BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY
More than 10 years ago, I had a chat with Greg Brindle ( of The Good Grocer ) about seeking sponsorship from local business for the work that Applecross Rotary does in our community.
As a result, Greg gathered 3 other businesses who were supportive of our efforts and we set about building that relationship so that it was ongoing and enabled the business to become part of our community success story.
The Good Grocer, Mont Realty, Pharmacy777 and Ross North Homes make up this group.
For our newer members, it is important to recognise that being able to work with local business, to negotiate the ‘whats in it for me’ benefit which drives the ongoing commitment, to work with them each year for best outcomes, truly is the reason that those 10 years have yielded around $160k of community ‘give back’ for AxR.
AND, IMPORTANTLY, the relationship continues and thus our capacity for community relevance is sustained.
At last Board it was approved to present each of the businesses with a Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of their outstanding support that they have provided to AxR.
A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WHICH ROTARY CAN BUILD ON.
Part of the reason behind our current push to establish a long term, sustainable relationship with the Melville Cockburn Chamber of Commerce, in a catchment area of 20,000 businesses, with its almost 300 members and another almost 1500 on its mailing list, directly relates to the success we have had with our club sponsors.
For our sponsors, this is a flag they can fly to help generate their social licence in a very competitive world of business: their responsible give back.
It can be a real ‘win win’ for both the business and Rotary, certainly giving us a deeper reach into a key part of the broader community.
This is also an important part of our 3 local Rotary clubs, Ax, Mel and Attadale becoming joint sponsors of a Business Award on Thurs, 21st May at the MCCC Business Awards function at the South of Perth Yacht Club.
Building relationships means making commitments, and this is planned to get the MCCC and its community alongside what are keen to develop: working together for better community outcomes.
Early days but with our 3 clubs, ( hopefully also including Cockburn R )working together, who knows what this could look like in another 10 years!
Given the difficulty Rotary, and many other volunteer groups are having in sustaining membership. .. perhaps read ‘sustaining relevance’, then this must gain our best support.
My thoughts,
Kenn.
to see Ian for your sleeping bag donation. Winter is well and truly here!
