E-076 · A 90-day try-out

A club plan for Interest-Based Action Groups

Use this as a starting point. Cross out what does not fit, add what is missing and make it your club's own.

Where this idea came from

Playbook entry
E-076 · Interest-Based Action Groups
Theme
Theme 2: Engagement & Belonging · Subtheme 5: Member Roles & Purpose
Source material
Current playbook index title and category plus an internally authored detailed-guide draft

Initiative-specific development wave

How this draft was developed

These sources support general principles for Rotary cause-based connection, official Action Group boundaries and well-governed volunteer participation; they are not an endorsement of the named Interest-Based Action Groups initiative or this locally designed delivery model.

Primary references consulted

  • Rotary Action Groups (Rotary International)
    Used for: Official Rotary Action Groups are independent Rotary-affiliated entities organised around humanitarian expertise and interests.; They can advise clubs on community assessment, partners, evidence and project planning; a local club discussion group is not automatically one of them.
  • Engaging Younger Professionals: Make Connections (Rotary International)
    Used for: Rotary encourages members to connect around causes and passions and to open space for new ideas.; Interest should lead to thoughtful community engagement, not automatic project authority.
  • National Standards for Volunteer Involvement (Volunteering Australia)
    Used for: Volunteer participation benefits from defined governance, meaningful roles, adequate resourcing and inclusive practice.; Groups working with partners need clear relationship, information and record arrangements.

Candidate District material consulted

These records remain draft evidence and still need a human source decision.

  • Club Playbook - Theme 2
    Candidate record 49 Interest-Based Action Groups is a literal title match and contributes the broad small-group concept around shared themes, project ideas and discussion. It does not supply official-Action-Group distinction, open-participation, community-voice, evidence, conflict, authority, proposal, response or sunset controls.

Theme 2 source-assurance wave

What has been checked

  • 3 current primary pages used by this guide were reopened on 9 August 2026.
  • 6 attributed source claim(s) were mapped to their bounded use in this initiative.
  • Candidate District material remains separate and does not establish this result.
See each source's scope and limit
  • Rotary Action Groups
    Supports: The 4 attributed Theme 2 claims attached to this source, limited to the implementation elements and supporting documents named in each initiative-level claim mapping.
    Does not establish: That the initiative is endorsed by Rotary International or District 9510, that it is permitted by the club's governing documents, that members want it, that it suits the local club, or that it will achieve the intended outcome.
  • Engaging Younger Professionals: Make Connections
    Supports: The 32 attributed Theme 2 claims attached to this source, limited to the implementation elements and supporting documents named in each initiative-level claim mapping.
    Does not establish: That the initiative is endorsed by Rotary International or District 9510, that it is permitted by the club's governing documents, that members want it, that it suits the local club, or that it will achieve the intended outcome.
  • National Standards for Volunteer Involvement
    Supports: The 32 attributed Theme 2 claims attached to this source, limited to the implementation elements and supporting documents named in each initiative-level claim mapping.
    Does not establish: The club's local need, legal position, capability, cost, safety, accessibility, suitability, likely effectiveness, authority to act or approval of the initiative.

What still needs a person to confirm

  • Confirm the member, prospective-member, past-member and community needs, preferences and consent that the local design assumes.
  • Confirm which privacy, safeguarding, incorporated-association, charity, work health and safety, food, liquor, copyright, licensing, screening and other duties apply to the club and the activity.
  • Test accessibility, cultural safety, belonging, language and alternative participation routes with affected people and recognise First Nations cultural authority rather than inferring suitability from the guide.
  • Confirm every local fact, starting point, cost, role, current service contact, measure, stopping condition and platform capability before the club decides to proceed.
  • Confirm the authority and current scope of each primary source, resolve login-gated or moved-page references and keep any candidate District material attributed and unapproved until its source decision is made.

The source-verification release gate remains closed.

Checks still on hold

Still an internal draft: source interpretation, local suitability, accessibility, governance and editorial approval remain open checks.

1. Is this worth trying here?

What we hope will change: Use Interest-Based Action Groups to connect members' strengths and interests with worthwhile roles that have clear boundaries.

