OXFORD ROTARY CLUB:

Responsibilities of Membership

 

As an individual considers the possibility of membership in the Oxford Rotary Club, it is important to know the object of Rotary:

 

The object of Rotary is to encourage and to foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and to foster:

 

  • First, the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

 

  • Second, high ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

 

  • Third, the application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his personal, business, and community life;

 

  • Fourth, the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional people united in the ideal of service.

 

These principles frame what we do as a club on the local level, cooperatively with the region (District 6670), and nationally and internationally through Rotary International.

 

To affect these goals there are attendant costs that may be characterized as “standard” and “optional”:

 

Standard Costs

 

Membership dues are $30.00 per quarter. From this amount, the Club pays District and Rotary International dues as well as the general operating expenses of the Club (excluding meals).

 

Hefner Fund Contributions are $35.00 per quarter. The Hefner Fund is the charitable arm of the Oxford Rotary Club. Each member is expected to contribute $140.00 per year to this fund. This contribution is tax deductible. The Hefner Board (a group of Club members)  determines how the funds will be distributed to local charities and projects.

 

Meals are $124.00 per quarter (on average). All regular members are charged $11.00 per meal whether or not they attend the luncheon meeting. If a member attends another Rotary Club for a makeup, that member’s bill is credited $11.00 for the makeup. If a member brings a guest, the cost is $11.00 per guest meal.

 

Thus, “normal” costs are $179 per quarter, or $716 annually.

 

 

Optional Costs

 

Paul Harris Sustaining (The Rotary Foundation) Memberships are $100.00 per year. Every member is strongly encouraged to contribute at least $100.00 to the Rotary Foundation, based in Chicago, per year. If a member prefers, this can be added to the quarterly dues statement ($25.00 per quarter). When a member has contributed $1,000.00 to the Rotary Foundation through the Sustaining Member Program, he or she is recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. Programs that are financed through the Rotary Foundation include: “Polio Plus,” an effort to eradicate polio on a global basis; the Ambassadorial Scholarship Program which finances graduate education for individuals who wish to study in countries other than their own; Group Study Exchanges, which sponsor groups of non-Rotarian young professionals in visits to other countries for the purpose of sharing and exchanging their professional knowledge and challenges with others engaged in similar work in the host countries.

 

Golf Outing sponsorships are $100.00 for non-golfers. Golfing runs about $125 per person. As members are encouraged to support the Rotary Foundation for its international reach, similarly members are urged to support our Club’s annual Golf Outing, which, through its proceeds, provides scholarships to selected outstanding Talawanda seniors and contributions to area charities.

 

Raffles average $5.00 per quarter, although this is dependent upon the individual’s level of participation. Income from Raffles is devoted to ad hoc needs in the community and other special club projects.

 

Occasional holiday parties average an additional $15.00 per member and per guest. Participation in these events is optional, but encouraged. Cash bars are extra..

 

Other Things to Know

 

Attendance at weekly meetings is expected. Only through being together once a week at Rotary can each Rotarian give the most to Rotary as well as receive the most out of being a Rotarian. The weekly meetings foster the fundamental acquaintanceship through which opportunities for service present themselves. If missing a meeting is necessary, members can “make up” at nearby Rotary clubs. The membership directory provides a list of neighboring clubs.and their meeting times. If you are traveling, you may wish to speak with the club secretary to obtain a list of clubs in the area(s) you will be visiting, their locations and meeting times. The club secretary has a listing of Rotary clubs around the world.

 

While perfect attendance is not a necessary, it is a worthy goal.  Those who have extended absences are reminded of the obligation to attend.

 

Club Participation:  On a rotating basis, members take turns greeting at the meetings, conducting the pledge and opening prayer, and once a year hosting the program for the day.

 

The ongoing business of the Club is accomplished through the work of its committees, which involve all members in various capacities in assignments that vary from year to year and which function under the direction of the Club’s elected officers and directors.