Definition of Rotary

Tweed Heads South Rotary

Information Booklet

Meets: Monday evening 6.00pm for 6.30pm

Venue: South Tweed Sports Club

4 Minjungbal Drive

Tweed Heads South

Rotary Members, guests and partners always welcome.

DEFINITION OF ROTARY

Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace.

OBJECT OF ROTARY

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 of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society
• Third: The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business and community life
• Fourth: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

THE 4-WAY TEST:

This provides a simple summary of the expectations of ethical behavior of a member of Rotary.

• Is it the Truth?
• Is it Fair to all concerned?
• Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
• Is it beneficial to all concerned?

Rotary is made up of three parts: at the heart of Rotary are our clubs, who are supported by Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.

Rotary clubs bring together dedicated individuals to exchange ideas, build relationships, and take action.

Rotary International supports Rotary clubs worldwide by coordinating global programs, campaigns, and initiatives.

The Rotary Foundation uses generous donations to fund projects by Rotarians and our partners in communities around the world. As a nonprofit, all of the Foundation's funding comes from voluntary contributions made by Rotarians and friends who share our vision of a better world.

Together, Rotary clubs, Rotary International, and The Rotary Foundation work to make lasting improvements in our communities and around the world.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ROTARY

On the 23rd of February 1905, Paul Harris (Lawyer), Gus Loehr (Mining Engineer), Hiram Shorey (Merchant Tailor), Silvester Schiels (Coal Dealer), met at Gus Loehr’s office in downtown Chicago and discussed the value of a group of businessmen getting together periodically to support one another. Paul Harris pursued the idea with great enthusiasm and has a special place in Rotary.

Informal meetings followed and these were initially aimed primarily to help businessmen overcome their isolation and loneliness.

Gradually a few other friends and acquaintances joined the group, basic rules were adopted and the Rotary Club of Chicago came into existence.

The name Rotary was adopted as meetings were held in rotation at members’ places of business.

In 1910 in Chicago at a convention of the sixteen clubs then in existence, Rotary became a national organization.

In 1911, Winnipeg, Canada was admitted to Rotary and the 1912 convention gave birth to the International Association of Rotary Clubs.

The Rotary Club of Melbourne was the first to be established in Australia in 1921.

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL IN 166 COUNTRIES

Rotary has over 1.2 million members in nearly 32,000 clubs worldwide with over 36,000 members in 1200 Clubs in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Members of a Rotary Club are entitled to visit any other Club without notice. Every member is made very welcome at any Club in the world.

These visits to other Clubs are called “makeups” and are encouraged as a means of broadening friendship and understanding worldwide.

We direct our efforts in six areas to enhance our local and global impact. Our most successful and sustainable projects and activities tend to fall within the following areas:

• Promoting peace
• Fighting disease
• Providing clean water
• Saving mothers and children
• Supporting education
• Growing local economies

TWEED HEADS SOUTH ROTARY

Commenced in 1983 and services the area south ofBoyd’s Bay Bridge, Tweed Heads. It draws members from the lower Tweed area.Membership is open to business and professional men and women of any age and from any business or worthy occupation.

The Rotary Club of Tweed Heads South welcomes the opportunity to extend membership to more than one member per household where each applicant has met the criteria for membership.

The club recognises the importance of our youth and are proud to sponsor many young people to Rotary youth programmes which equip them with life skills, such as self confidence, good citizenship, respect, and broaden their horizons culturally and socially. These programmes provide opportunities to reach their potential and become the leaders of tomorrow.

We raise funds for the many projects that we support through barbecues, triathlon marshalling, annual art show, Fathers’ Day Raffle and Dragon Boat race day.

As Rotarians we help others in our community – local, national and international. Some of our members have travelled to Africa, New Guinea, Solomon Islands and India to help with international projects.

Friendship is an important part of Rotary so we also enjoy many social activities with our partners and family.

This Club meets on a Monday evening at 6.00 pmfor a commencement of the dinner meeting at 6.30 pm.

ABOUT ROTARY

If you would like to be involved in Rotary it is important that you attend a few meetings to get a feel for the club and understand the work that the club undertakes. Rotary clubs are all different but they all live by the motto of “Doing good in the world”.

Rotary has no racial, religious or political boundaries, nor does it seek to supplant or interfere with a member’s religious or political activities.

