I. INTRODUCTION & SOURCE CREDITS
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in the conduct of business and personal matters, and to help build good will and global peace.
The Board of Directors of Eugene Rotary Club believes that all club members and new members in particular, should have access to important information about the purpose and function of Rotary at the club and international levels, and how the different levels of Rotary interact.
This document has been compiled from information largely taken verbatim (and without individual credit) from the following Rotary International publications: Manual of Procedure, Rotary International (2001), and Rotary in Profile, revised edition of the Rotary Basic Library, Rotary International.
It is the intent of the club to revise the information annually. The statistical information included is as of January 1, 2002.
II. HISTORY OF ROTARY
Rotary was the world's first service club organization. Today Rotary has about one million, two hundred thousand members belonging to more than 30,149 clubs in 162 countries. Rotary continues its steady worldwide growth, with many new clubs forming in Eastern European countries, which had clubs prior to WWII, and in Russia where the first club was admitted in June, 1990. Our club sponsored the second club in Russia--Irkutsk in Siberia--chartered in October, 1990.
A. ROTARY INTERNATIONAL (RI)
The Rotary movement began on the evening of February 23, 1905 when Paul Harris, then a young lawyer feeling somewhat lost and alone in the sprawling city of Chicago, met with three friends to discuss an idea he had been developing. The three other men by occupation were a coal dealer, a mining engineer, and a tailor. Paul's idea was that businessmen should get together periodically in the spirit of camaraderie to enjoy each other's company and to enlarge their circle of business and professional acquaintances.
Out of their discussion came the idea of a men's club whose membership would be limited to one representative from each business and profession. After enlisting a fifth member --a printer-- the group was formally organized as the Rotary Club of Chicago. The club meetings were rotated at the members places of business, hence the name Rotary. The final roster of 1905 listed a membership of 30.
Word of the new organization spread rapidly, and membership soon increased to the point where it became impractical to meet at a member's place of business. Thereafter, they began the practice of holding weekly meetings at restaurants and hotels.
In the mind of Paul Harris, the Chicago club was never intended to exist solely to promote business among members. While also interested in fun and fellowship, he hoped that the club would undertake broad civic functions of value to the whole community. Two years later, the Chicago club began their first community project, the establishment of a "public comfort station."
In 1908, a second club was organized in San Francisco. The following year three more clubs were organized. By 1910, there were 16 clubs with 1,500 members across the United States. These were the "organizational clubs" since each had been locally organized and not chartered by a national association. In 1910 Rotary held its first convention in Chicago, and the 16 clubs were united as "The National Association of Rotary Clubs." Paul Harris was elected president of the association. The service ideal of Rotary began taking shape during these earliest years. During the 1910 convention two sayings that later became official Rotary mottoes were first spoken: "Service Above Self" and "He Profits Most Who Serves Best."
Paul Harris's first attempt to establish a club outside the United States was aimed at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, where, after several unsuccessful efforts, a club was organized in 1911. Shortly thereafter clubs were organized in Dublin, Ireland, and London and Manchester, England. At the 1911 Convention the name was changed to "The International Association of Rotary Clubs", later changed to Rotary International. After spanning the Atlantic, Rotary expanded rapidly. Rotary became truly international in the 1920's when the movement spread throughout continental Europe and reached South and Central America, Africa, Australia, and Asia. Rotary was the forerunner of other great service clubs, such as Kiwanis International in 1915, Lions International in 1917, and Optimist International in 1919.
Founder Paul Harris on many occasions had expressed great interest in developing a large educational endowment fund supported by worldwide contributions that would afford a practical means of actively promoting Rotary's international service objectives. The Rotary Foundation was formed in 1928 to help serve that purpose.
Immediately following the death of Paul Harris in 1947, the first plan for the Foundation's educational awards were formulated and dedicated as a memorial to Rotary's founder. A total of 18 scholarships to students from seven different countries were awarded that year. The principal source for funding these scholarships and subsequent other programs of The Foundation was -- and continues to be -- derived from the contributions made by Rotarians in becoming Paul Harris Sustaining Members and Paul Harris Fellows.
