FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Rotary?
Our Club is a member of Rotary International, a volunteer organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. There are approximately 1.2 million Rotary Club members in over 33,000 Rotary Clubs, spanning more than 200 countries and/or geographical areas. Rotary exists to improve communities through humanitarian, intercultural, and educational activities – especially through the efforts of polio eradication; peace building; international education; literacy; clean water; and other community-based projects.
I’d like to learn more. How do I do that?
We invite you to join us at one of our meetings or events. You can find us most Tuesday mornings at 7:00 a.m. at the Hyatt Place of Harrisonburg, 1884 Evelyn Bird Avenue. You can also email us at rockinghamvarotary@gmail.com. Finally, you are welcome to reach out to any of our Club members -- we'd be more than happy to answer any of your questions!
What does your club do in our community?
The Rotary Club of Rockingham County invests in the continued health and positive growth of our local area through:
supporting Eastern Mennonite University’s Summer PeaceBuilding Institute;
hosting annual fundraisers (including a spring Car Raffle and fall Golf Tournament) to invest in the work of Generations Crossing; The Collins Center; First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence; the Ronald McDonald House at UVA Children's Hospital; Massanutten Technical Center; and other worthy charities; and
leading the Harrisonburg Soap Box Derby.
We also partner with other Clubs on broader initiatives. Currently, we are working with the Albemarle County and Massanutten Clubs on a clean water project in Limpopo Province, South Africa (Pure Madi), and are heading up a "Cask for a Cause" fundraiser at Three Brothers Brewery this coming October to support polio eradication.
What do you expect from your club members?
Our Club members pay dues to Rotary International, our Rotary District (7570), and our Club to help cover administrative costs and each member’s annual subscription to The Rotarian Magazine. In addition, members are billed for breakfast (13 meals each quarter), which also covers catering costs for our annual June picnic and December holiday gathering. There is also a nominal one-time initiation fee. Members are also asked to commit to purchasing at least one ticket (currently $150), and donate one item, for our annual Raffle and Silent Auction. Last, but not least, members may opt out of a quarterly $25 donation to the Rotary International Foundation, a tax-deductible donation that leads to recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow upon reaching $1,000 in cumulative donations.
Billed quarterly, ongoing dues are:
$15 -- Rotary International dues
$10 -- District 7570 dues
$10 -- Club dues
$25 -- Paul Harris Rotary Foundation donation (recommeded)
$169 -- Meals
$229 -- Total
Ask about our Associate Member dues, which start out lower for the first two years.
Many employers, recognizing the business and personal development value of being a Rotarian, will underwrite part, if not all, of the membership costs. Our Club Secretary is happy to ‘split-bill’ in whatever way facilitates your employer’s support.
We are a small Club (over 40 members to date!) with a big heart and a great sense of humor. We routinely see 100% participation of members at projects large and small (and social events dressy and informal!). We’re a Club that is, by its very nature, easy going – as a Club past president said, you have to be laid back if you’re going to meet at 7:00 a.m. once a week! -- but passionately committed to the ideals and goals of Rotary. Perhaps more importantly: we’re a Club where you can make a positive impact in your community, and across the globe, while making new friends over coffee and a hearty breakfast.