FAQ

JUST WHAT IS ROTARY?

Rotary International is a service organization. Our motto is “Service Above Self”. We number approximately 1.2 million members in 42,000 clubs worldwide. Rotarians are professional people who come together to give back some of the blessings they have received in life.

WHEN AND WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OF ROTARY?

Rotary was founded in 1905 through the vision of one man, Chicago Attorney Paul P. Harris. The Rotary Club of Chicago was formed on 23 February 1905 as of the world’s first service organizations. It was a place where professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of each member. Learn more about Rotary’s history and evolution at https://www.rotary.org/en/history-0.

WHAT DOES ROTARY DO?

Since 1985, Rotary International is best known for its efforts to eradicate Polio. Through the tireless and selfless efforts of many thousands of committed Rotarians Polio is reported now in only three countries. Clean Water and Sanitation is another worldwide project initiated by Rotary in 2010 as a way to reduce early mortality in developing countries. Rotary International is the only non-governmental organization (NGO) with a seat at the United Nations.

HOW DOES ROTARY GET ITS FUNDING?

The operation of Rotary Clubs is generally member funded. Money is raised for its many projects through individual club events, endowments and grants. We are especially grateful to the Gates Foundation for its $250 million matching grant towards the Polio Project in 2011.

WHEN AND WHERE DOES THE SEABROOK ROTARY CLUB MEET?

The Seabrook Rotary Club is designated AS A “breakfast” club that meets once a week on Thursdays at 7 a.m., Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook, Texas.

HOW CAN I BECOME A MEMBER OF ROTARY?

Membership in Rotary is generally open to anyone with a genuine desire to give back to community and mankind.

WHAT DO I GET FOR BEING A MEMBER?

You would join 1.2 million other Rotarians who arguably get more back from their service than they put into it – a value that cannot be measured monetarily. To be sure, though, we can do more collectively than we can alone. The power of human intention is enormous.

DO I HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF SEABROOK IN ORDER TO JOIN?

No, there is no requirement for residency. Rotary does ask members to make a commitment to attend regularly scheduled meetings, though, except as personal circumstances may not allow.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST ME?

Rotary has an initiation fee requirement of $100.00. Dues are paid quarterly, currently at $140.00. Rotary’s operating costs are member-funded, so dues pay for our meeting facility, wait-staff, and breakfast. In addition, members are asked to voluntarily contribute $100.00 per year to the Rotary International Foundation and $100.00 per year to the Seabrook Rotary Foundation. That works out to about $65.00 per month.

WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE MONEY RAISED BY THE SEABROOK ROTARY CLUB?

All of the funds we raise are used for educational, community or humanitarian initiatives. Return to the Home Page, go to CLUB PROJECTS and click on the links that describe all the many initiatives of the Seabrook Rotary Club.

HOW CAN I BECOME A SPONSOR?

Our sponsors are our partners, without whose support we would not be able to accomplish nearly as much as we do. For their generosity, we are enormously grateful. A list of our sponsors is accessible through this web site, linked here and also under the SPONSOR tab.