Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world.
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 recognitionof 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 first Rotary Club was organized in Chicago, Illinois by Paul Harris, a
lawyer. It first met on February 23, 1905.
The name "Rotary" was chosen because the Club met in rotation at each
member's place of business. From the beginning, the Rotary idea of friendship,
fellowship, and service to others has spread to six continents.
Aloha-Sunset Rotary was chartered in July, 1979.
They are persons who look beyond themselves to their community, nation and the world. They seek the truth; they let fairness govern their relationships; they endeavor to build goodwill and better friendships; they strive to benefit all in every interpersonal relationship. In short, they put service above self.
Membership is by invitation. Members are chosen to represent their respective
businesses or professions. The "Classification Principal" insures that
our membership includes a qualified representative of the various businesses and
professions in our community. In this way, our club becomes a cross section of
the community.
Rotary is built upon fellowship and friendship enhanced by attendance at club
meetings. A member is expected to attend at least 60% of our club meetings.
Membership may be terminated if a member misses four consecutive meetings. Each
member must attend at least 30% of their home club meetings during each half
year.
It is understood that, among busy people, an occasional problem of attendance
may arise. When members miss a meeting, they can "make up" at another
Rotary club. This is easy since there are over 29,113 Rotary clubs in 159
countries of the world. The time and place of each club's scheduled meeting is
listed in the "Where Clubs Meet" menu item in the Membership page of the Rotary International Web site.
Each make-up affords the Rotarian a splendid opportunity to
broaden their acquaintance, and to bring back to their club information and
ideas that can improve their club's operations and programs.
Rotary embodies the Ideal of Service. Members are supported in their projects in the local and global communities, in the areas of health, hunger, humanity and world peace.
The club undertakes a wide variety of service activities in the service of
promoting goodwill and understanding and an improved quality of life for all
mankind.
Typical service projects include:
The initiation fee is $50.00. It provides for Rotary books, badges, certificates, pins, etc.
Annual dues are $150.00. Included are subscriptions to "The Rotarian," the monthly Rotary International magazine, and the club newsletter (this link is to a PDF document).
Lunch at the club meeting is $12.00 for the "full meal deal" including a ticket for our after-the-meeting raffle. There are special meetings each year for our holiday celebration and installation banquets, which cost around $50 per person.
Service Contributions: Members are occasionally "fined" at meetings as a humorous method of raising funds for charity. The proceeds of the "fine" are dedicated to a variety of charitable and community organizations.
The Rotary Foundation: Rotarians are asked to voluntarily contribute financial support to the Foundation's projects. They can do this by becoming a Paul Harris Fellow with a contribution of $1,000 (US) or by becoming a Sustaining Member of the Foundation with an annual gift of $100 (US). When the cumulative amount reaches $1,000 (US), the Rotarian becomes a Paul Harris Fellow.
The average cost of membership is $1,000 per year, plus voluntary Rotary Foundation contributions. Each member is also responsible for a fundraising contribution of at least $250.00 per year.
You broaden your circle of friends and acquaintances.
You get involved with the mainstream of community life.
You obtain increased knowledge of business and professions other than your own.
You develop your talents and skills in roles of leadership and participation in club activities.
You gain recognition for yourself and your business or profession by participating in an organization dedicated to service in the areas of vocational, community and international goodwill and understanding.
You are enabled to express, in a practical way, those motives found in every person who wants to make a contribution to the betterment of society.
You develop contacts in every vocation represented in the club membership.
You increase your knowledge of world affairs and you develop a keener appreciation of the customs and culture of other people.
You will have a warm welcome and friendly contacts in almost every city, village and hamlet in the world.
You will have the opportunity to benefit from the business experience of others.