Qualified candidates for Rotary club membership are adults of good character and business, professional, or community reputation who fit one of the following criteria: Hold or have held an executive position with discretionary authority in any worthy and recognized business or profession. Serve as a community leader.
Service Above Self and One Profits Most Who Serves Best, Rotary's official mottoes, can be traced back to the early days of the organization. In 1911, the second Rotary convention, in Portland, Oregon, USA, approved He Profits Most Who Serves Best as the Rotary motto.
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
Benefits of Membership
- Friendship. In an increasingly complex world, Rotary maintains a simple philosophy - make friends in your own community and throughout the world.
- Giving back to the community.
- Fun and entertainment.
- Business development.
- Personal growth and development.
- Continued learning.
- Travel opportunities.
The motto of Rotarians is "Service above Self". It reminds Rotarians to think of how they can help others instead of selfish thoughts. The motto originated when Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, asked Rotarian Frank Collins to address the participants of the second annual Rotary Convention. The year was 1911.
In the past two decades Rotary down 20%, Jaycees down 64%, Masons down 76%. Recalling de Tocqueville's observation about the role our clubs play in a civil society, this decline represents a tangible loss to community. However, for most of our service clubs the issue is not recruitment but retention.
Nationwide, Optimist Clubs have seen membership nearly cut in half from 97,000 to 49,000 over the past 20 years. Rotary membership has dipped from 386,000 in 2004 to 316,000 today. John Breitwisch, president of the Beaver Dam Lions, said membership has dropped from 80 to 45 since he joined in the 1970s.
People are starting to understand how serving and helping each other and different communities benefits not just others but themselves too, so the ethos of Rotary and our motto of “Service Above Self†is still relevant and will be relevant into the future.
In Rotary's membership game, everyone's a winner
- Create a list of all the great things about your club.
- Keep a list of potential members.
- Know your club's strengths.
- Make membership growth your club's top priority -
- Look to young Rotarians for fresh perspectives.
- Appeal to local volunteers.
At its first meeting after the 1987 U.S. Supreme Court decision, the Council on Legislation votes to eliminate the requirement in the RI Constitution that membership in Rotary clubs be limited to men.
"We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders." - Rotary International's Strategic Plan. Our Core Values include: Service, Fellowship, Diversity, Integrity and Leadership.
Rotary is the oldest and most prestigious service club in the world. Its ranks include executives, managers, professionals - people who make decisions and influence policy. Nice People: Rotarians above all are nice people - the nicest people on the face of the earth. The Opportunity to Serve: Rotary is a service club.
Prospective Members Must:
- Hold (or be retired from) a professional, proprietary, executive, managerial, or community position.
- Have demonstrated a commitment to service through personal involvement.
- Be able to meet the club's weekly attendance or community project participation requirements.
Like many groups, Rotary Club asks its members to pay annual dues. You will be expected to pay local group dues, district dues and Rotary International dues [source: RI].
Many Rotarians know that a portion of their dues funds club and district expenses, as well as Rotary International operations worldwide. Few know exactly how that all breaks down. Dues are extremely important, as they are the single biggest source of revenue providing the services you enjoy as a Rotarian.
Yes - you can, due to the humanitarian nature of the organization. Since Rotary(as well as Lions club) qualifies as a tax deductible charitable organization, its dues are reported as charitable cash donation.
“Rotary is a non-political, non-religious humanitarian organization,†the Chicago-based group said in a statement. “Each Rotary club uses its own judgment in conducting its meetings in a manner that reflects Rotary's principle of tolerance and emphasizes shared Rotarian service ideals and projects.â€
Club members are required to pay annual dues to their clubs, districts, and Rotary International, as well as the subscription fee to the appropriate Rotary magazine. Club dues are $125 per quarter, which includes lunch each week.
Payment methodsClub presidents, treasurers, and secretaries can pay dues by: Credit card online. Check or draft accompanied by the detached bottom portion of the invoice. Wire transfer.
Rotary International has two types of membership: “Active†and “Honoraryâ€.
Here's how.
- Step 1: Ask permission. Ask the resigning member if he or she is willing to take a confidential exit survey.
- Step 2: Provide the survey. Give the member the survey and ask them to complete it at their earliest convenience.
- Step 3: Discuss the results.
- Step 4: Take action.
The Four-Way TestIs it the TRUTH?Is it FAIR to all concerned?Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
The members chose the name Rotary because initially they rotated subsequent weekly club meetings to each other's offices. Within a year, however, the Chicago club became so large it was necessary to adopt the now common practice of a regular meeting place.
