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Rotary is a service
association of business and professional leaders united worldwide who
conduct humanitarian projects, encourage high ethical standards in
all vocations and work toward world understanding and peace. Our
members meet weekly to enjoy each others fellowship and
discuss ways to serve others.
The qualifications to be a Rotarian - an adult person of good character
and reputation, with a position of executive capacity, engaged as a
proprietor, partner, officer or manager of any worthwhile business or
profession. The four types of membership are:
- ACTIVE - an
Active Rotarian must perform at least 60% of his/her work in the
specified classification, and only one person may hold ACTIVE
membership in any one given classification. Exceptions - religious,
news media or diplomatic service. A Rotarian may live or work anywhere
within the corporate limits of the club city or within the territorial
limits of an immediately adjoining club....ADDITIONAL ACTIVE - a
second membership
for another person engaged in the same classification as ACTIVE member
and who must be proposed by the ACTIVE member. A third membership
(second additional active) in the same classification may be elected
to club membership with the approval of the active member holding that
classification provided he or she has been a Rotarian previously and
has terminated membership in the former club and is no longer actively
engaged in a profession in the territorial limits of that club.
ADDITIONAL ACTIVE has all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities
of an ACTIVE member.
- SENIOR ACTIVE - a Rotarian becomes SENIOR ACTIVE after membership in one or
more clubs for 15 years or more; or who reaches age 60 and has been a
member for 10 years or more; or who is age 65 and been a member for 5
or more years. All clubs operating under the Standard Club
Constitution and By-Laws are required to declare as SENIOR ACTIVE any
member who meets any one of these requirements. SENIOR ACTIVE
has all the rights, privileges and responsibilities as ACTIVE member -
may hold office, must maintain attendance requirements, can propose an
ACTIVE member but not an ADDITIONAL ACTIVE member.
- PAST SERVICE - is an ACTIVE member who has lost classification without
fault or retires from business or profession or who has been a member
of one or more clubs for 3 years or more, or has attained the age of
55. This member no longer holds any classification, may not propose
ADDITIONAL ACTIVES but has all other rights, privileges and
responsibilities of membership.
- HONORARY - a designated membership for a person who has become
distinguished by meritorious service in furtherance of Rotary ideals.
An HONORARY member cannot hold office, does not pay dues, cannot
propose new members, does not need to meet attendance requirements but
can attend all meetings and enjoy all other privileges. This
membership must be re-established each year by the Club Board of
Directors.
CLASSIFICATIONS
The classification principle of membership distinguishes Rotary from all
other organizations. By accepting the loan of a classification, each
Rotarian assumes an obligation to represent his business or profession in
the club and to share the ideal of service with non-Rotarians associated
in the workplace. It assures a membership which is representative of the
business, professional and institutional life of the locality in which the
club is established.
To be eligible for a specific classification, the
proposed member should be generally recognized in the community as being
primarily engaged in that business, profession or activity. In the fields
of medicine, dentistry, law, etc. where specialization in a given field is
recognized by a community, it is appropriate for the Rotary Club to
establish and loan separate classifications to cover such specialized
practices.
The Board of Directors of Rotary Clubs should annually update the listing
of classifications in their community, showing the names of members and
their classifications and the unfilled classifications that are open for
membership. Rotary International publishes a list of classifications in a
typical community, but clubs are urged to add to this listing and
establish whatever classifications are needed in their area.
Balanced Membership: efforts should be made to maintain a well balanced
membership in which no business or professional group predominates -
allowing a club's membership to be representative of the business and
professional life of the community.
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