By the mid 1990's, general contributions to the Foundation exceeded $50 million annually, and more than $150 million in scholarships had been awarded by the Foundation to send more than 35,000 young men and women as goodwill ambassadors into over 140 countries as Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars to "further international understanding and friendly relations among peoples of different countries." More than 500,000 Paul Harris Fellows had by then been designated.
In 1985, in addition to many other ongoing programs, Rotary International undertook a new program to help immunize the world's children against polio and several other diseases in a program known as PolioPlus. Rotary pledged to raise $120 million to provide the vaccine for the immunizations and each Rotary member was asked to contribute. By 1995, more than $258 million was raised. The members of the Eugene Rotary Club raised and contributed $100,000 in the effort.
Established as an all male organization, United States Rotary clubs admitted women to membership in 1987. The admission of women to all Rotary clubs internationally was ratified at the 1989 meeting of the Rotary Council on Legislation.
B. THE ROTARY DISTRICT 5110
The Eugene Rotary Club is a member of District 5110 which consists of 63 clubs in Oregon and Northern California with approximately 4,900 members and covers three quarters of the state of Oregon--everything south of a line drawn across the state from Lincoln City to Bend and four clubs in northern California. District 5110 is one of the 530 districts in the world. The District Governor is nominated by the clubs in the district and elected for a one-year term by the membership as a whole at the International Convention. The District Governor is an officer of Rotary International and as the chief administrative officer of the district is the direct link between each individual club and Rotary International.
C. EUGENE ROTARY CLUB
The Eugene Rotary Club is the largest club in the Eugene/Springfield area with 304 members. We have been the sponsor of seven clubs: Springfield, Cottage Grove, Eugene Emerald, Eugene Delta, Eugene Southtowne, Eugene Mid-Valley, and Eugene Airport. There have been eight district governors from our club in our 73 years of existence. We are especially proud of the following accomplishments and community involvement:
Eugene Rotary Scholarship Foundation - Through this separate non-profit corporation, nine trustees receive and administer funds and other assets in the interest of scholarships for worthy young people of Eugene to attend local colleges.
The Great Rotary Duck Race - Back in 1988, the incoming presidents of the Eugene/Springfield Rotary Clubs agreed to have a community-wide fundraiser and to make a difference in our communities. The Duck Race idea came from a video at the PETS Seminar and was unanimously adopted by the area Rotary clubs as a fun vehicle to attract and hold public attention and support. The proceeds of the first two races were earmarked for the Community Substance Abuse Consortium. The following years, intervention and prevention of child abuse was the rallying cry. The annual Duck Race in October has become a great event in the area with the involvement of hundreds of Rotarians making it possible.
In 1996, a separate 501-C(3) Corporation was established to be the umbrella organization of the Duck Race (United Rotary Clubs, Inc. - URC). The Board of Directors is composed of the past presidents of the nine area Rotary clubs and this board decides in what general area the proceeds are to be used. Every two years, the URC board surveys all Rotarians in the area to determine what causes the membership would like to support. The Presidents-Elect are responsible for soliciting proposals and deciding which agency/group will receive how much of the proceeds. A standing committee meets throughout the year to deal with the operation of the Duck Race. It is expected that every Rotarian in the Eugene/Springfield area will be involved with the Great Rotary Duck Race.
The Eugene Rotary Club, also known as the Rotary Club of Eugene, Oregon, was organized on January 2, 1923 with 18 charter members. On January 16, 1923, application for a charter was submitted to Rotary International. The roster of proposed charter members consisted of the 18 men present at the January 2nd organizational meeting, plus three others. The club was officially chartered by Rotary International on March 15, 1923. For more than 20 years, the Eugene Rotary Club was the only one in Lane County.
