Kimberley Rotary Club

Established December 1, 1941. Chartered February 1942 District 5080

Member’s Handbook & Orientation Guide

Rotary International Founded 1905 Revised September 2009

2 Welcome to Rotary

The day you join the Kimberley Rotary Club, it becomes a new club because your personality, ideas and participation give our club a new character. Our Rotary club is composed of distinct individuals who, when they come together as Rotarians, create something new and special. When we gain a new member, we are immediately aware of a significant new addition that will impact our club.

Each member has a great opportunity to bring new ideas and enthusiasm to our Rotary club. Your membership will further strengthen our club and we eagerly anticipate your active participation.

This guide is intended to help orient you to club activities and describe many facets of Rotary. What is Rotary? Rotary is an organization of business and professional people united worldwide to conduct humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

Rotary began in Chicago in 1905 by Paul Harris and three of his friends – Gus Loehr, Silvester Schiele and Hiram Shorey. The international headquarters is in Evanston IL. There are approximately 1.2 million members belonging to over 33,400 clubs forming 534 districts in 200 countries.

The Kimberley Rotary Club was chartered in February 1942 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:

1. the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service,

2. high ethical standards in business and professions, the worthiness of all useful occupations and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society,

3. the application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business and community life, and

4. the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service. How You Were Selected Membership in Rotary is by invitation only. One of our members proposed you for membership because you are considered an outstanding representative of your vocation in our community. Your proposed membership was reviewed by the Membership Committee, which considered you 3 for your potential to become an active and contributing member. The Classification Committee determined that we had available membership space in your classification. The Board of Directors approved your proposed membership and all club members were informed of your interest in joining our club.

Rotary cannot be likened to a country club or fraternal lodge. There are responsibilities and opportunities far beyond those of simply “belonging” and occasionally attending luncheons with a congenial group of individuals. You will find your horizons broadened as you make new friends who are active in a wide variety of occupations and professions in our club’s area. Types of Membership There are only two types of membership in Rotary – active and honorary.

An active member is one who is active in his/her work life or retired from being engaged as a proprietor, partner, corporate officer, manager or an executive position with discretionary authority in his or her business or profession. Active membership is limited to five members (or 10% of our total membership) from each classification of business or profession except in three unlimited areas: media, religion and diplomatic service.

An honorary member is a person who has been elected to membership on an annual basis due to distinguished service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals. Classifications A member holds a classification, which is the word or phrase that describes the principal and recognized activity of the firm, company or institution with which he or she is connected or that describes his or her principal and recognized business or professional activity.

Your classification is considered on loan to you for as long as you are a member of the club. Represent it well.

Should your business change, your classification will also change.

The purpose of the classification system is to create a membership that is diverse and representative of the community from which the membership is drawn. Service in Rotary The motto of Rotary is Service Above Self. Service is what Rotary is all about. The phrase above self means exactly that – Rotarians put service ahead of their own interests. It means we serve even when it is inconvenient or costly.

Although some outsiders may believe Rotary is a club for business, in fact it is a club made up of business and professional people who strive to find effective ways to provide service in the four avenues of service. As a Rotarian you will enjoy the company of others in your own community and the pleasure of working with them for the good of your community and of the world.

4 Areas of Service 1. Membership 2. Public Relations 3. Administration 4. Service Projects 5. Rotary Foundation 6. Kimberley International Music and Dance (MAD) Festival

Each area has an overall committee. Most of these committees have subcommittees that focus on specific areas of that avenue.

You are expected to serve on one or more of these committees. You need not wait to be asked – you may volunteer at any time. If you are undecided, we will help assign you somewhere. Every member of the club serves on at least one committee. Club Organization Each club is chartered by Rotary International (RI), which is the umbrella organization for Rotary. RI requires that every club adopts a standard constitution which ensures that each club is similarly structured. Each club then adopts its own distinctive bylaws for its operation.

A board of directors (consisting of officers of the club and the chair from each area of service) govern club business. The officers include president, president elect, secretary, treasurer and past president. The officers of the club are elected in November/December each year in accordance with our bylaws. Officers and directors take up their positions effective July 1st each year in all Rotary clubs.

Generally, two chairs from each area of service are elected each year for a two year term. Officers serve for a one year term unless, in the case of the secretary and treasurer, they consent to continue in their positions.

Regular meetings of the board are held during the first week of the month at a time and place designated by the president. All board members are encouraged to attend board meetings and they may be considered a make-up meeting.

The Kimberley Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at noon in BJ’s Creekside Pub. District Organization All Rotary clubs are grouped into districts which are composed of forty to sixty clubs each. There are 534 districts worldwide.

Our club is a member of District 5080 which consists of approximately sixty clubs in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and southeastern British Columbia. Our district is truly an international district.

