Some Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rotary ?
Rotary International is an association of Rotary clubs worldwide. It’s made up of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. The members of these autonomous clubs are called Rotarians, and they form a global network of 1.2 million people, all volunteering their time and talents to serve their communities and the world. Individual Rotary clubs, in turn, belong to the global association called Rotary International. If you become a member of The Rotary Club of Ridgefield, you are welcome at any of the other clubs worldwide. You can learn a lot more at www.rotary.org
How do I become a member of Rotary?
If you’re interested in joining the Rotary Club of Ridgefield then just contact us.
Often, a person being considered for membership is invited by a member of the club to attend one or more club meetings to learn more about Rotary. In this case, the sponsor then submits the candidate’s name to the club’s membership committee.
What are the qualifications for membership?
Anyone who has a desire to help others and able to work alongside other like-minded people can apply to join Rotary.
What are the responsibilities of membership?
Members pay annual fees; these fees are like donations for charity, some goes to the global association Rotary International, some goes to the District that your Club falls under and of course some goes to your Club. There are weekly meetings that members attend and they’re expected to participate in local or international Rotary club activities or projects. Clubs encourage members to aspire to club leadership or committee roles.
Where and when are the meetings?
We meet each Wednesday at 6:15 PM for fellowship, with the meeting starting at 6:30 PM. We usually finish by 8:30. At present we meet face-to-face at Keeler Tavern Museum and remotely via ZOOM.
If I’m not a Rotary club member, can I still help out with service projects?
Yes! You can offer to assist any Rotary club with its local service projects. Please let us know if you’d like to help so we can add you to our volunteers list.
How many Rotary members are there worldwide?
Why We Join Rotary.
Rotary is 1.2 million dedicated men and women in 35,000+ clubs worldwide. We are both an international organization and a local community leader. Together we lead, change and save lives in our own backyards and across the world. If you are at a point in your life where you want to give back to Ridgefield, if you are about to be an empty-nester or a retiree, if your coaching or cookie-mom days are over, if you’re new in town, if you have what it takes to make a difference and also enjoy socializing with others with a similar outlook , come to a meeting and take a closer look at Ridgefield Rotary.
If you want to be involved with community projects, as you or your friends were in a Rotary-affiliated Interact club in high school or Rotaract in college, take a closer look at Ridgefield Rotary. If you want to accelerate your career by developing or honing your leadership and management skills, there is no better place to do that than working with the proven leaders who would be your fellow Rotarians.
20 (more) Reasons to Join Rotary
From our District website
- Friendship: In an increasingly complex world, Rotary provides one of the most basic human needs: the need for friendship and fellowship. It is one of two reasons why Rotary began in 1905.
- Business Development: The second original reason for Rotary’s beginning is business development. Everyone needs to network. Rotary consists of a cross section of every business community. Its members come from all walks of life. Rotarians help each other and collectively help others.
- Personal Growth and Development: Membership in Rotary continues one’s growth and education in human relations and personal development.
- Leadership Development: Rotary is an organization of leaders and successful people. Serving in Rotary positions is like a college education. Leadership: – learning how to motivate, influence and lead leaders.
- Citizenship in the Community: Membership in a Rotary club makes one a better community citizen. The average Rotary club consists of the most active citizens of any community.
- Continuing Education: Each week at Rotary there is a program designed to keep one informed about what is going on in the community, nation, and world. Each meeting provides an opportunity to listen to different speakers and a variety of timely topics.
- Fun: Rotary is fun, a lot of fun. Each meeting is fun. The club projects are fun. Social activities are fun. Serving others is fun.
- Public Speaking Skills: Many individuals who joined Rotary were afraid to speak in public. Rotary develops confidence and skill in public communication and the opportunity to practice and perfect these skills.
- Citizenship in the World: Every Rotarian wears a pin that says “Rotary International.” There are few places on the globe that do not have a Rotary club. Every Rotarian is welcome – even encouraged – to attend any of the 33,000 clubs in over 200 nations and geographical regions. This means instant friends in both one’s own community and in the world community.
- Assistance when Traveling: Because there are Rotary clubs everywhere, many a Rotarian in need of a doctor, lawyer, hotel, dentist, advice, etc., while traveling has found assistance through Rotary.
- Entertainment: Every Rotary club and district has parties and activities that provide diversion in one’s business life. Rotary holds conferences, conventions, assemblies, and institutes that provide entertainment in addition to Rotary information, education, and service.
- The Development of Social Skills: Every week and at various events and functions, Rotary develops one’s personality, social skills and people skills. Rotary is for people who like people.
- Family Programs: Rotary provides one of the world’s largest youth exchange programs; high school and college clubs for future Rotarians; opportunities for spouse involvement; and a host of activities designed to help family members in growth and the development of family values.
- Vocational Skills: Every Rotarian is expected to take part in the growth and development of his or her own profession or vocation; to serve on committees and to teach youth about one’s job or vocation. Rotary helps to make one a better doctor, lawyer, teacher, etc.
- The Development of Ethics: Rotarians practice the 4-Way Test that governs one’s ethical standards. Rotarians are expected to be ethical in business and person relationships.
- Cultural Awareness: Around the world, practically every religion, country, culture, race, creed, political persuasion, language, color, and ethnic identity is found in Rotary. It is a cross section of the world’s most prominent citizens from every background. Rotarians become aware of their cultures and learn to love and work with people everywhere. They become better citizens of their countries in the process.
- Prestige: Rotary members are prominent people: leaders of business, the professions, art, government, sports, military, religion, and all disciplines. Rotary is the oldest and most prestigious service club in the world. Its ranks include executives, managers, professionals – people who make decisions and influence policy.
- Nice People: Rotarians above all are nice people – the nicest people on the face of the earth. They are important people who follow the policy of “it is nice to be important but it is more important to be nice.”
- The Absence of an “Official Creed”: Rotary has no secret handshake, no secret policy, no official creed, no secret meetings or rituals. It is an open society of men and women who simply believe in helping others.
- The Opportunity to Serve: Rotary is a service club. Its product is serving. Rotarians provide community service to both local and international communities. This is perhaps the best reason for becoming a Rotarian: the chance to do something for somebody else and to sense the self-fulfillment that comes in the process and return of that satisfaction to one’s own life. It is richly rewarding.