III. PURPOSE, OBJECT AND FUNCTIONS OF ROTARY
The "Program of Rotary" expressed in its Object as set forth in Article III of the Constitution of Rotary International and Article III of the standard Rotary club constitution:
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
First: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service
Second: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an opportunity to serve society
Third: The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his personal, business and community life;
Fourth: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional men united in the ideal of service.
To enhance the development and maintenance of high ethical standards in human relations, Rotary developed and adopted what is known as the 4-Way Test:
THE 4-WAY TEST
Of the things we think, say or do
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"A. FOUR AVENUES OF SERVICE
All activities of a Rotary club fall under Rotary International's four avenues of service: Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service and International Service.
1. Club Service
Club Service, Rotary's first "Avenue of Service," by definition involves actions and activities a Rotarian must take within his club to help it function successfully. Many committees within a Rotary Club function to perpetuate its smooth running and to fulfill club goals and the Object of Rotary. Some of the committees functioning within the Club Service framework are: Fellowship, Greeters, Program, Attendance, Bulletin, Membership and Classification.
2. Vocational Service
Vocational Service is stressed in Rotary's Object in these words:
"To encourage and foster high ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an opportunity to serve society."
Stated in another way, Vocational service is aimed at promoting the ideal of service throughout the business and professional world. It implies the application of high ethical standards by individual Rotarians in all business or professional relations with employees, competitors, customers, and those from whom he buys; and, the promotion of such standards by each Rotarian among all others in his craft.
The policy of Rotary with regard to business and professional relations among Rotarians is that a Rotarian should not expect, and far less should he ask for more consideration or advantages from a fellow Rotarian than the latter would give to any other business or professional associate. It is contrary to a Rotarian's obligation to competitors and the spirit of Vocational Service for a Rotarian to grant a fellow Rotarian (because he is a Rotarian) privileges he would not normally accord also to others with whom he has a business or professional relationship. Any use of the fellowship of Rotary as a means of gaining an advantage or profit is foreign to the spirit of Rotary.
3. Community Service
Community Service, Rotary's third Avenue of Service, is comprised of varied efforts that Rotarians make, sometimes in conjunction with others, to improve the quality of life for those who live within their club's territory or municipality. Since the early days of the first Rotary club, Rotarians have been deeply involved in serving their communities. The history of every Rotary club is filled with records of projects whereby the third part of Rotary's Object is put into operation: "The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his personal, business and community life."
It is desirable for every Rotary club to sponsor a major community service activity each fiscal year, varied from year to year if possible and to be completed if possible before the end of the fiscal year. The activity should be based upon a real community need and should require the collective cooperation of all its members. Examples of past community service projects undertaken by Eugene Rotary Club include assistance for children with special needs, PAL, HIV/AIDS Awareness in the community and programs especially for children and young adults, beautification programs; building projects for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
4. International Service
The aim of International Service in Rotary is expressed in the fourth avenue of service: "To encourage and foster the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional people united in the ideal of service."
Freedom, justice, truth, sanctity of the pledged word, and respect for human rights are inherent in Rotary principles and are also vital to the maintenance of international peace and order and to human progress.
In concept, International Service can be broken down into four general areas:
1. World Community Service Activities
2. International Educational and Cultural Exchange Activities
3. Special International Observances and Events
4. Each Rotarian should help to create a well-informed public opinion under the belief that such opinion will inevitably affect governmental policies concerned with the advancement of international understanding and goodwill toward all peoples.
Rotary clubs should not engage in any corporate effort to influence governments, world affairs, or international policies, but should devote their energies toward informing the individual Rotarian in these important matters, so that he/she will develop an enlightened and constructive attitude of mind. A Rotary club may properly provide a forum for the presentation of public questions where such a course of action is designed to foster the fourth avenue of service. Where such questions are controversial, it is essential that both sides be adequately presented. Examples of past international service projects undertaken by Eugene Rotary Club include establishing a new Rotary club in Irkutsk, Russia and sending U. S. medical equipment to Africa and South America.B. CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
Each member of a Rotary club is classified in accordance with his business or profession. A "classification" is that word or phrase which describes the principal and recognized activity of the firm, company, or institution with which a Rotarian is connected, or if he is independently engaged in a business or profession, his/her classification shall be that which describes the principal and recognized business or professional activity provided by him/her. It is the principal and recognized activity of a business or professional establishment that determines the classification to be established and loaned to a qualified perspective member.
