The "Friends" Programme

The Friends of the Rotary Club of Ascot programme was started in January 2004 to facilitate a recruitment platform for the Club and to bring together a powerful force of up to 100 people for the good of our area under the direction of the Club.

Vision / Strategy

To re-establish the Rotary Club of Ascot not only to be seen as, but to operate as the senior service club in our area.
On a continuing basis to identify 60+ "Friends" in the Ascot, Sunningdale and Sunninghill area who can assist this strategy.
To identify one Rotary meeting a month where such "Friends" can be invited to a top class speaker meeting.
To reach out to Ascot Round Table - assist them with their recruitment - and Ascot 41 Club.
To reach out to other Service clubs.
To re-establish links with local Business using e-mail and web links.
To enable the Friends to become the feeder for future Ascot Rotarians rather than one-off tactical membership campaigns.

Implementation of Strategy

Friends have been invited to the 2nd Rotary meeting of the month.
There has been no attendance obligation.
A seating plan ensures that all Friends and Rotarians are mixed at each meeting.
Friends and partners have been invited to the 5th meetings of the month which include partners of Rotarians.
Friends are encouraged to contribute to and support Rotary fund-raising and social activities.
There is no annual Friends 'subscription'

Summary of the Friends programme to June 2007

The first 48 months (January 2004 - December 2007) of meetings held each 2nd Wednesday of the month have proved a great success.
The standard of speakers has been generally outstanding.
A minimum of 6 and a maximum of 26 Friends have attended each meeting except December, and as from 2008 it has been decided to drop the December "Friends" meeting from the diary.
Club membership numbers have grown from 24 to 38 Rotarians with a target of 50 .
There are currently over 30 Friends.

15 Friends have already become Rotarians
A further 10 Friends are expected to become Rotarians by December 2009.
14 Friends are members of Ascot 41 Club
4 Friends are members of Ascot Round Table
The Friends attendance is currently 20% and to be Friend a person needs to commit to just one meeting a year.

Friends directed the reintroduction in 2004 and 2005 Rotary Club of Ascot Charity Golf Day that produced a total of £15K in total for Charities. The Rotary Club has now taken this very successful format to £12K in the 2006 event and £13,500 in 2007.
Friends have also supported other Rotary Club of Ascot projects.
The Marketing Plan to encompass e-mail and Web links with 350 local businesses is in progress.

Please email us for more information.