E-109 · A 90-day try-out

A club plan for Rotarian of the Month

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-109 · Rotarian of the Month
Theme
Theme 2: Engagement & Belonging · Subtheme 7: Recognition & Celebrations
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 continuing member value, supported volunteering and controlled use of personal information; they are not an endorsement of the named Rotarian of the Month initiative or this local selection method.

Primary references consulted

Candidate District material consulted

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

  • Club Playbook - Theme 2
    Candidate record 64 Rotarian of the Month Recognition provides the related monthly contribution, spirit or creativity recognition concept. It is not a literal current-title match and does not supply criteria, conflict, bias, workload, consent, partner-authority, correction, separation or data-closeout controls.

Theme 2 source-assurance wave

What has been checked

  • 3 current primary pages used by this guide were reopened on 9 August 2026.
  • 3 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
  • Deliver Continued Value
    Supports: The 49 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.
  • Chapter 6: APP 6 Use or Disclosure of Personal Information
    Supports: The 21 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: Whether the Privacy Act or another duty applies to this club, whether consent is informed and valid, whether collection or publication is authorised, or whether the proposed safeguards are sufficient in the actual circumstances.

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 Rotarian of the Month to make recognition timely, genuine and fair across visible and behind-the-scenes contributions.

2. Our 90-day try-out

What our club will do for Rotarian of the Month
StepWhat we will doWho could lead itOur dateHow we will know it is done
1Approve the purpose, contribution criteria, exclusions, conflicts, consent choices and separation from appointment and performance decisions.Club board sponsor and recognition leadSix weeks before launchA transparent recognition charter
2Invite specific examples through accessible routes and ask what happened, who confirmed it and whether the nominee already knows of the nomination.Recognition leadMonthly nomination windowEvidence-based appreciation examples
3Review nominations against the published criteria, declare conflicts and check whether visibility, workload or repeated networks are distorting the choice.Rotating recognition groupOne week before announcementA documented, defensible choice
4Speak privately with the selected member, verify the contribution and offer separate choices for wording, image, channels, timing and decline.Recognition leadBefore any announcementMember-approved recognition
5Share the short story as appreciation rather than a ranking and credit partners or other contributors only with their authority.Meeting and communications leadsAt the agreed monthly momentAccurate and respectful public thanks
6Record only the published decision and permissions, delete unused nominations and review whose contribution and work patterns the program is making visible.Recognition lead and club board sponsorQuarterly reviewBalanced learning and data 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.
The same visible or well-connected members are repeatedly recognised. — Use several nomination routes, review contribution-type patterns and test choices for network and visibility bias.
Recognition rewards excessive workload or makes overwork a cultural expectation. — Recognise specific value rather than hours and treat overwork as a workload issue requiring a separate response.
A surprise story exposes private information or unwanted attention. — Obtain private, specific permission for wording, image, timing, channel and later use before announcement.
The monthly title is interpreted as a formal ranking or selection advantage. — State its appreciation-only purpose and prohibit its use in appointments, evaluations and future award scoring.
The club must approve the criteria, nomination routes, conflicts, decision group, consent, wording, correction, record and separation controls before launch.
Recognition must not affect appointment, performance, membership-standing or future award decisions and must not reward unsafe workload.
The selected member and any third party or community partner must approve relevant wording, images and claims before publication.
Unused nominations and private decision material must remain restricted and be deleted on schedule.

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 Rotarian of the Month. Look for a wider range of contributions being recognised, with consent, and for recipients reporting that the recognition felt appropriate.
Nominations describing specific contributions rather than popularity or personality.
Members accepting, editing or declining recognition and each publication channel privately.
A spread of recognised contribution types, roles and visibility levels over time.
Unused nominations deleted and no recognition data used in appointment or performance decisions.

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

Monthly Recognition Nomination and Consent Path

Capture specific contribution evidence and prepare a private member choice.

Open supporting document
02

Rotarian of the Month Decision Register

Apply transparent criteria without creating a member ranking.

Open supporting document
03

Recognition Copy, Permission and Closeout

Verify the story and control publication and records.

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

Criteria rubric

Use this worksheet to recognise people's contributions fairly and ask before sharing their story.

Open worksheet
02

Safety and approval check

Use this worksheet to notice problems early, make the idea safer and know who needs to say yes or help.

Open worksheet