A Rotarian is not asked to put Rotary before family or business life.

Each member of the Club is given a classification in accordance with that of the person’s business or profession.The Club can have no more than 10% of its membership from the one classification. This ensures diversity within the Club.

Regular attendance is expected. You remain a member of the Rotary Club only as long as you maintain an interest in the Club by your regular attendance.

As a business or professional person you will realize that you fail or succeed because of many factors, the main being your personal interest in your vocation. The success or failure of a Rotary Club is as good as the interest and involvement of its members.

Rotarians are not members of Rotary International; they are members of a Rotary Club. It is the Club that has membership of Rotary International.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME?

Obligations

• To have fun, make friends and develop a circle of contacts within the business and professional environment of Tweed Heads South.

• Attendance – at least 50% of regular meetings at Club meetings during any six month half of each fiscal year, or attendance made up at meetings of other Rotary Clubs. (See section on Leave of Absence) or via Club projects which provides attendance certification.
• Participation and interest at committee meetings and in Rotary projects locally, nationally and internationally.
• The acceptance of higher office within the Club at a later date.
• To learn to know fellow members; to join in building the fellowship which is an essential basis for true and lasting service.
• To learn the history of Rotary, how it is administered, its objects and ideals, so that as a member, you may truly understand the value of a Rotary Club in the community and ultimately in world affairs.
• Membership entails the obligation of bringing to the Club, all worthwhile knowledge of the value of your vocation and transmitting back through that vocation the ideals of Rotary.
• A member is expected to be active in the affairs of the Club and be mindful of the maintenance of the ethical standards expected throughout their vocation.
• One of the most important jobs of a Rotarian is that of sponsoring new members and later taking responsibility of looking after and helping to educate a new Rotarian.

What is NOT expected of a Rotarian:

• Rotary is not a secret organization. There is nothing in Rotary that cannot be discussed with the family or the general public.

• There is no expectation, nor obligation to be involved with any project.
• You will never be asked to give time to Rotary that interferes with time that rightfully belongs to your family or business.
• You will never be expected to financially support any aspect of Rotary, other than by payment of your yearly Club dues. This is approximately $300 per year. Donations to Rotary programs are entirely at the member’s discretion.
• You will not be obligated to have a meal at a Rotary meeting. The meeting is normally a dinner meeting but if you choose to attend the meeting but have dinner with your family, there will be a fee of $5.00 to cover extraneous costs.

CLUB ADMINISTRATION

A Rotary Club is governed by a Board which is elected during the last quarter of the calendar year and is installed the following July.

The official function that installs the new Board is traditionally referred to as the Changeover.

The Board.

President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and the Directors of the Avenues of Service being Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, International Service and Youth Service.Other Directors may be appointed on a needs basis.

A Board of a medium sized Club would have a Board of 10 –12 members.

Decisions of the Board are final, subject to appeal by the Club members. Any decision of the Board may be reversed by a two-thirds vote of the Club membership.

The Board of the Rotary Club of Tweed Heads South meets monthly after a normal dinner meeting but can be convened by the President at any time to deal with extraordinary business.

Board meetings are conducted in accordance with common business principles and practice. Minutes are kept, reports are presented by Directors and the Treasurer. These minutes are available to any member of the Club at any time.

Other important positions in the Club include the Attendance Officer who keeps the attendance records and the Bulletin Editor who produces a weekly newsletter of useful information.

Once assigned a service responsibility, a member is expected to investigate what is involved, recommend what initiatives might be taken, and to provide leadership in activities pursued in that field.

Members will be placed on Committees under an elected Director.

Sub-Committees may be formed to direct projects on a yearly basis.

Needless to say that it is the Committees that drive the Club and the Club is effective only as long as the Committees are dedicated and well attended.

Club members participate in open club forums once or twice each year, called a Club Assembly. The Assembly is used to develop and coordinate club programs, consult directly with members and to provide an opportunity for all members to raise any matters of concern to them. A Club Assembly may make recommendations to the Club Board, but cannot make decisions binding the club to a course of action. A change to the Club Constitution or By-Laws can be proposed at any time as long as 10 days clear notice of the motion is given.

