Rotary Club of Saginaw Sunrise
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Home > Common Questions and Answers Common Questions and Answers
How much does it cost to be a member? Q: How much does it cost to be a member? A: Our annual dues of $125 cover the Rotary year from July - June. We are flexible as to payment methods. An optional breakfast is available at our meetings for $8 or for a nominal charge of $1 for only coffee and juice. Many members attend the meetings, but skip the breakfast. Q: What does a Rotary club do? A: Rotary clubs are service organizations. That means that our primary objective is to serve others. We do this by carrying out projects in our local and international communities, We also work with other local Clubs on regional projects. In addition to the projects we sponsor, our club attracts community leaders who speak at our club meetings and address issues that are important to Club members and the community. Q: What's the history of Rotary? A: Rotary is the world's first service club. It started in Chicago in 1905. The name "Rotary" derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members' offices. Today, there are more than 31,000 Rotary clubs throughout the world. Our sister club in Saginaw, the Rotary Club of Saginaw (downtown club) has the distinction of being one of the first 100 clubs charted by Rotary. Read more about the history of Rotary. Q: What are the weekly programs like? A: Some of our program speakers are leaders of community-based organizations. Others are active in our political community. Some offer advice that can help your organization. From time to time, our members also give you a little back ground about themselves so you can get to know them a bit better. Q: If I join, am I required to contribute lots of money? A: No. Our Club's philosophy centers around flexible participation. Some members contribute more financially; others through "sweat equity." We need both. No one is expected to do it all. We encourage members to do what best fits their personal financial circumstances. As you can see from our projects, a substantial amount of contributions come in the form of "time." A portion of the dues collected is used for some of these projects. Other funds come from fundraising events, like our pancake breakfast. In addition, most members contribute voluntary, tax-deductible contributions to the Rotary Foundation. The Foundation funds international projects, such as the polio eradication program, as well as local projects in our area. We do not pressure members to contribute specific amounts, although the Rotary Foundation encourages members to contribute $100 annually. Q: What are the attendance guidelines? A: We tend to be flexible in our attendance requirements; however, we still need a substantial core of members in attendance in order to effectively carry out our Club's activities. The attendance guideline of Rotary International is 60%. Recognizing that everyone has a busy schedule, here are some ways to make-up attendance.
Q: What is the diversity of our club's membership? A: We pride ourselves on the age range of our men and women members (young by Rotary standards) and the diverse backgrounds and national origins from which we come. We represent a variety of professions, avocations, and walks of life. Q: Why do we meet at 7:30 on Friday mornings? A: This day was selected because it tended to have fewer meeting as compared to other days. The time has allowed members to start early and finish before the major part of their days begin. We schedule our meetings to end at 8:30. Q: Can my family participate in Club activities? A: Absolutely! As a family-friendly club, it's not uncommon for members to bring their children or significant others as guests to a meeting. You will also see families helping out with our pancake breakfast or other projects. For other ways you can include your family, see our Family of Rotary page. Q: I'm a new member, now what? A: We encourage new members to become involved with an area of the club that interests them. Don't be shy. We have five primary areas: community service, international service, vocational service, foundation service, and club service. Each area provides additional opportunities to get involved in ac activity that is of most interest to you. Rotary International has a publication, Welcome to Rotary, that can give you another perspective. Our new members page has more details. Q: Are the student-based Rotary activities? A: Absolutely! Two organizations specifically designed for students are Rotaract (Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30) and Interact (Rotary-sponsored service club for young people ages 14-18). Rotaract clubs are typically organized on college campuses. They provide an opportunity for members to enhance the knowledge and skills that will assist them in personal development, addressing the needs of their communities, and promoting better relations between all people throughout the world. Saginaw Valley State University and Delta College have formed a joint Rotaract Club. Interact clubs are typically organized at the high school level. The membership base can be drawn from the student body of a single school or from two or more schools from the same community. Q: How can I get more information? A: The best way is to try a meeting. You will find our members welcoming, but not pressuring. If our meeting time does not fit your schedule, consider one of the other area clubs. Either way, we believe you will be glad you did. If you prefer, you can send your questions to rotary@saginawsunrise.org.
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