Among the major service organizations, membership by classification is absolutely unique to Rotary. A Rotary club should have in its membership a representative of every recognized business or professional or institutional activity in the community in-so-far as it is possible to obtain such representation. It is vital that a Rotary club have a well-balanced membership in which no business or professional group predominates.
Persons elected or appointed to public office, (except persons holding a position or office in schools, colleges, or persons elected or appointed to the judiciary), for a specified time only shall not be eligible to active membership in a Rotary club under the classification of such office.
1. Kinds of Membership
Within a Rotary club there are two kinds of membership:
a. Active
Active membership includes persons who are engaged as proprietor, partner, corporate officer or manager of any worthy, recognized business or profession; or person holding an important position in an executive capacity with discretionary authority in any worthy and recognized business or profession. Active members may also include persons acting as the local agent or branch representative of any worthy and recognized business or profession having charge of such agency or branch in an executive capacity. An active member is one who is personally and actively engaged in the business or profession in which he is to be classified. There can be no more than one active member in each classification of business or profession accepting the religion, news media and diplomatic classifications, and the provision for additional active members.
b. Additional Active
Any active member of a Rotary club may propose one additional person who is actively engaged in the same classification of business or profession as that of the proposer. The qualifications of an additional active member are the same as those for an active member. An additional active member is the same as an active member in all respects except that he may not propose an additional active member under his/her classification. Under special circumstances, a Rotary club may elect to membership a second additional active member provided that he/she is a former active member of another Rotary club.
c. Senior Active
Any active member of a Rotary club may become a senior active member provided that they meet the age and length-of-membership requirements outlined in Article V, Section 5 of the Standard Rotary Club Constitution as follows: (a) Any active member of this club or past service member whose combined active and past service membership in one or more clubs conforms with the service requirements as hereinafter set forth, (i) who has been a member of one or more clubs for a total of fifteen or more years; or (ii) who is of the age of sixty or more after having been a member of one or more clubs for a total of ten or more years; or (iii) who is of the age of sixty-five or more after having been a member of one or more clubs for a total of five or more years, or (iv) who is a present or past officer of RI. A senior active member has all of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of an active member except that he/she does not represent any business or professional classification and may not propose an additional active member. A change of classification from active or additional active to senior active is automatic upon meeting the senior active requirements. The automatic change is an important mechanism that guarantees a gradual influx of new younger members.
d. Past ServiceA person who has retired from active business or professional life but who is otherwise qualified for Rotary club membership under article V, section 3 of the constitution of this club, including having held a qualifying position level, may be elected a past service member.
Active members who, through no fault of their own, would otherwise lose their classifications may, by action of the board of directors of this club, be elected to past service membership.
A past service member shall have all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of an active member except that such member shall not be considered as representing any business or professional classification, shall not become a senior active member (except as provided in section 5 (a) of this article) and shall not have the right to propose an additional active member.
b. Honorary
A person distinguished by meritorious service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals may be elected to honorary membership in a Rotary club. Honorary members are exempt from the payment of admission fees and dues, may not vote in club elections, cannot hold any club office, do not represent a business or profession, but are entitled to attend all meetings and enjoy all other privileges of a Rotary club. Honorary members are not entitled to any rights or privileges in any club other than the one that elected them to honorary membership. Honorary membership automatically terminates each June 30th unless extended by action of a Rotary club's Board of Directors.
C. ATTENDANCE
Every member of a Rotary club should seek as a goal to attend all of its regular meetings, or, when an absence is unavoidable, to make up that missed meeting by attending the meeting of another Rotary club. A member is counted as attending a regular club meeting if he/she is present for at least 60% of the time devoted for the regular meeting.
