Lapel Pin

You will be given your own pin when you join the club. Wear it in your lapel at all times, not just to Rotary meetings. Nothing will happen to you if you don’t wear it. But that’s the point. If you do wear it, all kinds of interesting things are apt to happen. Others can be purchased from the Club Secretary.

Guests

Your guests are always welcome at our meetings. Guest meals are $16.00 payable at the door. (The price may be adjusted from time to time.) Be sure to fill out guest cards and introduce them to Rotarians at your table, making a special effort to introduce them to Rotarians in the same vocation. If they live or work in the community, consider nominating them for membership. When introducing a guest, do not mention that he/she is a prospective member.

New Members

The club welcomes new members, but you must take the initiative to nominate outstanding individuals for membership. Members must be leaders and decision-makers in their business or profession. Membership application forms are available from the Club Membership Chair and should be completed and returned to the Membership Chair. Detailed instructions and procedures are printed on the form. (You should not discuss membership with the individual being proposed until the nomination form has cleared the classification and membership committees, and the Board has approved the new member.) New members must be placed in an unfilled classification in the club.

Constitution and Bi-Laws

The Anaheim Rotary Club abides by the Standard Club Constitution of Rotary International and has its own By-Laws, which were amended in 2002. The Club Secretary can provide copies.

Committee Assignments

The By-Laws list several standing committees, and a large number of additional committees are often appointed by the President. Most Presidents ask members to indicate their preference for committee assignments. This happens in late spring or early summer. Don’t be shy!

Dues, Fees, and Billing

Each Rotarian is required to pay an initiation fee of approximately $50.00 which covers the processing at Rotary International Headquarters, your pin, roster, badge and a 6-months subscription to The Rotarian Magazine. The current annual dues are $140.00. This consists of both club dues and Rotary International dues. These monies go for the day-to-day operation of both the local club and the headquarters office in Evanston, Illinois.

Weekly luncheon charge is $16.00. If you miss a meeting and pay for a make-up, you may request a $10.00 credit toward your next bill from the Treasurer.

There are extra charges for special events, such as the golf tournament, holiday events, District Conference and the installation/demotion dinner.

Contributions are recommended in two areas:

1. Fines, the amount pledged is kept confidential, but the average is $100 per year.
2. Rotary Foundation contributions.The suggested amount is a minimum of $100 per year so a Rotarian can be a Paul Harris Sustaining Member.
3. All of the above fees, dues and contributions appear on quarterly statements. The amount is due and payable immediately. If a member is past due more than 30 days, their membership is in jeopardy.

Attendance Requirements

1. You miss four or more consecutive meetings (without attendance make-up).
2. You attend fewer than 60% of the meetings in a semi-annual period.
   Our directors enforce these rules of Rotary International because they believe that attendance is essential to one of Rotary’s finest rewards--fellowship.

Attendance Make-up

Absence from a meeting can be “made up” by attending another Rotary Club meeting either during the week preceding, or the week following your absence. The Club Secretary should be promptly notified of your make-ups so that the Club’s attendance record can be maintained. No reservations are required for make-ups, but you may be asked to show your Membership Card at the door.

Official Directory of Rotary International

Each year RI publishes an “ Official Directory.” which lists club officers, meeting times, and meeting places for each of the over 29,000 Rotary clubs throughout the world. This valuable aid to travelers is available from the Club Secretary. If you travel infrequently, the Club Secretary will be happy to give you a few club dates and times by phone.

The Squeak

This weekly publication of our own club is a record of things past you might have missed and news of things to come you won’t want to miss. Members are encouraged to submit items they feel are newsworthy.

The Rotarian

This outstanding magazine is published monthly by Rotary International. You will find something interesting and inspiring in each issue. Read it and encourage your family to read it.

Mailing List

The Club Secretary is responsible for maintaining the mailing addresses at Rotary International. Please notify the Secretary immediately of any changes in your home and business addresses, telephone number, etc.

Illness

If you are ill, especially if you are hospitalized, please notify the President. Cards and visits form Rotarians can speed recovery. Make an attempt to send a greeting to Rotarians who are ill or otherwise confined.

Solicitation of the Club

Rotarians are encouraged to announce fund-raising events of charities and other organizations they support. However, the sale of tickets or other forms of solicitation are not permitted in the club in order to avoid embarrassment to Rotarians and guests. Ask the President if you may make an announcement at the appropriate time on the agenda.

Speakers and Other Programs

If you are asked to arrange one of our luncheon programs, plan a program that will be outstanding. Don’t take the easy way out! Find out what other programs are being planned in the same period to give balance. Work closely with the program chairman. Don’t shy away from the celebrity/superstar. Remember that important persons are eager to share their views with Rotarians. Don’t overlook programs with entertainment value. We don’t have to be informed of a new crisis every week! Give the bulletin editor advance information on the speaker and his or her topic. It is your responsibility to inform your speaker that the program should end at 1:00 p.m. Encourage the speaker to allow time for questions.

Meeting Badges

The badges we wear serve a useful purpose in readily and clearly identifying our members to one another. This helps both the newcomer and the veteran. New members receive temporary badges so we can get acquainted as soon as possible.

Club Banners

1. Our members who visited other clubs
2. If you plan to visit other clubs, ask the Seargeant-at-Arms for several banners, which are available free of charge. Remember to return any you haven’t used as they are relatively expensive. Clubs in popular resort areas aren’t thrilled about banner exchanges and we probably already have their banner anyway!
   

Conferences and Conventions

Rotary membership takes on a new meaning when you attend a District Assembly, District Convention, or a Rotary International Convention. Dates are announced well in advance. Registration forms are made available to each member.

Moving

When you move to another community your Rotary membership does not automatically transfer. However, we urge you to take two steps that will almost guarantee your acceptance in another club:

1. Ask the Club Secretary to write a letter to the Rotary Club in your new location, announcing your arrival and recommending you for membership.
   
2. Ask the Board of Directors to grant you a leave of absence. Such leaves can be granted for a specific period not exceeding one year. You must continue to pay dues (not meals) to the Anaheim Rotary Club, and we must count your attendance in the club records, so we expect you to make-up. This will maintain your membership and allow you to attend a club in your new location as a visiting Rotarian, thus affording you a good opportunity to get acquainted. Don’t forget to send us your make-up cards.