Falmouth Rotary - Becomming a Member

What is Rotary?
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. In more than 160 countries worldwide, approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 30,000 Rotary clubs.

What does Rotary do?
The main objective of Rotary is service - in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities, and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development. The Rotary motto is “Service Above Self”.

Although Rotary clubs develop autonomous service programs, All Rotarians worldwide are united in a campaign for the global eradication of polio. In the 1980s, Rotarians raised US$240 million to immunize the children of the world; by 2005, Rotary's centenary year, and the target date for the certification of a polio-free world, the PolioPlus program will have contributed US$500 million to this cause. In addition, Rotary has provided an army of volunteers to promote and assist at national immunization days in polio-endemic countries around the world.

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a not-for-profit corporation that promotes world understanding through international humanitarian service programs and educational and cultural exchanges. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and others who share its vision of a better world. Since 1947, the Foundation has awarded more than US$1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants, which are initiated and administered by local Rotary clubs and districts.

Who joins Rotary?
Rotary Club membership represents a cross-section of the community's business and professional men and women. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races and creeds.

Are there restrictions on membership?
Rotary does not discriminate in any way against any class of people. However, Rotary is discriminating about selection of individual members. In an effort to maintain diversity of membership within its local Clubs, Rotary International does classify the business and professional activities of its members and limits active membership in any club to five from any such classification. Additionally, local clubs have autonomy over member admissions. Rotary clubs place high value on good moral character, a reputation for integrity within one's business or profession, the willingness to provide service, and a strong commitment to attendance and the goals of the club as prerequisites to membership.

Do I have to wait to be invited to join?
While guests are generally welcome at weekly meetings, guests usually attend by invitation, and prospective members are sponsored by existing members. Once accepted into membership of a local Rotary Club, a Rotarian becomes a member of Rotary International. However, if a one has an interest in becoming a Rotarian, one need not wait to be invited. Simply use the "Prospective Member" button on the left hand menu. Someone from our Club will contact you to invite you to a meeting.

What are the membership dues?
Rotary International currently charges each local club US$17.50 semi-annually per member for dues, plus US$6.00 semi-annually per member for compulsory subscription to The Rotarian, the monthly Rotary magazine. Local clubs require membership fees from their respective members to cover at least these costs. Additionally, clubs most often meet weekly. Weekly meetings often include breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on the time of the meeting. A charge is assessed for the meal. Some clubs also charge an initiation fee. Dues at the Rotary Club of Falmouth are $60 per calendar quarter.

What are the attendance requirements?
Local Rotary clubs meet weekly. Rotary International instructs all local clubs to use a uniform club constitution that provides that active membership requires a minimum of 60% attendance, determined quarterly. Missed meetings can be “made up” by attending a weekly meeting of any other Rotary club [anywhere in the world] within two weeks of the missed meeting. Moreover, attendance at any District or International Rotary event qualifies in place of a local meeting, as does participation in any local club event at a time other than the club's weekly meeting. In addition, the unexcused failure to attend three consecutive weekly meetings is grounds for membership termination.

Are Rotarians limited to their local club?
A Rotarian can be a member of only one local club. However, as a Rotarian, each member is a welcome visitor at any local Rotary Club world-wide. Rotarians who travel find the extent of their welcome at other clubs to be one of the prime benefits of being a Rotarian. Moreover, Rotarians can serve not only at the local level but at the District and International levels as well. The only limits are self-imposed.