Why Join Your Local Rotary Club?
Rotary Membership
If you believe that civic participation is the hallmark of a well-rounded business or community leader and is an essential element of good citizenship, then you should consider becoming a candidate for membership in Rotary. You'll connect with like-minded individuals, you'll serve your community, and you’ll help over a million citizens of the world tackle tough and demanding challenges.
Why consider membership in any Rotary Club?
Rotary International is an association of Rotary clubs worldwide. With a global network of over 1.4 million community volunteers, Rotary members are business, professional, and community leaders who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Over 46,000 local Rotary clubs worldwide in more than 200 countries and geographical areas volunteer approximately 47 million hours each year in service projects to address today’s challenges, including illiteracy, disease, hunger, poverty, lack of clean water, and environmental concerns. Rotary International’s major initiative is PolioPlus, an ambitious program to immunize the world’s children against polio in partnership with the Gates Foundation, World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF. Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.”
Why consider membership in the Rotary Club of Kirkland?
Of the 46,000 clubs worldwide, the Rotary Club of Kirkland was the 120th club when it was chartered in 1937. The club has served the Greater Kirkland community for over 85 years, contributing to students’ educational success, support for needy children and families, support for the homeless, the establishment and improvement of city parks, and to health, education, and clean water projects around the world. Our club is actively engaged in the local community and offers several valuable benefits of membership.
Professional Networking
A founding principle of Rotary is to meet periodically to enjoy camaraderie and enlarge one’s circle of business and professional acquaintances. As the oldest service club in the world, Rotary club members represent a cross-section of the community’s owners, executives, managers, political leaders, and professionals – people who make decisions and influence policy.
Service Opportunities
Club members have many opportunities for humanitarian service, both locally and internationally. Service programs address such concerns as health care, hunger, poverty, illiteracy, and the environment. Rotarians experience the fulfillment that comes from giving back to the community.
International Awareness
With more than 31,000 Rotary clubs in over 160 countries, Rotarians gain an understanding of humanitarian issues through international service projects and exchange programs. One of Rotary’s highest objectives is to build goodwill and peace throughout the world.
Friendship
Rotary was founded on fellowship, an ideal that remains a major attraction of membership today. Club members enjoy the camaraderie with like-minded individuals, and club projects offer additional opportunities to develop enduring friendships. Rotary club members who travel are welcome in any Rotary club in the world and have friendly contacts in almost every city in the world.
Good Citizenship
Regular Rotary club programs keep members informed about what is taking place in the community, nation, and world, and thereby motivated to make a difference.
Family Foundations
Rotary sponsors some of the world’s largest youth exchange, educational exchange, and scholarship programs. Rotary clubs provide innovative training opportunities and mentoring for young leaders and involve family members in a wide range of social and service activities.
Entertainment
Social activities give Rotarians a chance to have fun among a wide circle of friends and colleagues. Rotary clubs and Districts host events and activities that offer diversions from today’s demanding professional and personal schedules. Conferences, conventions, assemblies, and social events provide entertainment as well as Rotary information, education, and service.
Ethical Environment
Encouraging high ethical standards in one’s profession and respect for all worthy vocations has been a hallmark of Rotary from its earliest days. In their business and professional lives, Rotarians abide by The Four-Way Test.
Leadership Development
Rotary is an organization of successful professionals. Team building, fundraising, public speaking, planning, organization, and communication are just a sampling of the leadership skills that club members can exercise and enhance. Being a Rotary leader provides further experience in learning how to motivate, inspire, and guide others.
Diversity in Membership
Rotary’s classification system aims to ensure that a club’s membership represents a variety of the community’s professional men and women, including leaders in business, industry, the arts, government, sports, the military, and religion. Rotary clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.
For more information about Rotary, visit the Rotary International website.
To join us for our next evening meeting and learn more about what the Rotary Club of Kirkland is all about, please contact membership@kirklandrotary.org. We would be happy to have you join us as a guest. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sources: Rotary International, Rotary Club of Summerland, Rotary Club of Waikiki