Part 4: Field Trips Play an Important Role in Rotary Program Scheduling

Let your imagination go wild. Why not?

 Written by Robyn T. Braley 

Field trips can play an important role in a club schedule. They provide an opportunity to “experience it firsthand” rather than just hearing about it from a speaker in a meeting.

As leaders, Rotarians are well versed about many aspects of their communities. Field trips to manufacturing plants, public infrastructural facilities, agricultural facilities, human service organizations, food processing plants or other destinations can provide background and understanding about important things you would not gain through a speaker or video alone.

Touring a not-for-profit center that has requested funding support can help to clarify their need. Visiting a drop-in shelter or food bank can be deeply disturbing and provide first-hand knowledge about the issues they face.

Field Trip Purpose

• To gain insight and knowledge
• To experience processes and procedures
• To provide unique fellowship opportunities

Field Trips require hours of work to organize, promote and stage. If you have 3-4 per year, that is a lot. As a rule of thumb, if there is no value in visiting a site other than hearing a good presentation, then book the program for your club.

Part 1; Can Your Club’s Speaker’s Program be Improved

Jack Toth spoke about working with First Nations youth

Written by Robyn T Braley

A strong Speaker’s Program plays an important role in keeping Rotary clubs healthy and vibrant. Strong programs help keep members engaged. 

Put another way, programs with insight, information, entertainment or other relevant content give members another reason to look forward to each meeting.

But, exceptional programs don’t just happen. They require careful thought and planning.

I am very fortunate. My club, the Calgary West Rotary Club, has a decades long reputation for great programs. I have served on our program committee as a member or as the Chair for more than 12 years.

While I am mostly leaning on that experience to write this series, I also include insight gained as the Executive Director of a community based organization that staged 4-6 Gospel concerts per year. They were produced in a 1,200 seat church or in one of our city's two major concert halls that sat 2,200 and 2,700.