The purpose of this information booklet is to introduce you to Rotary International and The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes. This will let you know what you may expect from your Rotary membership, as well as what our club will expect from you as a member. Please check out our Sun Lakes Rotary Club Web Site at www.sunlakesrotary.org

1. Organized in Chicago in 1905 by Paul P. Harris, with Augustus Schiele, first President.

2. In the beginning the meetings were held in the charter members offices, rotating weekly from office to office, thus the name...ROTARY.

3. As the size of the group grew, the members met in restaurants to discuss their businesses, and community concerns.

4. Today, Rotary is an international organization, with the world divided into territories within which a group of Rotary Clubs is associated; these territories are known as Rotary Districts.

5. Currently there are nearly 29,728 Rotary Clubs, with a membership of 1.2 million, located in 187 countries and geographical regions. These clubs are divided among the Rotary Districts.

6. Rotary International, headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, is governed by a Board of Directors which includes the President of Rotary International, the immediate Past President, and seventeen (17) other Directors.

7. The Rotary year is from July 1st to June 30th.

The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and to encourage and foster...

• FIRST - The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service
• SECOND - High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of this worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his/her occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
• THIRD - The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his/her personal, business, and community life.
• FOURTH - The advancement of international understanding, good will, and peace through a world of fellowship of business and professional men and women, united in the ideal of service.

0. Is it the TRUTH?
1. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
2. Will it build GOOD WILL and better friendships?
3. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

• You will receive this magazine each month. It is well worth reading.
• Contains news of Rotary around the world.
• Contains interesting articles by outstanding writers on a variety of important subjects.

• A Membership Roster...
• It is convenient and very useful.
• It contains information about the Club Officers and Directors, each member, and the Committee Chairperson and their Committee Members.
• It contains each member’s picture.
• A Weekly Bulletin "THE SUN RISER"
• Provides up-to-date information and dates to remember.
• If you are going to be away for an extended period of time, it can be mailed to your location.

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes was organized in January 1986 and became officially chartered on April 22, 1986. It was started with twenty members.

The club meets weekly on Tuesday mornings from 7:00 to 8:00 AM in the San Tan Ballroom at the Cottonwood Country Club of Sun Lakes. Usually, most members arrive about 6:45 AM to join in on coffee and fellowship before the meeting starts. A light breakfast is served at the beginning of the meeting.

Current membership is 100+ members. However, in the winter months, we have Frequent Visitors that will increase our size to about 150+ Rotarians. The Frequent Visitors are Rotarians with memberships in other Rotary Clubs located in the Northern United States and Canada that spend the winter (October - May) here in Sun Lakes. As such, they do their "make up's" here and participate in our weekly meetings, activities, and events. They become very much involved in assisting our club and are a welcome group of Rotarians.

Our Rotary Club is governed by five Officers (President, President Elect, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer), six Directors and the immediate Past President. Additionally, we have a Sgt. at Arms and a Club Chaplain.

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes is a part of Rotary District 5510, which encompasses the northeastern part of the State of Arizona. Currently, there are forty two clubs that make up District 5510. The membership within District 5510 is over 1,500 and on it's way to a goal of 2,000 members. There are three Rotary Districts that make up Arizona with a combined membership of over 4,000 members.

• Wear your personal Rotary Pin to all meetings.
• Obtain your NAME badge from the badge box.
• Register your attendance and pay for your breakfast at the Registration Table.
• Register and pay for any quests you may have at the Registration Table.
• The President opens the meeting with a ring of the bell.
• Invocation.
• Pledge of Allegiance.
• One or more songs.
• Introduction of Guests and visiting Rotarians.
• Announcements, situational fun/laugh, and fines.
• Guest speaker.
• Final comments by the President.
• Meeting is adjourned.

Again, the entire breakfast and meeting is held to one hour. It is unusual that a meeting would last longer than the one-hour provided. Additionally, should a member need to leave early from the meeting, they can notify the Sgt. at Arms, pay a $1.00 SCOOTER fine, and leave during the meeting.

Rotary International suggests that each Rotary Club form committees for each Avenue of service. As such, The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes has formed committees within each Avenue of Service. For example, within Club Service, the following committees are formed...

• Membership
• Weekly Meeting Programs
• Club Fellowship
• Club Attendance
• Public Relations
• Club Roster

All members are given an opportunity to serve on a committee of their choice under one or more of the Avenues of Service. In some situations this is not always possible. As such, the President will assign a member to a committee that needs some additional assistance.

• To be a Rotarian, you must be willing to give of your time and talents.
• Willing to actively participate on one or more committees.
• Support Community and District projects sponsored by Rotary
• Assist with Club Fund Raising Projects.
• Attend Rotary Social events where possible.
• Participate in Club and District activities.
• Plan to attend the District 5510 Conference held once each year.

