Membership Guidelines

Guidelines for Membership in the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor

Our Standard of Membership

An association of some 30,000 autonomous clubs in more that 160 countries, Rotary International is one of the world’s largest service organizations. The goal for a club’s membership is an up-to-date and progressive representation of the community’s business, vocational and professional interests. Members of Rotary are part of a diverse group of leaders working to address various community and international service needs and to promote peace and understanding throughout the world. We need new members to infuse our club with new ideas, energy and enthusiasm. Our members are our most important asset. They are the force that allows Rotary to carry out its humanitarian efforts and achieve its mission.

The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor has a rich and proud tradition of quality and enthusiastic members who have enabled our Rotary club to thrive and achieve remarkable success in supporting community and Rotary International causes. Our goal is to have a vital and diverse club with individuals who are proven leaders and professionals in our community, demonstrating professional growth, leadership and “service above self”, and who have the interest and ability to support our club and its projects. Your Membership Development Committee and your Board of Directors are committed to a continuation of that tradition for the good of all those we serve.

In order to assure that potential candidates for membership and their sponsors are fully aware of and prepared to accept the responsibilities of club membership, each club member who is considering proposing an individual for membership is urged to be familiar with and support our standard and this process for the recruitment of new members.

Qualifications

Candidates for membership must:

• hold – or be retired from – a position of proven leadership or professional stature in the public or private sector;
• demonstrate volunteer service commitment to the community or chosen field of endeavor
• have the availability and the willingness to meet the club’s attendance and community project participation requirements;
• live or work within the Ann Arbor area

Benefits and Responsibilities of Membership

Rotary membership provides the opportunity to:

• be connected to our community;
• work with fellow Rotarians to address community needs;
• associate with other community leaders and professionals;
• Apply leadership skills and experiences for the advancement of the club’s mission

Rotary club membership carries with it certain responsibilities:

• Members are expected to attend weekly programs of the club. Opportunities to make up attendance include attending a regular meeting of another Rotary club, attending various other Rotary committee meetings, or attending a club service project authorized by the club Board of Directors.
• Members are required to help meet the financial obligations of the club through annual dues ($255 in Rotary year 2009-2010; $215, over 70 years of age) and mandatory community service contributions ($170 in calendar years 2009 and 2010), and are expected to contribute voluntarily, but generously, to the Ann Arbor Rotary Endowment and the Annual Fund of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. There is a one time $40 initiation fee for new members.
• Members are expected to participate in or otherwise support local or international activities or projects of Rotary.
• The club encourages members to aspire to leadership or committee roles within the club.

Membership Proposal Process

 The Membership Development Committee is a standing committee of the club, made up of a representative cross-section of members, whose charge is to receive and review Proposals for Membership and make recommendations regarding those Proposals to the club Board of Directors for approval and invitation into membership.

The Membership Development Committee (MDC) and the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor are committed to the recruitment of quality and committed members, who are leaders in the community, and to their retention. To assist our club in achieving this goal, members who are considering an individual for possible invitation into the club are asked to contact our MDC chairs Charlie Crone and Todd Kephart to talk about the opportunity for sponsoring a successful candidate into club membership. These Committee members can assist the prospective sponsor with a brief review of the Standard of Membership and qualifications of the prospective member.

A person being considered for membership should be invited by the prospective sponsor to attend one or more club meetings to learn more about Rotary. Members are urged to refrain from referring to a guest or nominee as a “future member” until the Board of Directors has acted on a nomination, as nominees are subject to review until that time. If through conversations with the individual about the qualifications and responsibilities of club membership, the prospective sponsor believes that the individual meets the Standard of Membership, he/she is to complete and submit a Proposal for Membership Candidate Nomination Form, along with the accompanying checklist.

Membership nominations are now submitted online. Once submitted, the person nominated will be considered for the next class in the membership cycle. New member classes are inducted three times a year on a schedule which is announced by the Membership Development Committee, generally March, July and November.

Once the Board of Directors has acted, the member/sponsor will be contacted to notify the individual of the Board’s action and arrange to participate with the inductee in the new member induction process. This process includes announcements of candidates, orientation and new member induction at a regularly scheduled club meeting. If the candidate is not accepted, the Committee will inform the sponsor as to the reasons. The sponsor may then request to meet with the Committee if he/she believes reconsideration is warranted.

Role of the Member as Mentor/Sponsor

 Mentoring of the new member is a critical factor in successful member participation and retention. A member who is considering being a sponsor must also be willing to be a mentor, in order to help assure that the new member’s club experience is rewarding and that the club’s goals and mission are supported by the development of a strong, vital and committed membership.

Among the mentor/sponsor’s responsibilities are:

• Assure that the individual being considered meets the Standard of Membership and is likely to meet the responsibilities of a member of the club
• Sponsor only an individual that the sponsor feels he/she can fully support for membership
• Act as a mentor to the new member for the first year of membership, beginning with the day of orientation/ induction, to help the new member:
• meet and develop acquaintances with fellow members
• secure information about club activities and projects
• become involved in areas of interest, leading to sharing of talents and skills for the club’s benefit

New Member Orientation

New member orientation is conducted on the morning of the scheduled induction of the new member into the club at the Noon regular meeting. Orientation consists of an overview of the history and culture of Rotary and of the responsibilities and opportunities for members of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor. Orientation is very important to the new member and attendance is strongly encouraged.

Policy on Membership Transfer or Re-Instatement

The club has no special policy or procedure for the invitation or approval of individuals who wish to transfer from another Rotary club. Those club members who are interested in assisting an individual in this circumstance are asked to follow the club practice for new member consideration and proposal. Reinstatement of previous members of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor is at the discretion of the Board of Directors and such requests should be referred through the Membership Development Committee.

Rev./Approved 10/03 B.O.D. (Updated in September 2007 to include the latest dollar amounts for dues, CSA and initiation fee and chairmanship of the Membership Development Committee)

To nominate someone, please fill out our web-based submission form available only to members.  

For the class scheduled to be inducted in November 2009, completed nomination forms must be submitted by October 15, 2009.