5 The district is a support organization designed to assist members, committees, officers and directors of clubs. The district is headed by a District Governor who is a member of a club in the district. He or she is elected as a result of being an outstanding Rotarian with many years of successful leadership. The District Governor is an officer of Rotary International and provides the link between Rotary International and the individual clubs. The District Governor visits every club in the district during the first part of the Rotary year. Rotary International RI is the international organization to which all clubs belong. Rotarians belong to their clubs, not to RI.

RI is governed with a board of directors and headed by the international president. These leaders are nominated by an RI nominating committee and elected at the annual international convention.

RI organizes zones and districts, charters clubs, stages the international convention and assembly and provides administrative and support activities for the clubs.

RI is located at: One Rotary Center 1560 Sherman Avenue Evanston IL 60201 USA Phone: 1-847-866-3000 Fax: 1-847-328-8554 www.rotary.org Conferences, Assemblies and Conventions One of the duties of the District Governor is to organize the district conference. This is usually a three day event held in late spring or early summer and usually convened in the District Governor’s home town. Its purpose is information, inspiration and fellowship. All members of the district are urged to attend and to bring their spouses. The Kimberley Rotary Club hosted the 2005-06 District 5080 Conference (May 11-14, 2006) when Sandra Roberts was District Governor.

The district also sponsors an assembly each spring and fall. Its purpose differs from that of the conference in that the purpose of the assembly is to provide practical, how-to information on various Rotary subjects, as well as training incoming officers of the clubs. The program lasts from four to six hours and is free. All members (and in particular members of the board) should attend to improve their knowledge of Rotary.

RI annually holds the International Convention for Rotarians from all over the world. Attendance at these conventions leaves every Rotarian with the certain knowledge that the internationality of Rotary is very real. Every Rotarian should attend at least one international convention in his or her Rotary career.

6 Attendance Rotary does not want knife and fork members or what we call RINOs (Rotary in Name Only). We want you to participate. When you participate, our club is more effective. When you do not participate, our club is weakened.

One of the measures of participating is attendance at regular meetings. In Rotary, attendance is required. Without regular attendance, you do not learn about your club activities and you do not come to know your fellow club members. You are important to Rotary or we would not have elected you to membership. How important Rotary is to you will be shown by your attendance record.

The standard club constitution requires that a member must attend at least 60% of the meetings in each six month period of the Rotary year. Half of these must be at your home club.

Make-ups Occasionally business, travel or illness will prevent your attendance. You have the privilege to complete a make-up by attending a meeting of another Rotary club anywhere in the world. You have 13 days prior to the regular meeting or 13 days after the regular club meeting in which to complete a make-up. It is your responsibility to advise the secretary of any make-ups you have. Make-up slips from the club you visited are no longer required.

Make-ups are one of the fun privileges in Rotary. You are warmly welcomed by a group that knows nothing about you except that you are a Rotarian like them. The friendship they extend to you will explain again what we mean by fellowship. In Rotary, a stranger is a friend you have not met before.

Make-ups can be done at clubs in neighbouring areas or anywhere in the world. Foreign make- ups can be a highlight of your Rotary life. Our secretary has a directory which indicates when and where every club in the world meets.

Attendance credit is also earned for attending district conferences, assemblies, conventions, special meetings by the District Governor, board meetings and work projects.

We also greet Rotarians from around the world at our club meetings. Be friendly, invite visitors to join your table, involve them in your conversations and make them want to come visit again. Participation Four areas of participation are mandatory: 1. Attend club meetings, as discussed above. 2. Serve on at least one committee 3. Fund raising. Every member is obligated to do his or her share to raise funds, no matter what the project is.

7 4. We are a service club and we need more members to serve. OBTAINING NEW MEMBERS IS EVERYONE’S JOB IN ROTARY. Admission Fees, Dues and Other Costs The following outlines the basic fees and dues that you will be assessed as a member of Kimberley Rotary Club: Admission (one time) $ 20 Annual Dues $160 (payable $80 in January, $80 in July) Administration Fee $10 per month Meals Pay amount from menu plus gratuity Foundation Voluntary (suggested minimum of $12 per month)

In addition to admission fees, dues and meal costs, there are other costs to your membership. You will be expected to participate fully in fund-raising activities. Usually they are structured so that we obtain funding from sources outside the club by soliciting or selling. Also, from time to time we may ask your company to support our activities by donating some product or service.

Occasionally, there will be club social functions which may require extra expenditure. Finally, we expect your time. That is probably your most precious possession. We promise to use it well.

The treasurer maintains a ledger for each member and you are expected to pay your ledger account on a monthly basis.

