Membership

A Fresh Approach

Give your members a meaningful Rotary experience by offering them opportunities to make a positive difference and connect with others. They’ll make valuable friendships and feel good about Rotary and the work we’re doing to make the world a better place.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I get more information about being a member?
Download Rotary Basics – Reference Guide for Members – A reference guide for members.
If I’m not a Rotary club member, can I still help out with service projects?
Yes! You can offer to assist with our local or international service projects.
What kind of commitment do I need to make to attend meetings?
Most clubs ask that you prioritize your schedule to strive to meet a 50% attendance level during the year. We realize that members have many priorities in their lives and understand everyone has periods when their attendance raises and subtracts.
How often do you meet?
Most club meetings are held weekly. However, the 2016 Council on Legislation (COL) allowed clubs more flexibility in this area.
What kinds of programs during meeting should I expect?
During the past 3 years, clubs have hosted top state officials, city mayors, Olympians, etc. Clubs strive for the utmost quality of presenters with informative topics that will engage their membership.
May I solicit the membership for business if I become a member?
Although you will receive a listing of our membership upon first becoming a member and the ability to electronically find their contact information, the member information shall not be used for the purpose of solicitation for non-club purposes nor shared with non-members. The expectation is that you will personally make an effort to connect and engage with our membership during the weekly meetings and other events during the year.
May I promote my business in the club?
While direct solicitation of the overall club membership is frowned upon, you have a chance to network face to face at the meetings.
Does that mean that networking is frowned upon?
Absolutely not! Rotary was founded on the chance to network between businesses; the RI emblem of a wheel depicts the original intent of “rotating” between members’ businesses to hold the weekly meetings. We encourage our members to network before lunch and to look to one another whenever a service is required.
What is a classification and can there only be one member with the same classification?
Every member is assigned a professional classification, such as telecommunications, healthcare or architecture. Our clubs in conjunction with Rotary International seek to manage each classification so that there are no more than 10% of our members with the same profession in an effort to ensure a broad and diverse membership group. As an incoming member, your classification will be determined and discussed with you to ensure you are properly classified.
How large is Rotary?
Rotary International is an association of Rotary clubs worldwide. It’s made up of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. The members of these autonomous clubs are called Rotarians, and they form a global network of 1.2 million business and professional leaders, all volunteering their time and talents to serve their communities and the world. Individual Rotary clubs, in turn, belong to the global association called Rotary International.
What is the Four-Way Test?
This test, which has been translated into more than 100 languages, asks the following questions:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it bring GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
What is the minimum age to be in Rotary?
There is no minimum age to join Rotary. You may be invited to join at any age after you become established in a career and have the time and financial resources to meet all Rotary club membership requirements. If you’re interested in joining Rotary, ask members about the time and financial commitments necessary to fulfill membership requirements, and consider whether you can make those commitments.
Why is Rotary enhancing its public image?
Worldwide, more than 2 million nonprofits compete for limited volunteer hours, donor money, and other resources. Rotary has a great story to tell, but we need to tell it more simply and consistently. Our research has taught us better ways to frame our strengths and bring our core values to life. By providing a clear, consistent image of Rotary — what we stand for and how we differ from other charitable organizations — we offer prospective members, donors, and volunteers a strong vision of what it means to engage with us.