1. Attendance Requirements
Regular attendance at club meetings is a fundamental objective of Rotary.
Failure to meet attendance requirements is cause for termination of membership under Article X, Section 5 of the Standard Rotary Club Constitution.
a. Failure to attend or make up four consecutive regular meetings, or
b. Failure to attend or make up at least 60% of the regular meetings in the first or second six months of the fiscal year, or
c. Failure to attend at least 30% of the regular meetings at the member's own Rotary club.
If such a member fails to attend as required above, that person's membership shall automatically terminate unless the board consents to such non-attendance for good and sufficient reason.
2. Leave of Absence
Upon written application to the Board of Directors of a Rotary club, setting forth good and sufficient cause, leaves of absence may be granted, excusing a member from attending the meeting of the club for a specified length of time. Leaves of absence do not operate to prevent a forfeiture of membership or to give a club credit for the member's attendance.
3. Making Up
When attending a club meeting is not possible, Rotarians may protect their membership and receive attendance credit by attending the meeting of another Rotary club 14 days before or 14 days after the absence. The make-up attendance is reported to the member's home club on a "Visiting Rotarian Sign-In Sheet" sent by the secretary of the club visited to the secretary of the home club. When attending a make-up meeting is very important to sign in to ensure attendance credit.
4. Arriving Late or Leaving a Club
Meeting Early
Rotary International and the Eugene Rotary Club strongly discourage members from arriving late or leaving early and thereby attending less than a full meeting. The practice of leaving meetings early, especially when prior to introduction of a program speaker, is rude and not in keeping with the spirit of Rotary. If a member cannot attend an entire meeting, that member should consider making up rather than leaving a meeting early.
D. INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION, CONFERENCES AND ASSEMBLIES
Each year Rotarians have opportunities to attend international and district meetings with other Rotarians throughout the world, their own district and local clubs.
1. International Convention
A convention of Rotary International is held annually in the months of April, May or June at a time and place determined by the R.I. Board of Directors. The primary purpose of the annual Convention of Rotary International is to stimulate, inspire and inform all Rotarians at an international level, particularly incoming club presidents and other incoming Rotary club and Rotary International officers, in order that they will be motivated to actively develop Rotary at the club and district levels. The annual Convention also constitutes the annual meeting of the international association and provides for the conduct of business of the association. There has been an international Convention in a major city of the world every year since 1910 when the first Convention was held in Chicago. The second Convention was in Portland, Oregon. Each year Eugene Rotary Club pays all expenses for its incoming president to attend the Convention.
2. District Conference
A conference of Rotarians is held annually in each district at such time and place in the district as shall be agreed upon by the District Governor and the presidents of the majority of the clubs in the district. The purpose of the conference is to further the program of Rotary through fellowship, inspirational addresses, and the discussion of mattes relating to the affairs of clubs in the district and Rotary International.
3. District Assembly
The district assembly is held to provide motivation, inspiration, Rotary knowledge, and instruction in administrative duties in order that the incoming presidents and secretaries, and other incoming club leaders will receive a greater understanding of their responsibilities and opportunities for service. Incoming club presidents are also required to attend a "Presidents-Elect Training Seminar" (PETS), normally held for incoming club presidents in several districts.
4. Club Assembly
The club assembly is a meeting of all club officers, directors, and committee chairpersons held for the purpose of conferring on the program and activities of the club. Other members of the club are also urged to attend. Club assemblies are held at the time of the visit of the District Governor and such other times as are appropriate.
5. Annual Club Meeting
Each Rotary club has an annual meeting for the election of officers and directors to serve for the ensuing year, and for conduct of club business. The Eugene Rotary Club has its annual meeting on the first Tuesday of December in each year.
E. COMMUNICATIONS
Rotarians within a club formally communicate in four ways: Club Roster, Club Bulletin, and weekly meetings, and the Rotarian and the websites of International, District and the club. Communication with Rotary International is through the District Governor, and through Rotary's official magazine, The Rotarian.
