Speaking at the La Jolla New Generations club

Last night I spoke before the La Jolla New Generations club. I showed about 30 people, all under the age of 40, how to develop their own electronic newsletters (a specialty of my marketing agency).

It was odd being in that room. Typical Rotary groups are almost all on the other side of 40 (sometimes quite a bit further on the other side!), and these were all fresh new faces, firmly planted in Generation Y.

Here were people who, according to FORTUNE Magazine, have their own rules. Yet unlike so many who grew up in the 1980s, these guys understand the need to give back to the community and help those with less than them. It was quite refreshing.

Afterwards, I sat with their new PR Chair (they had new officer elections last night, and even had two people running for PR Chair. Quite a change from me being appointed when I walked out of the room). This young woman, Brittany Catton, was delightful, energetic and truly interested in making an impact on the world around her. I applauded her enthusiasm.

Still, having a beer with her when she hardly looked old enough to drink (she was) made me feel like a fossil. Of course, learning that she was born the year after I graduated from college probably didn't help.

She spoke of developing a presentation to go to various clubs and show them how to get young people into their clubs. I think it's a wonderful idea, and shared some thoughts on how to make it happen on a wide scale.

It all made me wonder, though, why out of 61 clubs in district 5340, there is only one club with a focus on those under 40. Rotary as a whole has got to get their act together and start listening to people like Ms. Catton, and recruiting more like her, or else over the long-term our group is destined to die out.