Dear fellow Rotarians,

Welcome to the “District Membership Development Website”. The creation of this first ever website demonstrates the significance the District places on membership growth and retention.

District 3450 had been subject to a series of crises in the past several years in the forms of political instability, economic downturn, SARS and exodus of talents seeking opportunity in mainland China, just to name a few. As a result the District had suffered a substantial loss of its members. From a height of 2,000, our membership number now stands at around 1,700, a depletion of 300 members over all these years.

With the improving economic and political environment fast emerging, it is high time for all of us to come forward with actionable plans to reverse the trend. It is in this light that the website is created for us to share our thoughts together, to keep informed of relevant information from the District and Rotary International and to help clubs to achieve their membership goals for this Rotary Year.

President Wilfrid Wilkinson has picked “Rotary Shares” as the theme for the year and asks us to share our time, skills and resources to help the needy. He also asks us to reverse the theme to “Share Rotary” with your friends, associates and leaders in the community in order to attract them to Rotary. If an organization ceases to grow, it will lose its glamour and strength.

I would like to call upon each Rotarian to be Rotary embassador to spread the good deeds of Rotary and to help recruit new members. In his opening speech in the International Assembly at San Diego, then President-elect Wilf said “I and every other Rotarian share the responsibility of bringing new members into our ranks and it was time I did my part”.

I certain would like to see each Rotarian will do his/her part to bring new members to his/her club. By doing so I have no doubt that the District goal of a net gain of 2 members in each club will easily be achievable.

Enjoy Rotary and have a year of fulfillment.

Yours in Rotary,

Peter Wong
District Governor 2007-2008