1. Club Roster
Eugene Rotary Club has a club roster that is updated annually. The roster contains a listing of the club's present officers, directors, committee chairpersons, and information on all members of the club. The roster is strictly confidential among club members, and under no circumstances is the roster to be loaned to a person not a member, or used to promote commercial business interests.
2. Club Bulletin
At each club meeting there is a club bulletin placed at each place setting that outlines the meeting agenda and provides a brief explanation of the day's program. The bulletin also serves as the formal method to notify the club of pending membership nominees. The bulletin is produced by the club and contains all information deemed appropriate by the club president and the Board of Directors.
3. Weekly Club Meeting
During the course of a club meeting, the president and other members may also communicate information that was either too late to be included in the bulletin, or information of sufficient importance to warrant it being orally communicated to the members.
4. The Rotarian
The Rotarian is the international magazine of Rotary International. Each Rotarian receives a copy as part of the annual dues.
5. Websites
The Website for the Eugene Rotary Club is http://www.eugenerotary.org. Club members may access the district and international Rotary Websites from the club website. Check the club Roster to ensure the club website has not changed since publication of this pamphlet.
F. FINANCIAL OBLIGATION
Membership in any Rotary club carries with it a certain financial obligation. Actual costs vary from club to club, and to some extent from member to member. In addition to the annual dues for Rotary membership, there are additional costs that are not apparent, but which should be considered by a prospective membership nominee. The total cost of membership is approximately $1200 per year.
1. Initiation Fee
There is a one-time initiation fee of $200 upon joining the Eugene Rotary Club. The fee is paid at the time a member submits his/her completed application form after he/she has attended a Rotary Information meeting, but before publication of the nominee's name in the club bulletin.
2. Annual Dues
The Eugene Rotary Club has annual dues payable one half on January 1 and one half on July 1. Currently the dues are $300 For new members, this is payable at the same time as the one-time initiation fee. Currently that fee is $200. The annual dues for new members may be prorated depending on the time of the fiscal year a new member is inducted. Thereafter, dues are payable on July 1st each year. Any member failing to pay their dues within thirty days after the prescribed time may be notified in writing by the secretary. If the dues are not paid on or before ten days from the date of notification, membership automatically terminates without requiring action by the Board of Directors.
3. The Rotary Foundation
The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation providing ambassadorial scholarships, humanitarian grants to needy people and worthy projects, and educational awards for international exchanges of university scholars, teachers, and business and professional people. Its objective is the achievement of world understanding and peace through international charitable and educational programs. Each Club member is strongly encouraged to contribute at least $100 a year to the foundation. A member becomes a Paul Harris sustaining member by doing so and becomes a Paul Harris Member each time the Rotarian has contributed $1,000.
IV. ANNUAL CLUB OBJECTIVES
Each year the club's incoming president organizes his committees, their chairpersons and members to carry out the objectives that he/she has outlined. Normally, all members are given one or more committee assignments based upon their preference. The president's goals and objectives are normally presented to the club during the first meeting presided over by the new president. New members of the club are acquainted with the current president's objectives during the Rotary Information meeting.
V. JOINING EUGENE ROTARY CLUB
A. PROPOSING A NEW MEMBER
A new member may be proposed by completing a membership application form. The forms are available from, and once completed, should be returned to the Rotary office. The form should include the name of a mentor who is assigned by the membership development committee to assist you in the application process. If there is no mentor assigned contact the Club office or the chair of the membership development committee. The mentor is available to assist you and to ensure the applicant moves to membership if the nominee qualifies.
A membership nominee should not be made aware that he/she has been proposed as a prospective member. Experience has shown proposed members often do not meet Rotary's strict membership requirements. Hurt feelings and embarrassment can result if membership nominations are not kept confidential. It is considered to be in especially poor judgment to introduce a nominee as a prospective or future member at club meetings, although inviting a nominee to attend meetings as a guest is quite appropriate provided the nominee is not told that he/she has been nominated for membership.
