About Our Club

 
The Rotary Club of Surrey was formed on March 27, 1971 through the sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Langley. A group of Surrey busnessmen began weekly meetings in September 1970 at Fernwood Acres (now Dam's Lincoln Mercury) on 104th Avenue.  Seven months later the Rotary Club of Surrey received its charter at the Willamar Ballroom of Fernies Catering Service.  Ron Redman was installed as the clubs' first president. Other officers installed that night were; Phil Ashton, John Ward, Cal Dean and Chuck Bury.
 

Rotary International

The Rotary Club of Surrey is part of Rotary International, which is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world.  This is exemplified in the official Rotary International motto: "Service Above Self".  Founded in Chicago in 1905, Rotary is the first and most international of all the worlds' service organizations.  Presently there are over 27,000 clubs in virtually every nation of the world with over 1.2 million members.

Governance

 

Rotary International is organized on three operation levels  Club, District and International.  Each level functions within the framework of policies and procedures approved by the Rotary International Board of Directors.

The individual Rotary Clubs are grouped together within a geographic district all under the umbrella of Rotary International. The Rotary Club of Surrey is part of District 5050.


An elected board of directors comprised of the President, President Elect, Vice President and other Directors often including the Secretary and Treasurer govern each Rotary Club. The Rotary Year starts July 1st and ends June 30th

Avenues of Service

Rotary clubs around the world develop plans and projects each year around the four avenues of service that have been identified as fundamental to Rotary life. Plans and projects are tailored to meet the needs of communities in which the clubs are located around the world. This is one of Rotary's greatest strengths as it permits worldwide diversity within an overall framework of unity.

Club Service

Club Service deals with the events and projects relating to the social bonding and fellowship enjoyed by Rotarians, as this was the primary intention of the Rotary founders in Chicago in 1905.  As well as weekly lunch meetings, the members get together for fireside discussions, holiday parties, sporting and social activities.  Most of these latter events include members and their partners.

Vocational Service

One of the original concepts of Rotary was to further the members understanding of the jobs, occupations and professions of fellow members.  When a new member is inducted into our club, he or she is given a "classification", loosely intended to restrict membership to only one or two persons engaged in the same work, thus preventing any one profession or occupation from dominating the club affairs.  Shortly after induction the new member is asked to give a short talk about his or her work as well as a few facts concerning their personal life.

Community Service

This avenue of service relates to Rotary's contribution to the welfare of the community and is one of our clubs major concerns.  Before any such contribution can be made it is necessary to support the effort; therefore fundraising is an ongoing project for the club.  Some of our club's major accomplishments include:

  • $50,000 commitment to BC Cancer Foundation.For resource centre at the Surrey Location.
  • Purchased a truck for the Surrey Food Bank
  • Assisted in Purchase of Truck for Salvation Army
  • Purchased an anti-speeding vehicle for ICBC volunteers to alert motorists if they are traveling too fast
  • Reclaimed Quibble Creek allowing Salmon to once again come up river.
  • Sponsor annual Adventures in Citizenship award where student speakers compete to win a one week trip to Ottawa to participate with other worthy Canadian students in learning about Canadian governance
  • Cleaned up the shoreline and helped to restore the BrownsvilleBarPark
  • Financed the expansion of Surrey Community Services to establish the original Crisis Centre
  • Annual support for the various improvements that have occurred over the years at SurreyMemorialHospital, including the recent "Here for Kids" addition ot the hospital

International Service

As a member of an international organization, the club has had the opportunity to participate in projects of a worldwide nature. In addition to the need for contributions of money and equipment, participation in international projects is intended to promote better understanding between countries. With assistance and coordination from Rotary International, The Rotary Club of Surrey has contributed to many international projects some of which are included in the following list;

  • Collecting, storing and shipping used hospital equipment to third world countries for use in their hospitals
  • Annual contributions to Rotary International to assist with the Polio Plus Campaign which has the avowed aim of eradicating polio worldwide and with programs that assist third world countries that experience natural disasters
  • Financial support for an ongoing project that is aimed at overcoming eye diseases and providing eyeglasses for the people of India
  • Financial support to assist with training of people in Cambodia to make prosthesis from plastic pipe for distribution to victims of land mines
  • Financial support for annual projects undertaken by Rotary International as needs arise

Membership Responsibility

Cost of Membership

   Annual dues are $180. A major portion is sent to Rotary International and District 5050 to assist with administrative expenses

The club meets at the ABC 15573 Fraser Highway, SurreyBC every Tuesday at 6:15 pm

 Support The Rotary Foundation  members are encouraged to include this donation to the Rotary International Foundation as part of their annual charitable donations. Donations of $100 US per annum qualify individuals to be sustaining members of the Foundation and are tax deductible.


Club Expectations of Members

     Participation and involvement are the key characteristics of the membership of a successful Rotary Club.  Attendance at Weekly meetings is considered very important and the rule is 60% attendance is necessary to maintain membership.

         All members are responsible to continue to develop the club by introducing prospective new members.

         Membership and participation on various committees is essential to spread the work load.

        Members are encouraged to organize weekly meeting programs from time to time by inviting speakers to attend our meetings.

        Once a member has some experience with Rotary they will be invited to participate in the administration of the club in a role as Directory or officer.