The goal for each member is to attend 80 to 100% of all Tuesday Morning Club meetings. However, when this is not possible, Rotary provides the opportunity of Meeting Make ups through the following ways…

• Attending a Board Meeting.
• Attending another Rotary Club meeting within fourteen (14) days before or after the missed meeting.
• Participating in a special Rotary Club project.
• Attending a District Institute, Assembly, or Conference.
• Attending a Rotary International Convention.

Four consecutive meetings missed could result in a suspension of membership. However, the situations of personal illness, family emergency, or an extended trip where attendance can not be attained, should be brought to the attention of the board as soon as possible so that attendance can be properly addressed.

• INITIATION FEE: $50.00
• SEMI-ANNUAL DUES (July & January) $50.00
• FINES $ (As Assessed)

THE TYPES OF MEMBERSHIPS IN A ROTARY CLUB

• ACTIVE
• Only one (1) Active Member in each classification of business or profession except religion, news media, or diplomatic.
• ADDITIONAL ACTIVE
• Any Active Member may propose, and the Club may elect to membership, one (1) additional person engaged in the same classification (Additional Active). If the Active member ceases to be a holder of the classification due to termination or change to Senior Active, the Additional Active member becomes an Active member. NOTE: The Club may admit to membership a qualified person of the same classification.
• SENIOR ACTIVE
• Sixty (60) years of age with 10 years Rotary service.
• Sixty-Five (65) years of age with 5 years Rotary service.
• Been a member for 15 years of one (1) or more Rotary Clubs.
• PAST SERVICE
• An active member, whose Active Membership was terminated because of his/her retirement from active business or professional
• HONORARY
• A person who has distinguished him/herself by meritorious service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals.

• A member of this Rotary club must sponsor your membership.
• The last page will provide you with an Application for Membership.
• Please be as specific as possible when filling out the application.
• The Classification Committee verifies your occupation and occupation classification.
• The Membership Committee verifies personal reputation within community and business.
• Board of Directors approves Rotary Membership Application.
• New Member Orientation Committee meets with you and your Rotarian Sponsor to review Rotary details, expectations, and to answer your questions.

• A New Member will receive a RED BADGE instead of a Blue Bad
• New Member is defined as "New to Rotary", not a "Past Rotarian"
• A Past Rotarian who rejoins Rotary is considered a New Member. They will receive a Blue Badge, unless he/she feels that they would like to accomplish the New Member requirements. If so, they will be provided a Red Badge.
• The RED BADGE is a quick way to assist in your understanding and involvement in Rotary.
• The RED BADGE will be worn during the first six (6) months. During this time, the New Member will need to achieve specific requirements - Click for Red Badge - Blue Specifics - Form. Should this be achieved sooner, then the Blue Badge will be presented upon completion.
• The New Member's Sponsor will be his/her mentor during the RED BADGE period. The Sponsor will assist where needed, and will need to sign off upon the completion of each achievement.
• Upon completion, the New Member will present this completed form to the Membership Committee Chairman. The New Member will be presented the Blue Badge.

• The Rotary Foundation carries out its programs and program operations, and its fund development and management on the basis of voluntary contributions and investment earnings on those contributions. No part of the per-capita dues paid by Rotarians to Rotary International supports the work of the Foundation.
• The Foundation's mission is to support the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace. Its tools for helping to achieve those goals are humanitarian and educational programs and, of course, the thousands of Rotarians and non-Rotarian participants who successfully carry out those programs. 
• A few examples of Programs...
• The Campaign to Eradicate Polio by 2005.
• Ambassadorial Scholarships...to further international understanding and friendly relations amoung people of different countries.
• Rotary Grants for University Teachers to Serve in Developing Countries... to build international understanding and friendship while strengthening higher education in low-income countries.
• Group Study Exchange...to send teams of outstanding non-Rotarian business and professional persons to travel between paired Rotary districts in different countries where they study their host country's institutions, economy, and lifestyles; observe their own professions in that country; develop friendships and discuss ideas with the local citizens.
• Grants for Rotary Volunteers...to offer individual Rotarians an opportunity to serve when it might not be otherwise financially feasible by providing subsidies for volunteer service. To assist in those areas of the world that require expertise in raising their basic standard of living.
• And many more...

• Name: Sun Lakes Rotary Foundation 2000.
• Approved: 501C3 Charitable Foundation by the IRS
• Founded: May 1999.
• Contributions to the foundation are tax deductible.
• The majority of available funds will be used for local charities with some funds used for international charities.