Establishing and Maintaining a Successful Paul Harris Society

Editor's Notes

1. Big Rich Review objectives for session: What is the Paul Harris Society? How PHS members support the Foundation and why their support is so crucial. How the districts, volunteers and the Foundation work together to help create and maintain strong Paul Harris Societies. Best practices for identifying new members and encouraging contributions/maintaining a successful Paul Harris Society. Q&A Thank you and reminder to use the convention app to rate the session. Introduction of panelists: RRFC Betty Screpnek Past DRFC Terry Ziegler RI Director Nominee Rafael Garcia Poll (show of hands): How many people know what the Paul Harris Society is? Does your district have a Paul Harris Society? Are there any current or incoming Paul Harris Society Coordinators in the audience?
2. Big Rich Introduction: Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator Born in Rosario, Argentina and moved to the states as a teenager Live in Louisiana Dentist Served in a variety of positions like DG, district trainer, and EPNZC Member of several Rotary Fellowships and Rotary Action Groups Participated in dozens of short term mission trips
3. Big Rich Now let’s take a few minutes to introduce our panelists. We have Terry, Betty, and Rafael here with us today. Terry, would you introduce yourself first. Terry I have been a Rotarian since 1982. I have held a variety of roles including club president and as an Assistant Governor. I have received the Rotary Regional Service Award for a Polio-Free World, and the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service. I am currently serving as the Rotary District 5890 Polio Eradication Committee Chair and as the Rotary Zones 21B/27 Paul Harris Society Coordinator. Big Rich Thank you, Terry. Betty, can you say a few words? Betty I became a member in 1996 of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Glenora, the first all women club in North America. I was Centennial Club President of the club in 2004-5 and District 5370 Governor of the second largest geographic district in the world. Currently Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator, Zone 24 West in 2015. Big Rich Thank you, Betty. Rafael, will you tell us a bit about yourself. Rafael I became club president of RC Pasig in 2006-2007, 35 years after joining Rotary in 1971. Since then, I’ve been D3800 Governor and E/MGA after joining AKS Trustees Circle in 2012 and Chair's Circle in 2013. I became a Rotary International Director-Nominee in 2016 to be Rotary International Director in 2018-2020. Big Rich Thank you, Rafael. And thank you to all of our panelists.
4. Big Rich Let’s start off by sharing the history of this important program. Created in 1999 by PDG Wayne Cusick District 5340 San Diego, CA, USA Wayne Cusick started this program because he recognized the importance of promoting annual gifts to The Rotary Foundation. Expanded quickly throughout the world This recognition program was adopted by the TRF Trustees in 2013. They saw it as a way to honor donors who elect to give at this sustained, substantial level. Although the 2013-14 Rotary year was the “charter year” as official Foundation program, we recognize that many districts have been supporting their PHS programs for years. This is a grassroots program, driven by the district. This is a unique model that allows the program to flourish across the world. The Foundation provides some general administrative support but districts are encouraged to be really engaged and make their PHS their own. We’ll go into this a little later when we talk about best practices.
5. Big Rich Betty, can you tell us about the giving requirements of the Paul Harris Society? Betty Giving requirements: Named after Rotary’s founder, the Paul Harris Society recognizes individuals who express the intent to contribute in the currency equivalent of US$1,000 or more every year that you are financially able to the Annual Fund, Polio Plus, or an approved Foundation Global Grant. The Rotary Foundation recognizes this generous commitment by awarding members with a chevron pin and certificate. $1,000 may not seem impactful, but 10 PHS members giving at that level are making a major gift; 30 members giving at this level funds a global grant. You may have noticed that there is a fund missing from this list, who sees what it is? Wait for answer. That’s right, the Endowment Fund. As many of you know, the Endowment Fund is designed to ensure Rotary’s long-term health through investments. The Paul Harris Society is designed to recognize those donors who choose to provide support for Rotary’s current work by giving to these three areas. Comparison to PHF You’ll also notice that the Paul Harris Society shares the name of our first recognition program, the Paul Harris Fellow. When the Paul Harris Fellow recognition was established in 1957 to recognize gifts of $1,000 this amount represented a very substantial amount to donors and to the Foundation. Now, $1,000 in 1957 is the equivalent of $8,500 today. As such, the Paul Harris Society is a way to promote regular substantial annual gifts that enhance Rotary’s image as a leading charity, keep costs lower, and enhance district and TRF’s ability to do good in the world. Breaking down the amount: $1,000 may seem like a large commitment to many but when you think about it, if you buy a cup of coffee every day you’re easily spending the same amount annually. If you’re interested in joining, or are talking to members who’d like to join, but are hesitant about making a large commitment consider breaking down the amount into digestible numbers.
