Featuring Past President Richard Matherly and Past President Cliff Wilcox 

We all know inviting guests to Rotary can feel a little intimidating - but for Richard Matherly and Cliff Wilcox, it comes naturally. Each has developed a knack for sparking conversations, spotting good fits, and turning a casual invite into a great Rotary connection. We asked them to share some of their tips and stories.

When you're talking to someone new, how do you usually bring up Rotary without it feeling like a sales pitch?

Richard keeps it simple and heartfelt:  I usually just say that "You will have a better, healthier, happier life if you get involved with Rotary. You should dig deeper into us to see what Rotary does and how we impact the world."

Cliff takes a more reflective approach:  What's been your experience in doing things in the community? What are your thoughts on giving back to the community?

What kind of people do you think make the best lunch guests - and how do you spot them?

Richard suggests starting with acquaintances:  Just ask acquaintances if they've ever been to a Rotary meeting. If they haven't, tell them they will be your guest to an eye-opening experience.

Cliff looks for people in transition or connection mode:  People who are at other networking events, who are "super busy" and work off a schedule, and/or are recently retired and trying to figure out what makes best sense for their new world. 

Stay tuned - our next newsletter will include more tips from Richard and Cliff on building connections that last.