2. Our 90-day try-out

What our club will do for Interest-Based Action Groups
StepWhat we will doWho could lead itOur dateHow we will know it is done
1Invite interest openly, test whether the topic duplicates existing work and appoint a sponsor and convenor through transparent fit criteria.Club program leadSix weeks before the first meetingA topic, sponsor and convenor decision
2Write a charter with one exploration question, a three- to six-month term, open participation, expected output, access, conduct and no-authority boundaries.Convenor and sponsorFour weeks before the first meetingAn approved action-group charter
3Map affected community voices, current evidence, official Rotary and external expertise, existing projects and conflicts before proposing solutions.Group members and partner liaisonFirst two meetingsA stakeholder and evidence map
4Run accessible, documented sessions with rotating contribution routes, separate facts from ideas and refer complaints, technical advice and private matters to the right process.ConvenorDuring the charter termDecision notes and a controlled issue log
5Develop one proportionate proposal stating need, partner voice, evidence, alternatives, resources, risks, measures and the authority requested from the club.Group and sponsorBy the penultimate meetingA board-ready proposal
6Receive a recorded approve, reshape, refer or decline decision, communicate it to participants and close, renew or transfer the group with records and responsibilities settled.Club board delegateWithin thirty days of the proposalA decision, response and group closeout

3. Checks before we start

Things our club needs to check
QuestionWhat it means for usWho will checkDone?
Check the idea with the people affected and confirm its purpose, owner and practical limits before putting it into use.
Protect member choice and privacy, make participation accessible, and do not infer belonging or satisfaction from attendance alone.
A local group implies it is an official Rotary Action Group or authorised representative body. — Use the local club name and charter, state the distinction in communications and obtain approval before contacting official groups or speaking publicly.
The group becomes exclusive, factional or dominated by status or technical confidence. — Keep membership open, use accessible rotating contribution, declare conflicts and review representation and conduct with the sponsor.
Members act on an idea before community voice, evidence, risk and authority are established. — Limit the charter to learning and proposal development and prohibit delivery, promises, money and public representation before approval.
A group consumes time indefinitely without a decision or useful output. — Set one question, a short term, a proposal format and a board-response date, then close or deliberately renew.
The board must approve the local name, charter, sponsor, convenor, access, conduct, records, authority limits, proposal pathway and sunset before the group meets.
The group may not imply official Rotary Action Group status or speak for Rotary, the district, the club, a partner or an affected community without authority.
Fundraising, expenditure, public advocacy, service delivery, partner agreements and technical advice require separate approval.
Conflicts, complaints, safeguarding matters and personal information must move to the appropriate club process rather than remain inside an interest group.

4. What changed?

What we will keep an eye on
What mattersWhere we are nowWhat we hope to seeHow we will checkWho
After 90 days, review Interest-Based Action Groups. Look for roles being filled by choice, responsibilities being understood and useful work being completed without avoidable overload.
Groups operating under approved charters with open participation, clear authority limits and review or sunset dates.
Proposals showing community or stakeholder voice, current evidence, alternatives, resources, risks and measures.
Club decisions returned within the promised period with reasons and a next path.
No unauthorised spending, fundraising, public representation, service delivery or partner commitment by a local interest group.

After 30 days

Is it reaching the right people? Is anything unsafe, unfair or harder than expected?

After 60 days

Make one useful change based on what people have told you.

After 90 days

Compare with where you started. Decide whether to change it, continue it or stop.

Made for this initiative

Tailored supporting documents

These working documents use the decisions, safeguards and evidence needs of this initiative. Complete them with the people affected and keep the agreed version with the club's project record.

01

Interest-Based Action Group Charter

Define the group's question, participation, output and limits before it meets.

Open supporting document
02

Stakeholder and Evidence Session Record

Keep learning grounded in affected voices and distinguish facts, assumptions and ideas.

Open supporting document
03

Action Group Proposal and Closeout

Bring one decision-ready recommendation to the club and settle the group's future.

Open supporting document

Before your club says yes

Does the idea fit?

Talk with the people it is meant to serve and check that the need is real.

Who can say yes?

Name the person or group that can approve the work, spending and any safety arrangements.

Are people protected?

Check privacy, consent and safety. Collect only the information you genuinely need.

Can everyone take part?

Check the language, format, place, technology and cost for barriers.

Are the facts and permissions right?

Check names, claims, images, quotations, partner references and Rotary branding.

How will we learn?

Note where things stand now, check in at 30, 60 and 90 days, and decide what to do next.

Worksheets for your club

Open them online, print them or change them to suit the way your club works.

01

Project brief

Use this worksheet to turn the idea into a short list of actions, dates, costs and responsibilities.

Open worksheet
02

Role card

Use this worksheet to decide who will do each job, who can step in and what needs to be handed over.

Open worksheet
03

Outcome log

Use this worksheet to note where things stand and choose a few useful signs that will help the club decide what to do next.

Open worksheet