6. Big Rich Thank you, Betty. Those who give at the Paul Harris Society level help provide the financial foundation for Rotary to fun projects where they are most needed. Poll (audience shouts out answers or Big Rich calls on participants): How many Rotarians do you think give $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund in 2013-14? Click one to reveal 3% of donors give $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund What percentage of giving to the Annual Fund do you think these donors represent? These donors represent about 44% of giving to the Annual Fund. 16% of all contributions come from PHS members. They have contributed to US$79 million since Rotary adopted the program. These numbers show that donations at the PHS level provide vital momentum for the Foundation supported projects. It also shows that the PHS members are small, but a vibrant and growing community of donors. Imagine what we could do if we could increase this percentage to even 10% of Rotarians, imagine the good we could do.
7. Big Rich Since the Paul Harris Society is truly a program that is rooted at the district level, each district should have a Paul Harris Society Coordinator to support their efforts. We’re fortunate to have with us today Terry Ziegler who is the Paul Harris Society Coordinator for his district. Terry, could you share with us what your role entails and how you utilize support from The Rotary Foundation? Terry Thank you, Big Rich Appointing a PHSC Paul Harris Society Coordinators (PHSCs) are appointed by District Governors for one-year terms. When choosing a person for this role, think of a Rotarian that has a passion for Rotary, is well respected, and therefore can inspire others. Ideally this individual should be willing to lead by example and is a member of the Paul Harris Society themselves. Ideally this individual should hold only this role rather than having other district roles as well. This will allow them to fully concentrate their efforts in growing their Paul Harris Society. Role of PHSC The PHSC should focus efforts on promoting the Paul Harris Society, like giving presentations at clubs or district events for example. They are also responsible for ensuring that donors are added to the PHS list once they join and for recognizing donors with the PHS insignia and certificate. It’s also important that the PHSC educates donors on what the Paul Harris Society is and the important annual support that PHS members provide to the Foundation. This includes ensuring donors understand the annual commitment they are volunteering to make and informing them of the good works their district is able to do as a result of their generosity. Brief examples of specific tasks Terry does as a PHSC
8. Terry As a PHSC I am also responsible for helping people sign up once they’ve decided to join the Paul Harris Society. Donors can join the Paul Harris Society by informing their PHSC but they can also sign up on rotary.org. Ways to give: Signing up online Filling out the PHS brochure or handout Enrolling in Rotary Direct to give $1,000 or more annually
9. Terry The Paul Harris Society brochure is also a good tool for promotion and for registering new members.
10. Terry While it’s not required to make a gift when you sign up for the Paul Harris Society the form on the PHS brochure offers an easy way to give if you’re ready give. You choose where you want your gift to go and can also decide if you’d like to make a one-time or recurring gift. This brings us to another great way you can enroll in the Paul Harris Society which is by signing up for Rotary Direct.
11. Big Rich Thank you, Terry. Rotary Direct, which is Rotary’s recurring giving program, is a safe, secure and easy way to join PHS and give to Foundation each year. A recurring contribution is an arrangement made through the Foundation to charge a credit or debit card at an amount and frequency most convenient to you. This can be done monthly, quarterly or annually. You can enroll online, in multiple currencies, while preserving local tax benefits in most cases. For example, a Canadian Rotarian can donate via rotary.org, in Canadian dollars and receive a tax receipt from The Rotary Foundation (Canada). With contributions of US$85/month, US$250/quarter or US$1,000 annually Rotarians and friends of Rotary will be considered a member of the Paul Harris Society and will be automatically listed as members on the Paul Harris Society reports. For those of you who are outside of the US, it is important to consider fluctuating exchange rates when setting their Rotary Direct amount. If your hope is to meet their PHS giving through Rotary Direct you might want to set it for a little more than what is required at that time so that even with changes in exchange rates you are still reaching US$1,000 each year. We understand that Rotary Direct is not available in some countries, including Brazil, where many donors choose to give through the Brazilian website using bank notes. This is something that The Rotary Foundation is aware of and working to resolve. We want to offer donors the best online experience possible but are working with more limited resources than Amazon or other large companies. NOTE: Online contributions can be in any of 15 currencies, while preserving local tax benefits in most cases. For example, a Canadian Rotarian can donate via Rotary.org in Canadian dollars and receive a tax receipt from the Canadian Associate Foundation. Rotary’s website accepts contributions in the following currencies: Argentine pesos , Australian dollars , British pounds, Canadian dollars, Danish kronen, euros, Japanese yen, New Zealand dollars, Norwegian kronen , South African rand, Swedish kronor, Swiss francs, Indian Rupees, and United States dollars .
