Benefits & Responsibilities

The club is the cornerstone of Rotary, where the most meaningful work is carried out. All effective Rotary clubs are responsible for four key elements: sustaining or increasing their membership base, participating in service projects that benefit their own community and those in other countries, supporting The Rotary Foundation of RI financially and through program participation, and developing leaders capable of serving in Rotary beyond the club level.

What Rotarians get out of Rotary depends largely on what they put into it. Many membership requirements are designed to help members be­come and remain active participants in their clubs, and enjoy their Rotary experience.

Service

All Rotary clubs share a key mission: to serve their community and those in need throughout the world. By participating in club service projects, members learn about their club's involvement in local and international projects and can volunteer their time and talents where they are most needed.

Membership recruitment and retention

To keep clubs strong, every Rotarian must share the responsibility of bringing new people into Rotary. Even new members can bring guests to meetings or invite them to participate in a service project. The value of Rotary speaks for itself, and the best way to engage the interest of potential members is by letting them experience fellowship and service firsthand.

Keeping members interested in Rotary is another responsibility Good club fellowship, early involvement in service projects, and involvement in club operations are some of the best ways to sustain the club's membership.

The ideal composition of a Rotary club reflects the community's demographics, including professions, gender, age, and ethnicity. Such diversity enriches every aspect of the club's fellowship and service.

Attendance

Attending club meetings allows members to enjoy their club's fellowship, enrich their professional and personal knowledge, and meet other business leaders in their community. Club meeting times vary to accommodate members' family and professional commitments. Some clubs meet at lunchtime, while others meet in the early morning, after work, or in the evening.

Rotary policy requires members to attend at least 50 percent of club meetings in each half of the year. If members miss their own club's meet­ing, they're encouraged to expand their Rotary horizons by attending make-up meetings at any Rotary club in the world - a practice that guarantees Rotarians a warm welcome in communities around the globe. Find meeting places and times in the Official Directory or through the Club Locator at www.rotary.org.

Rotarians can also make up meetings by participating in a club service project or by attending a club board meeting, a Rotaract or Interact club meeting, or an online meeting at one of several Rotary e-clubs.