B. MEMBERSHIP STEPS
The By-Laws of the Eugene Rotary Club spell out the qualifications for membership. To be proposed as a member of Rotary, a candidate must be an adult person of good character and good business or professional reputation and;
1. Is owner, partner, corporate officer or manager of any worthy, recognized business or profession; or
2. Holds an important position in an executive capacity with discretionary authority in any worthy and recognized business or profession; or
3. Is the local agent or branch repre-sentative of any worthy and recognized business or profession having charge of such agency or branch in an executive capacity; and is personally and actively engaged in the business or profession in which he/she is to be classified in the club and having his/her place of business or residence located within the territorial limits of this club (the city of Eugene and environs) or within the territorial limits of immediately adjoining clubs (the city of Springfield and environs); and must be devoting at least sixty percent of his/her commercial, industrial, professional, or institutional life to that activity (business, profession, occupation, concern or establishment) which his/her proposed classification described, and be generally engaged in that business or professional activity.
A good guideline for a prospective new member:
1. Does he/she have control over his/her time?
2. Is he/she committed to community service?
3. Is there a financial commitment?
The following are the steps undertaken to propose and induct a new member into the Eugene Rotary Club:
1. Name Proposed for Membership
As indicated above, a nominee is proposed for membership by submitting to the club office a completed membership proposal card and information sheet. When received by the office, the membership proposal is forwarded to the chairpersons of the Classification and Membership Committees to determine whether a classification is available for the nominee. An open classification is one that is not already held by an active and additional active member.
2. Board Approval
The Board of Directors receives a recommendation from the Classification and Membership Committees and acts by majority vote to approve or disapprove a nominee. If disapproved, the member proposing the nominee is advised of the reasons for the disapproval by the Club President. If approved, and seven days after publishing of the name with no subsequent objections from other members, the proposing member is asked to invite the approved nominee to an orientation meeting with a past president of the club.
3. Information/Orientation Meeting
The purpose of the meeting is to orient prospective members to the ways of Rotary, invite them to join, and advise them of the costs and steps remaining before formal induction into membership. It is also the time when the proposer affirms to the nominee and the club that the proposer will mentor the nominee during the next year.
4. Nominee Decision
Following the information/orientation meeting, an approved nominee has 60 days within which to decide whether or not to join. A nominee confirms his/her decision to join by completing an informational form and membership application card, and returning it to the Rotary office along with the one-time initiation fee, and prorated annual dues.
Prior to the Orientation meeting with the past President, the proposer should inform the nominee that she/he has been selected for membership into the Club. The proposer should inform the nominee that she/he should be prepared to indicate if she/he will accept membership in the club following the orientation. If so, at the meeting the nominee will sign an authorization that her/his name be published for any objections and pay the initiation fee. Thus, when inviting the nominee to the orientation meeting, the proposer should outline generally the financial commitments of club membership, attendance requirements and object of Rotary.
5. Name Published in Bulletinin
Upon receipt by the Rotary office of the authorization to publish the nominee’s name , the club's bulletin editor is given the approved nominee's name. The nominee's name is then published in the Club bulletin.
6. Membership Induction
Lacking a formal written objection by an existing club member, the nominee will be formally inducted into club membership by a past president. Actual induction can occur only after the prospective member's name has been published in the club bulletin. It is customary for the proposing member to introduce the new member at the time of induction.
C. OBLIGATIONS OF THOSEPROPOSING NEW MEMBERS
A member proposing a new member has responsibilities toward that new member which do not end when the member is formally inducted into membership. The proposing member should introduce the new member to other individual members during club meetings.
Mentoring a new member also includes ensuring that within 30 days of the induction the new member reads this pamphlet, finds at least one committee he/she can participate in, that he/she begins the process of becoming a Paul Harris member by contributing to the Rotary Foundation, that he/she fulfils the requirements of the red badge as soon as practical, that he/she attends a make-up meeting at one of the local Rotary clubs.