The president-elect of the service club Rotary International says his organization has had to rethink some of its policies to attract younger members.
"They don't have the time to go to a luncheon meeting, where they will spend 2-3 hours driving, finding a parking place, going to a meeting and then going back to work," said John Germ. He says Rotary has been tweaking some of its rules to accomdate them.
"Years ago, Rotary had a goal of maintaining 80 percent attendance," Germ said. "It went to 60 percent. Now, it's more flexible. ."
Germ says the rule requires members to meet twice a month.
"But you can meet by electronic means," Germ said. "You can also meet in person. You can work on community projects."
And Germ says community projects are what Rotary – and other service clubs – are about.
"Whether you're building a ball field, whether you're going to a school and reading to children, whether you';re buying dictionaries for 3rd grade students and distribute them, or whether you're working with the Imagination Library, I think it's starting to turn around," Germ said.
The biggest project Rotary has undertaken is the eradication of polio. Rotary began its efforts in 1974, in the Philippines. And he says that effort has spread worldwide. Germ says in 1985, Rotary raised $247 million – and made an agreement that it would provide the polio vaccine to all the children of the world. He says Rotary is still working toward that goal.
"In 1985, there were over 1,000 cases a day, in 125 countries," Germ said. "Today, we're down to 14 cases in two countries -- Afghanistan and Pakistan."
Germ said both countries are working very hard. But he says it isn't easy, because of the political turmoil. He says Rotary plans to stay with the program – until the goal of zero cases is reached.
Germ was in Bismarck for the state Rotary convention.