Commonly Asked
Questions

Q. How often must I attend meetings?

A. Generally you are expected to attend all of our regular meetings on a weekly basis. A meeting is counted as attended if you are present for at least 60% of the meeting time (in our case 35 minutes). Membership is automatically terminated if a member misses or fails to make-up 4 meetings in a row or if you fail to attend or make-up 60% of the regular meetings.

Q. How do I "make-up" for missed meetings?

A. To protect your membership and receive attendance credit, you must attend the meeting of another Rotary club (or certain other functions) within two weeks before or after the absence. When you attend another club’s meeting for a make-up, be sure to get a Visiting Rotarian Report Card and give it to our own club Secretary as soon as possible.

Q. Who should I talk to regarding the proposal of a new member?

A. Our club always has a Membership Chairperson who is usually the same person as the President-Elect. Contact this person by phone or at our luncheon meeting for information and a copy of DD3-254-EN ("How to Propose a New Member").

Q. How often are dues paid, to whom, and what are the dues used for?

A. Dues invoices are given to you by the Treasurer on a quarterly basis and should be paid within a month. About $17.00 of each quarter’s dues goes for support of Rotary International and our District. The lion’s share of the dues goes to pay for the weekly luncheon meal.

Q. How is the club administered and who keeps track of the by-laws?

A. Rotary International has a constitution that is the basis for the administration of all Rotary clubs. Each club has a set of By-Laws that outline the specific operation of that club. For copies of Rotary International’s Constitution or By-Laws, ask the club Secretary. Also available from the Secretary or President is the Manual of Procedure which has the answers to almost every procedural or administrative dilemma.

Q. How does our club raise funds for the good causes that we support? What are those causes?

A. In addition to the many worthy causes endorsed and supported by Rotary International, our club usually provides funds and hands-on support to local/regional organizations. Usually it is the job of the club President to identify a worthy cause (or more than one cause), get the support of the club members, obtain approval from our Directors, and spearhead the fund-raising efforts. In past years, club money and efforts have been directed at such causes as The Boys and Girls Home at Lake Waccamaw, a permanent scholarship endowment at UNCW, a yearly scholarship at Cape Fear Community College, and the Hospice Children’s Play Center.

Q. What’s the "deal" about getting luncheon program speakers?

A. The club Service Chairperson has overall responsibility for getting speakers. Usually, the Chairperson asks club members to take turns in helping to get speakers. Suggestions and ideas from club members are always appreciated. Speakers are usually given 20-30 minutes to speak and we ask that the topic not be a commercial message or solicitation unless for non-profit causes.