We are excited to share some great news from one of our valued community partners.
Fareway Stores, Inc. Executive Management contacted me mid-September to discuss their concept of providing a Rotary membership to their store managers and meat department managers. We discussed several areas and concluded that District 6000 would work with them and make it as convenient and efficient as possible to accomplish their program. They were going to conduct a staff meeting later in the year and would address the issue with the store and meat department managers to determine final plans. They asked me to keep the information confidential.
I spoke with Executive Management again in mid-December and they have agreed to offer all their store managers and meat department managers a Rotary membership, if they choose to accept the program offer. Fareway Stores, Inc. has approved and encouraged District 6000 to contact all the store managers and meat department managers to invite them to a club meeting and support them as a new Rotary member if they join or are already a club member.
There are 55 Fareway Stores located in District 6000. Therefore, there are 110 store managers and meat department managers that potentially qualify for the Rotary membership program. I have attached a list of the Fareway stores located in District 6000.
I am requesting every club located in a community that has a Fareway Store to contact both the store manager and the meat department manager to invite them to a club meeting and follow up afterward with the manager. If the manager is a current club member, I would suggest the club recognize them to recognize their involvement and the commitment of Fareway Stores, Inc.
There are obviously communities that have a Fareway Store that also has more than one Rotary Club. In these situations, I encourage these clubs to coordinate efforts, so we are responsible to the managers and not bombard them with multiple invitations. Yet, it may be beneficial for the clubs to invite the manager to shop the clubs and determine which best fits their personal situation. Therefore, please work cohesively, not competitively. “Unite for Good.”
The following communities have multiple Rotary Clubs and Fareway Stores.
Ankeny – Des Moines – Iowa City – Jefferson – Knoxville – Marshalltown – Mount Pleasant – Nevada - Quad Cities – Winterset
This is an opportunity for several District 6000 Rotary Clubs to attain a new member. Please be sure to contact the store managers and meat department managers and invite them to a club meeting as well as follow up after the visit.
(1.) Was the store manager - meat department manager a club member already? If so, did your club recognize them for the program?
(2.) Did your club offer the store manager and meat department manager a club visit?
(a.) Did the manager accept the offer to visit the club and attend a club meeting? If yes, what were the results?
(i.) Joined
(ii.) Considering joining
(c.) Declined - reason?
(3.) Other feedback