For administrative and motivational purposes, clubs are grouped within a Rotary District, which is administered by a District Governor who visits each Club in the District during the Rotary year. A Past President with at least 7 years of Rotary experience, nominated for office by Clubs within the District holds the position of District Governor for twelve months.

There are 21 Rotary Districts in Australia.

Our Rotary District is 9640and covers parts of Northern NSW and southern Queensland.

In each region of the Rotary District there is an Assistant Governor that works with a group of Clubs.

Each year there is a District Conference, usually held in March or April, that all Rotarians and their partners are encouraged to attend.

Each year an International Convention is held, usually in June. Usually these alternate between the USA and other countries of the World. The last Convention in Australia was in Brisbane in June 2003.

The Board of Directors of Rotary International, which has its headquarters in Chicago, USA is truly an international body. It is elected in a manner that ensures all Rotary Clubs of the world are represented. Many Australians have served on the Board and 4 have been World President.

Full and complete details of how the Club operates are recorded in the Constitution and By-Laws, and you are encouraged to read these. Copies can be obtained from the Secretary.

Websites to assist with your Rotary knowledge includes

Extensive detail on the Rotary Foundation and the other projects of Rotary are detailed.

The Manual of Procedure can be downloaded or purchased in hard copy from Rotary International.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Classification

Is a word or phrase, which accurately describes the business or professional activity of the firm, company or institution, with which a member is connected.

Rotary is built on the classification principle – members from different vocations in the community give the Club a true cross-section of business and professional life within its area and is designed to be inclusive not exclusive.

Leave of Absence (4 meetings or more)

Upon written application to the Board (email is sufficient) setting forth good and sufficient reason, leave of absence may be granted excusing the member from attending for a specific period with a maximum of 6 months. During any leave of absence, a member is expected to do make-ups at the Clubs in the area they are visiting unless this is impractical.

Make-ups

Any member absent from a regular meeting of the Club is expected to make up such absence by attending a regular meeting of another Rotary Club. This can be done on any of the 14 days prior to or after the meeting missed. Make up opportunities in District 9640 are available from

Annual Fees

Annual fees are set by the Board to cover Club Dues as well as District and International dues. The cost will be approximately $300 per year in total. This includes comprehensive insurance ($20,000,000.00) for all members involved in Rotary Events.

This fee includes the subscription cost to Rotary Down Under magazine. This subscription is compulsory for all members, except where several members of one family may all be members, then one copy per family is the minimum requirement.

Meal Costs

Members are responsible for the cost of meals for themselves and their guests at meetings.

Guest Speakers have a meal provided by the Club.

Speakers are not paid nor are their costs met under normal circumstances.

Partner’s Nights and Special Events.

These may be held periodically throughout the year. Location and cost may vary.

Other Costs

During the meeting the Sergeant may conduct a fine session. This is a token fine only of fifty cents. These fines are designed to add some fun to the night and should never embarrass or belittle a member.

This money is used for the benefit of the members, rather than for project money.

A raffle or Heads and Tails may also be incorporated in the meeting.

Financial Accounts

The Club operates two accounts; a General Account and a Service Account.

The General Account is used for Dues, as well as all money raised from members in fines, raffles and meal. Profits may be used for member benefits.

The Service Account controls all money collected from the Public. Money from this account must be used in accord with Rotary Principles to support local, national and International projects.

Resignation

The resignation of any member must be in writing addressed to the President or Secretary, and will be accepted automatically, provided that all indebtedness has been paid.

Duration of Membership

Membership ceases when

• A member no longer has their place of residence or place of business located within the territorial limits of the Club. The member however will remain on the books as a member until annual dues are due or he or she transfers the membership to another Club.
• A member fails to attend 50% of meetings (including make-ups) in a fiscal year, unless excused by the Board.
• A member fails to attend 4 consecutive meetings unless excused by the Board.
• Non-payment of membership fees.
• Termination by the Board for a reason which the Board may deem to be sufficient, by the votes of not less the two-thirds of the Board Members, at a meeting called for that purpose.

Note: there is a right of appeal or arbitration regarding any decision of the Board involving termination of membership.

WHY JOIN A ROTARY CLUB?

THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE

Rotarians provide service at the local, national and international levels. Service programs address things like health-care needs, hunger, poverty, illiteracy, disaster relief and environmental clean-ups. Members experience fulfillment by giving back to the community.