the foodbank, having projects so members can bring children and other family members to help, doing something other than dispensing beer, doing a project like stuffing mailers so people can visit while working, have quick projects during the week, adopting an area of the city to help improve, being greeters at the airport, meeting with politicians and university leaders, helping at homeless shelters, helping with Meals on Wheels or with animals, selecting one or two projects to focus on, helping organizations supported by Suds & Buds,