A portion of your annual dues goes to the District and to Rotary International to pay for their respective administrative overhead. A portion also goes to pay for the Rotarian magazine, which you will receive monthly and is a wealth of information. The balance pays for all club overhead. Pin and Badge You should always wear your Rotary lapel pin. You will be surprised at the number of people who will greet you upon recognizing the pin. At our club meetings you are expected to wear your badge so that visitors to the club will know who you are. Business Relationships Rotarians are banded together for the purpose of doing service. We are not banded together as a business network. It is understood that Rotarians do business with each other, presumably because it is natural to do business with those you know and trust and who adhere to the business ethics espoused by Rotary. Biography Members’ biographies are a frequent feature at club meetings. As a new member, you will be asked to address the club to describe your classification and to tell us something of your personal background so we can get to know you. You can do this through Vocational Five (five minutes maximum time allowed) or as a 15-minute Program.

8 Programs and Vocational Five Each week we strive to present a program on an interesting topic. We like to learn more about new business ventures and what is going on in our community and region. As a member of Kimberley Rotary Club, you will be responsible for providing a speaker from time to time. A roster is prepared months in advance advising members when they are required to provide a program.

Vocational Five is an opportunity for you to tell the club more about yourself (within five minutes). As with the program, a roster is distributed far in advance listing the dates for each Rotarian to make a presentation. The Four Way Test The second avenue of service is vocational. Its purpose is the application of the service ideal to business life and to the instilling of high ethical standards in business.

The Four Way Test was developed by Herbert Taylor in 1932 as an operating tool to help save his failing aluminum manufacturing company by inspiring honesty and integrity. Rotary adopted the test as a hallmark of its vocational emphasis. It is a test of the things we think, say or do. By the way, Herbert Taylor went on to become President of RI in 1954. Ask yourself: 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?

If we abide by this test in whatever we do in our personal lives and in our chosen vocations, we will be well on the way to leading productive lives that are sensitive to the needs and feelings of others. You are now a member of an organization that is attempting every day to raise the standard of conduct between human beings. We are very serious about this code of conduct and enlist your support in this endeavour. Rotary Foundation The Rotary Foundation is the largest public charity in the world. It was established in 1917 and is managed by Rotary International at Evanston IL.

The purpose of the Foundation is to further the fourth Object of Rotary – to advance international understanding, goodwill and peace.

Rotarians and Rotary clubs provide the bulk of the financial support for the Foundation. It funds a variety of humanitarian projects through Health, Hunger and Humanities grants throughout the world. The Foundation has donated in excess of US$600 million to eradicate polio and continues to work with the World Health Organization on the project. To date, 98% of the world is polio-free. Polio currently is found in only four countries (Nigeria, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan). The Foundation also funds university scholarships and group study exchanges.

9 Contributions to the Foundation are recognized on several levels: 1. Paul Harris Fellowship – An individual who contributes (or in whose name is contributed) the amount of US$1,000 is recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. 2. Paul Harris Sustaining Member – An individual who makes an initial contribution of a minimum of US$100 and intends to make similar contributions annually is recognized as a Sustaining Member. You can become a Sustaining Member by having the club treasurer add an amount ($12 per month or more) to your account – a number of the club members do this. See the treasurer for details. Just as an aside, any Sustaining Member at Kimberley Rotary Club may refuse to pay a Sergeant-at-Arms fine on the grounds that he or she is a Sustaining Member. 3. Sapphire – After donating the initial US$1,000 to the Foundation, many Rotarians continue to select the Foundation as their charity of choice. The Foundation issues a pin which contains a sapphire for each additional US$1,000 contributed, as recognition of this gift. This pin can contain five sapphires. Contributions beyond the US$6,000 level are recognized with rubies for each additional US$1,000.

Foundation funds collected in year one are not spent until year three. This investment period pays for the complete operation of the fund as well as allows time to plan appropriate expenditures. Thus, every dollar donated to the Foundation is actually expended on real projects.

Many of our members have requested the treasurer to bill them an extra $3 each week (or $12 each month) which allows them to become Sustaining Paul Harris members after the first year.

Rotary Foundation Permanent Fund A permanent fund was established in 1982. Funds contributed to the Permanent Fund are held in perpetuity and only the income is spent on projects. This allows a donation to produce income forever. Income from the Permanent Fund helps to support the general programs of Rotary.

Contributions to the Foundation’s Permanent Fund are recognized through the Benefactor Recognition Program. A contribution of US$1,000 to this fund allows the donor or the designate to be recognized as a Benefactor. A gift may be made in cash or through one’s will, with formal notification to the Foundation.

Beginning in 2000 a person can bequest US$10,000 or more to become a member of the Bequest Society.

The Kimberley Rotary Club welcomes you!