12. Big Rich Rafael, will you explain what kind of support The Rotary Foundation offers the Paul Harris Society? Rafael Of course, thanks Big Rich. The Foundation supports the Paul Harris Society by providing communications that are distributed world wide. Every new member who joins the Paul Harris Society receives a welcome email from The Rotary Foundation. They also coordinate with the International Offices to provide year-end reminders in areas where it is culturally appropriate. Since Foundation involvement with the Paul Harris Society is relatively new the Foundation is working with volunteers to improve communication in ways that augment the important work of the districts. Resources from The Rotary Foundation The Foundation also supports my role in many ways: The PHS report, available on rotary.org to PHSCs, is an important tool for a successful Paul Harris Society. This report shows a complete list of Paul Harris Society members as well as any donor who has given $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or a Foundation Global Grant in a given Rotary year. I use this tool to help me identify potential new PHS members and to keep track of current members for stewardship outreach. If anyone here is interested in seeing the report we’ll have handouts available at the end of the session. If PHSCs ever need additional recognition pins, they can get them from the Foundation or IO that serves your area. The Foundation also offers training opportunities including an annual webinar on how to run an effective Paul Harris Society. In North America, Annual Giving officers are available to offer strategy advice and outside of North America PHSCs can work with the staff at their International Offices. This year The Rotary Foundation sent a PHSC communication with resources in January, as well as a year-end giving best practices.
13. Big Rich Thank you Rafael. Next, we’ll move on to a discussion of best practices for starting and sustaining a Paul Harris Society in your district. Terry, Betty, and Rafael, can you tell us how your PHS started? Terry District 5890's Paul Harris Society was started in 2004-05 when our District Governor, at her official Club Visits and later at the District Conference, challenged the members of each of her District's Clubs to join the PHS as Charter PHS Members by the end of the 2004-05 year. District 5890 currently recognizes over 200 PHS members. Betty Invitations to a dinner reception attached to their District Conference to Rotarians who where already giving $1000 USD/ year or very close to it and then inviting them to become a Society member and encourage others. Rafael At D3800, we divided the district into 9 clusters and appointed an Assistant Governor for each cluster whose job was to inform each of the clubs in his cluster about the Paul Harris Society. Then we gave an award to the AG who recruited the most number of Paul Harris Society members for the year, and an even bigger award for retaining the most number of Paul Harris Society members year on year. In the first go around in RY2006, we had 42 members of the PHS. Ten years later, we now have 175 members.
14. Big Rich After you’ve established a Paul Harris Society it’s important to maintain it by engaging the donors through: Continual promotion to attract new donors Timely recognition for new donors Ongoing stewardship to all members – make sure to say thank you often! For those who have chosen to join but have not yet given $1,000 by the end of the Rotary year it’s also helpful to remind them – with busy lives people may forget or even if they are unable to make a gift that year, it’s nice to show that you remember them and want to connect. Identify PHS champions and encourage them to share their stories to promote the society. Panelists, could you share some successful tactics used in your areas to encourage giving at the Paul Harris Society level? Terry We promote PHS level giving by encouraging enrollment in Rotary Direct - Rotary's recurring gift program - at the $85+ per month level (which is less than $3 per day). We also recognize the successful Grants in which our District's Rotarians have participated. Betty Picking a champion in the District that is already a committed member of the Society for several years to embrace the concept of making the Society an opportunity to share with like-minded Rotarians of giving in a consistent manor. Rafael For most first time Paul Harris Fellows, joining the Paul Harris Society is not an immediate option. However, after they get started on becoming Multiple Paul Harris Fellows, they're immediate candidates. Many of them know that ten $1,000 contributions can get them up to Major Donor status. And so, we immediately present them with the PHS commitment form for them to sign, and we immediately give them their Paul Harris Society pin and chevron when they sign and pay their second $1,000. Big Rich Can you share how you thank your PHS members? Terry Our District Paul Harris Society Chair, in addition to our District Governor, and Annual Fund Chair, thank and recognize new PHS Members at their Club by presenting them with a PHS Member certificate and a PHS chevron to wear on their Rotary, Paul Harris, or Major Donor pin. We also try to recognize the newest PHS Members at the Foundation Seminar, District Conference, and Major Donor events. Betty As soon as one becomes a member, the Chair of the District Society goes out to their respective clubs and makes a big deal of pinning them, giving their certificate and do a presentation on how the Society works and the benefits to the Foundation of consistent giving for planning projects and programs. Rafael At the TRF Recognition Banquet, Paul Harris Society members are announced and recognized separately from those of regular Paul Harris Fellows. They are also given their updated Multiple Paul Harris Fellow pins to wear with their Paul Harris Society chevron. The TRF Recognition at Club Level lists Paul Harris Society members separately from ordinary Paul Harris Fellows and Multiple Paul Harris Fellows.
15. Big Rich facilitates answer and question session (remaining time of session allowing for 5 minutes for wrap up).
16. Big Rich If you have any additional questions please visit the Foundation booth and take a look at these resources. The Rotary Foundation Reference Guide and the PHS brochure are available at Shop Rotary. Thank you so much for joining us, please don’t forget to rate this session on your convention app.