New Member Introduction
This is a new member introduction, and is NOT an
official Rotary document. You are most welcome to adapt this document for
use in your own club.
Contents
The Purpose of this Rotary Information Meeting is:-
- To give you, a proposed member, a bird's eye view of Rotary.
- To let you know what you may expect of your membership.
- To let you know what our club will expect of you as a member.
- To answer any questions that you might have about Rotary in general
and our club in particular.
Rotary is an International Organization
The first Rotary Club was organized in Chicago in 1905 by Paul P. Harris.
This club met in rotation at the offices of the members, thus the name
Rotary. There are now 27,810 Rotary Clubs with a total Rotary membership
of over 1.8 million men and women. As a Rotarian, you will be a member
of the Rotary Club of Dunedin East, which in turn is a member of Rotary
International.
The free world is divided into territories within which a group of
clubs are associated. These territories are known as Rotary Districts.
There are 515 districts in the Rotary world (154 countries).
OUR CLUB is in District 9980 which is comprised of 30 clubs. Total
membership is over 1,500 Rotarians.
Rotary International is governed by a president and board of directors
elected from all over the world. Annually, each District elects a District
Governor and each club elects its officers and directors.
Our Rotary Club
Each year we elect our officers. These officers conduct the general
business of our Club.
Our President, with the approval of our Board of Directors, makes committee
appointments based upon the following Four Avenues of Service:
- Club Service
- Community Service
- Vocational Service
- International Service
Each Rotarian is expected to participate in one of the Avenues of Service.
Object of Rotary
The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service
as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster
the following:
The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition
of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each
Rotarian of their occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to their
personal, business and community life.
The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace
through a world of fellowship of business and professional people united
in the ideal of service.
The Four Avenues of Service
CLUB SERVICE
The following are directed toward the internal functioning of the Club
to maintain its health and vigor:
| Membership |
|
Treasurer |
| Attendance |
|
Rotary Information |
| Sergeant-at-Arms |
|
Classification |
| Membership Development |
|
Club Bulletin |
| Program |
|
Fellowship Activities |
| Public Relations |
|
|
VOCATIONAL SERVICE
Promotion of the ideal of service:
- Adgerence to and promotion of the highest ethical standards in all
occupations.
- Recognition of the worthiness to society of all useful occupations.
- Contribution of one's vocational talents to the problems and needs
of society.
- Career Development
- Vocational Awareness
- Vocation at Work
- Vocational Awards
COMMUNITY SERVICE
A club effort to improve the quality of life within the community.
- Community Development
- Community projects
- Community grants
- Environmental Protection
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
The promotion of many efforts to advance understanding, goodwill and
the quality of life throughout the world.
- International Youth Projects
- World Fellowship Activites
- Rotary Foundation
- World Community Service
The Rotary Foundation
The goal of the Foundation is to further understanding and friendly
relations among the world's people by funding educational and humanitarian
programs including:
- Ambassadorial Scholarships
- Matching Grants
- Group Study Exchange
- Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grants
- Rotary Grants for University Teachers to Serve in Developing Countries
- Grants for Rotary Volunteers
- PolioPlus Program
- Rotary Peace Programs
Several of these programs send scholars and volunteer workers abroad
to study, learn about other cultures, offer assistance and promote goodwill
within a host country.
The Four-Way Test of the things we Think, Say or Do
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Your Privileges in Rotary
The privilege of friendship with leaders
- in your community
- in neighboring cities
- throughout New Zealand
- around the world
- The privilege of giving service to your community.
- The privilege of developing international goodwill and
understanding.
- The privilege of helping build higher ethical standards
within your vocation.
Your Obligations in Rotary
- Participation
To be a Rotarian you must give your time and talents to
the following:
- in community work
- in social functions
- in Club and District activities
Attendance
100% attendance is urged and honored in Rotary. To achieve
this goal:
- attend each weekly meeting of your Club
- make up at another Rotary Club withing 14 days before
or after amissed meeting of our Club
- attend a District Institute, Assembly or Conference or
a Rotary International Convention
Attend 100% of your club meetings!
Stay for 100% of each meeting!
Rotary Attendance Rules
Attendance
- Must be in attendance at least 60% of a meeting to receive
credit.
- Must attend or make up at least 60% of the regular meetings
of the club.
- Must attend at least 30% of the regular meetings of the
club.
- Failure to attend or make up four consecutive meetings
automatically terminates membership.
- Attendance percentages are calculated for the six month
periods ending December 31 and June 30.
Make Up
- The time for making up a missed meeting is any time two
weeks prior to or two weeks after the missed meeting.
- Make up can be made by:
- Attending at least 60% of the regular meetings of another
club or provisional club
- Attending, at the direction of the club, a regular meeting
of a Rotaract or Interact club or provisional Rotaract or Interact club
- Attending a Convention of Rotary International, or selected
other international regional or district conferences or assemblies.
Your Financial Obligation
| Annual Dues |
$200.00 |
| Meals |
$13.00 per meal |
| Fines and Raffles |
$ 1-2 |
| Social Events |
(est.) $40 - $100 a couple |
| Rotary Foundation Annual Giving |
$50.00 |
The Rotary fiscal year runs from July 1 through June
30.
How YOU Were Chosen as a
Member of Rotary
- A member of this Rotary Club sponsored your membership.
- Our Classification Committee verified your occupation
and agreed:
- that you hold an important position in your firm,
- that you are an outstanding leader in your vocation,
and
- that the classification being loaned to you was open.
- Our membership Committee verified your personal reputation
both in your business and in the community.
- Our Board of Directors approved your proposed Rotary
membership.
- Our entire membership also approved you as a new
Rotarian.
Membership
There are four types of membership in a Rotary Club. They
are outlined below:
Active or Additional Active
Members selected for their leadership in the business
or profession for which thay are classified.
Senior Active
Former active member who automatically becomes Senior
Active in one of the following ways:
- Active in one or more Rotary clubs for at least 15 years.
- At least 60 years of age with at least 10 years active
membership.
- At least 65 years of age with 5 or more years of active
membership.
- Being present or past officers of Rotary International.
Past Service
Members who have retired and have held active membership
for at least three years but not yet eligible for senior active.
Honorary
Non-voting members elected because of distinguished service
in furthering Rotary ideals. Ineligible to hold office, they must be re-elected
annually for membership.
Rotary Publications
Rotary International publishes two monthly magazines for
the South Pacific region called,
The Rotarian and Rotary Downunder. They are well worth reading
and contain the following:
- news of Rotary around the world and the Pacific region
- interesting articles by outstanding writers on a variety
of important subjects.
Our District 9980 publishes a monthly newsletter. In addition,
our Rotary Club furnishes you with:
- Club Bulletin -- Our bulletin reports the weekly
news of our members and club activities. It also contains make-up information
of nearby Rotary Clubs showing their meeting times and locations.
- Roster -- The roster contains a list of our members
which you will find convenient and useful.
- Committee Chart -- This displays all the Club
Committee members.
They profit most who serve best!