Why Is It Important For Rotary to Be More Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive?
As members and clubs get ready for preparing for a new Rotary year, let's evaluate Rotary's progress on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
The way we design projects and include people of all backgrounds, reflecting the communities in which we live will speak louder than words and will be an attraction for more members. Having a diverse membership and an environment that appreciates and respects differences, helps all clubs in the Rotary family be relevant in and connected to their communities. The more diverse Rotary becomes, the better positioned it will be to delivery on our vision and mission providing peace and progress both in our own communities and around the world.
“One friend of our club in Kenya has severe cerebral palsy. He can’t control his body or talk very well,” says Ken Masson. “But he can use his toes. He’s a DJ, and he creates all his music using his toes.”
When looking for potential members, Rotarians should focus on qualities that make a good Rotary member rather than what makes a person seem different, says Masson, president of the Rotary Club of World Disability Advocacy, Central MA and Metro West, an e-club that works with other clubs worldwide to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. He says a club that values the contributions of people of different abilities, experiences, and cultures will be more interesting, stronger, and better equipped to create lasting change.
“Don’t think that because someone has a disability, they can’t be a Rotarian,” Masson says. “That’s focusing on the person’s disability. But, man, this person has 20 beautiful abilities that would make a really good Rotarian.”
Creating an inclusive environment begins with an honest assessment. Does your club include members from underserved groups in your community, including retirees and LGBTQ+ people? Are your meeting locations and times accessible to people with disabilities and young professionals with families? Do you seek out and value the opinions of people with differing viewpoints and experiences? (Download the Rotary Club Health Check at my.rotary.org/en/document/rotary-club-health-check).
In this sense, it is also important to differentiate the nuances between diversity and inclusion.
While clubs should work to actively expand and deepen diversity across its membership, the difference between diversity and inclusion is the action a club takes to make those diverse individuals feel welcome and valued with the members and the overall club. Where some clubs can say they are diverse because their membership profile numbers reflect diversity, they may not have changed any other part of their clubs’ activities or programs to ensure those individuals feel safe and valued. In your own club, we would challenge you to review the following:
Do you have:
- Balance of experience for less represented groups?
- Barriers to entry both structural and societal that might be at play?
- Blindspots and assumptions that might be working against a more inclusive environment?
It is important to remember that diversity is less about what makes people different; race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and so on – but it is more about understanding, accepting, and valuing those differences.
Here are some tips to help you start practicing inclusivity.
DO'S
Educate yourself. Provide learning opportunities for your club members to expand their perspectives and open up meaningful conversations. Invite local diversity, equity, and inclusion experts to speak to your club. By educating yourself, you help identify the biases that may be preventing you from creating an inclusive environment.
Start a committee. A committee can help your club prioritize inclusivity. “Some of our clubs were apprehensive to call it a diversity, equity, and inclusion committee,” says David Hart, who heads up District 7930’s committee, “because they thought they already knew and represented their community’s demographic.” Hart urges clubs to look at what kinds of people might be missing from their membership.
Be accessible. Is your club’s meeting time convenient for all? Is the location accessible to people with mobility challenges? Can some of your events be held virtually or as a hybrid of in-person and online? “People don’t understand what accessibility means,” Masson says. “They think, ‘We don’t need to worry that our meeting place has a stairwell, since we don’t have any members with disabilities.’ But of course, that could be why they don’t have any members with disabilities.”
Create a sense of belonging. Involve all of your members in club committees and activities. Make sure everyone’s voice is not just heard but respected. A buddy or club mentor system can help new members feel they belong.
Speak up. Hold yourselves and each other accountable when a person’s actions don’t reflect Rotary’s ideals or values. Respectful conversations can bring about meaningful change.
DON'TS
Cling to traditions. Exclusionary or out-of-date club traditions can be off-putting to people from other backgrounds. “We used to [start our meetings with] a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a song,” says Hart. Now, members take turns sharing a Rotary moment or telling the club why they joined Rotary or when they truly felt they were a Rotarian.
Speak in Rotaryisms. Make sure everyone understands what you’re saying by avoiding Rotary acronyms and phrases that only insiders understand. Remember, no one ever complained that something was too easy to understand.
Ignore your biases. Whether conscious or unconscious, our biases prevent us from seeing the qualities in a person that make them an excellent Rotary club member.
Be cliquish. Look around the room and make sure no one is sitting alone. Invite visitors and new members to join your conversation.
Fill a quota. “Reflecting the diversity in our community is one of our best tools and best strategies for changing perceptions about Rotary,” says RI Director Elizabeth Usovicz. “When [the community] starts seeing themselves in the club leadership, then Rotary’s public image starts to be adjusted and awareness changes.”
RESOURCES
- Learn more about how to create an inclusive club culture at my.rotary.org/en/learning-reference/about-rotary/diversity-equity-and-inclusion
- Download the Rotary Club Health Check at my.rotary.org/en/document/rotary-club-health-check
- Download the Club Diversity Assessment at my.rotary.org/en/document/diversifying-your-club-member-diversity-assessment