Rotary Club Study group of students report 6 April

‘VIP’ recently acquired a new meaning in the University, standing for Vertically Integrated Project. That is, a project jointly undertaken by a group of students from different years and studying different subjects. Under the guidance of Dr Ian Smith, seven students contributed this year to an exploration of the Rotary Club of St Andrews: its history, current status and, most importantly, how it may need to adapt to ensure it is still thriving when it reaches its centenary in five years’ time. Two of the group, Emma Le Febrve and Nicholas Chung, presented their findings to the Club. These drew upon interviews with some of the membership and a questionnaire open to all, supplemented by input from three other Rotary Clubs, including Kilrymont St Andrews. The main challenge facing almost all Rotary Clubs, and indeed many other voluntary organisations, is how to recruit and retain new, and especially younger, members. Current members value the friendships that form as well as opportunities to serve the local community and, through Rotary’s global network, the chance to help elsewhere in the world. However, the established pattern of regular weekly attendance at a lunchtime meeting is no longer feasible for most people in full-time employment. The students’ presentation concluded by considering three ways in which the Club might develop. They judged that recent retirees to St Andrews were more likely to be in a position to join than those yet to retire. They also suggested that increased collaboration between St Andrews’ two Rotary Clubs would be an excellent way to maximise the resources of each and enhance their overall impact. Angela Fowlis thanked Emma and Nick, and Ian who was also present, for giving us the gift “To see oursels as others see us” and suggested it would be marvellous if older Rotarians could pair up with media-savvy students like them to help us keep abreast in a rapidly changing world!