Increasing membership is vital to a Rotary club’s operations and community service activities. Clubs seek individuals who have the interest and ability to get involved in humanitarian projects.
Benefits of Rotary
Membership in a Rotary club brings with it many opportunities, such as:
- Becoming connected to your community
- Working with other like minded business leaders and professionals to address community needs
- Participating in Rotary’s international humanitarian service efforts
- Establishing contact with an international network of professionals
- Developing leadership skills and assuming leadership positions
Membership Criteria
Rotary club membership is by invitation and club members must hold or be retired from a professional, proprietary, executive, or managerial position and live or work within the locality of the club or surrounding areas.
Classifications
Membership invitations are also based on the classification principle, which helps ensure a cross-representation of the businesses and professions within the community. A classification describes either the principal business or professional service of the organization that the Rotarian works for, or the Rotarian’s own activity within the organization. Examples of classifications include higher education administration, eye surgery, human resources, and pharmaceutical sales.
Responsibilities of Rotary
In addition, Rotary club membership carries with it certain responsibilities:
- Members are expected to attend weekly meetings of the club. There are various opportunities for making up missed meetings.
- Members are required to pay annual dues to their club, their district (an administrative unit of Rotary International), and to Rotary International.
[Further details of these responsibilities can be found in the (standard) Club Constitution.]
The Membership Process
Often a person being considered for membership is invited by a current member to attend one or more club meetings. If the prospective member is a good fit for the club, and the club is a good match for the prospective member’s interests, a sponsor may submit the candidate to the club’s membership committee. With approval from the committee and the other club members, the candidate may be inducted into the club.