Membership – how to join

Rotary Club membership is by invitation only

If you would like to be considered for membership by the Rotary Club of Kahala Sunrise, please download and complete our Membership Application Form, mail it to us, and we will contact you on receipt of your application.

Expectations of a club member

The minimum expectations of a Rotary Club of Kahala Sunrise member include:

  • Pay bi-annual club membership dues on time (July 1st and Jan 1st)
  • Make a Gift to the Rotary Foundation by February 1st
  • Attend 50% or more of weekly Waikiki Club meetings and aim for 90% attendance including make-up meetings
  • Participate in service events and club social events per year
  • Actively serve in a leadership role on a current club standing committee
  • Identify and propose new members

Why join Rotary?

Rotary Club members are part of a diverse group of professional leaders working to address various community and international service needs. Through community service and other means, Rotary club members help promote peace and understanding throughout the world. Our members are our most important asset. They are the force that allows Rotary to carry out its many humanitarian efforts and achieve its mission.

Each Rotary Club strives for a membership that is an up-to-date and progressive representation of its community’s business, vocational, and professional interests. Membership in Rotary offers a number of benefits, including:

  • Effecting change within the community
  • Developing leadership skills
  • Gaining an understanding of — and having an impact on — international humanitarian issues
  • Developing relationships with community and business leaders

Types of membership

There are 2 types of Rotary Club membership, active and honorary:

  • Active members must meet the qualifications, as well as live or work within the club’s locality or surrounding area.
  • Honorary members have distinguished themselves by meritorious service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals and are considered friends of Rotary for their permanent support of Rotary’s cause.

Classifications

Each active member of a Rotary Club is classified according to the member’s business or profession. A classification describes either the principal and recognized activity of the firm with which an active member is connected or the member’s principal and recognized business or professional activity.

For more information on qualifications, see the Manual of Procedure (035-EN); the ByLaws of Rotary International, Article 4; and the Standard Rotary Club Constitution, Articles 6 and 7.

How to propose a new member

Proposing new members is essential to achieving Rotary’s goals of providing community and international service. As a Rotarian, one of your primary responsibilities is to help identify and propose new members.

Contribute to your club’s membership by bringing in qualified business and professional leaders who are interested in and committed to advancing the mission of Rotary. Together with your fellow Rotarians, you can help your club fully represent your community’s business and professional life.

Use the Membership Application form to propose a new member. You’ll be strengthening your club and ensuring its growth and longevity.

Identifying qualified candidates

Qualified candidates for Rotary membership are adults of good character and good business and professional reputation, who hold or have held an executive position with discretionary authority in any worthy and recognized business or profession.

Attracting prospective members

Sponsors should consider these approaches for attracting prospective members:

  • Hand out Rotary Basics — This Is Rotary, and What’s Rotary?. All three documents are available from either www.rotary.org , the RI Catalog, or your international office.
  • Encourage prospective members to tour the RI Web site, www.rotary.org.
  • Create a pamphlet that outlines the club’s history and highlights recent service projects and social events.
  • Invite prospective members to a club activity or a service project. Click on Membership at www.rotary.org to check for the latest materials.

Proposing a new member – the approval process

Once it becomes clear that the prospective member is interested in membership, the sponsor should:

  • Complete Part A of the Membership Application form, and return the form to for submission to the club’s Board of Directors. Remember: Don’t inform a prospective member of the proposal until after the board approves it.
  • Wait for the club Secretary to notify you of the Board’s decision, which should come within 30 days of the submission.

After your club board approves the candidate:

  • Have the club or sponsor arrange an information session for the proposed member.
  • Ask the proposed member to complete and sign Part B of the Membership Application form.
  • Publish the proposed member’s name and classification to the club. The Recommended Rotary Club Bylaws allow 7 days for club members to consider and file objections, if any.
  • If no objections are received, the proposed member pays the admission fee and becomes a Rotarian.
  • The club Secretary or President reports