Jackson (TN) Rotary - Becoming a Member

Every Rotarian shares the privilege and obligation of seeking qualified Rotary club members. In this way all club members can help their club achieve a full representation of the business and professional life of the community. A full roster of dedicated members enhances fellowship and helps a club carry out its worthwhile service projects. Think about the expertise you can add to your club's overall profile. Every new Rotarian brings a range of personal and professional resources that can greatly strengthen your club's ability to serve throughout the community and the world.

General qualifications:
Rotarians are adults of good character and good business or professional reputation, who hold or have held an executive position with discretionary authority in any worthy and recognized business or profession.

Active membership:
Active members must meet the above qualifications, as well as live or work within the club's locality.

Honorary membership:
Honorary members are indivduals who have distinguished themselves by meritorious service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals, but are not able to maintain active membership in a club. This designation is infrequently bestowed, but may be considered in special circumstances.

How Does the Club Elect its Members?

The following procedure is taken from provisions of Article XI of the "Recommended Rotary Club Bylaws":

Step One: The name of a prospective member, proposed by an active member of the club or by the Membership Development Committee, is submitted to the board in writing through the club secretary.

Step Two: The board requests the Classification Committee to report on the eligibility of the proposed member from the standpoint of classification, and the Membership Committee to investigate and report on the person’s eligibility.

Step Three: The board considers and approves or disapproves the recommendations of the Classifications and Membership Committees and then notifies the proposer, through the club secretary, of its decision.

Step Four: If the board’s decision is favorable, the Sponsor, together with one or more members of the Rotary Information Committee, informs the prospective member of the purposes of Rotary and of the privileges and responsibilities of membership in the club. The prospective member is then asked to fill out and submit an application form for membership and to give permission for the candidate’s name and proposed classification to be published to the club. Typically this is published in two (2) consecutive club newsletters and published on the club's website to ensure that all members are aware of the new member proopsal. It is a sound practice to invite the candidate to several regular club meetings prior to presenting the application card.

Step Five: If no written objection to the proposal is received by the board from any club member within the specific time allotted for publication of the name of the prospective member, he/she is considered to be elected to membership. If an objection is filed, the board considers it at a regular or special meeting and votes on the proposed member.

Step Six: If elected, the club secretary then reports the new member’s name to the RI General Secretary. The individual is then formally introduced at a regular club meeting and presented with a new member packet, including his or her Membership Pin.

What are My Attendance Requirements?

Attendance is a very important part of a Rotarian membership. If one is not consistently at the meetings, it is impossible to be an active member and impossible for a sense of fellowship to be developed among that member and his or her peers. While the club knows that it would be almost impossible to attend every meeting, the Rotary Club of Jackson does expect a member, if he or she does miss a meeting, to "make-up" whenever feasible. The requirements for attendance come from the bylaws and are as follows:

The club constitution indicates that the membership of any member other than an honorary member of this club may be terminated if, at the board's discretion and/or without consent of the board for good and sufficient reason, the member fails:

to attend or make-up four consecutive regular meetings, or
to attend or make-up at least sixty percent of the regular meetings in the first or second six months of the fiscal year, or
to attend or make-up at least thirty percent of the regular meetings of this club in the first or second six months of the fiscal year.

The make-up period for a missed meeting starts fourteen days prior to the meeting missed and extends an additional fourteen days after the meeting was missed. For example: If you are going to miss Wednesday, July 11, you can make-up that meeting beginning the night of Wednesday, June 27th, through the morning of Wednesday, July 25th.

When a member misses two consecutive meetings of the Rotary Club of Jackson, the member is contacted by the club, to indicate to the member that they were missed, to make sure that the member is not losing interest in Rotary and to inquire if the member has a need to request a leave-of-absence from the board. Note: A leave-of-absence must be requested in writing to the club president when a situation arises that will require you to miss more than two consecutive meetings. If the situation extends beyond a one month period, subsequent leaves may be requested on a monthly basis. A leave of absence does not serve as an excused absence for attendance recording purposes; it simply protects your membership in the club from automatic termination of membership.

What are My Financial Obligations?

Fulfilling the financial obligations of membership is an important part of being a member of the

Rotary Club of Jackson. In the future detailed information on costs associated with membership

will be posted here.

Now That I Have Been Proposed for Membership,What Should I Know?

Congratulations on being invited to join the Rotary Club of Jackson. Someone you know and that has great respect for you has proposed you for membership. This is probably no secret to you, and before you decide to accept this invitation, we wish to tell you about us: our objectives and rules, so that you can make a thoughtful decision about acceptance of the proposal for membership.

Our club is part of Rotary International (RI) , the world's first and largest service organization. Founded in 1905, "RI" recently celebrated its first 100 years of service to the world. Today, with over 1.2 million members in over 31,000 clubs around the globe, in over 160 nations, RI is the premier service organization for any leader to join. Its members are men and women who hold leadership positions in government, businesses, and charities, and those who provide professional services. As Rotarians, we believe that we can attain worldwide fellowship and peace through an organization of business and professional men and women united under the banner of service.

RI employs a "classification" form of membership in order to spread its membership throughout the community where each club is located. You were, like every other Rotarian, chosen to represent your particular vocation in our club. Rotary stands for the highest standards of character and integrity in your family, in your club, and in your vocation.

Rotary requires that you attend substantially all of the weekly meetings of your club. This rule reinforces the classification form of membership, and when a member must miss a meeting, that member is called upon to visit promptly the meeting of another club as a make-up. A Rotarian is always welcome at any meeting of any other Rotary club in the world, and you will find there are many opportunities to visit other clubs . Many Rotarians who travel frequently have found that with some preparation they are able to maintain their attendance and also meet a greater variety of people. By visiting other clubs you will discover a wealth of diversification among our clubs.

Rotary is not a political, religious, or "secret" organization. Rotary’s structure, charter, and bylaws are open to all. Rotary does not exist to serve any creed or political objective. Rotary does not exist to promote you in your business or profession; our members should never advertise their membership to attract business or for advancement.

All Rotarians should strive to be of service to their vocations, their communities, and to the world community itself. As you learn about Rotary and Rotarians, you will probably be surprised at the scope and depth of our projects . You will also find that many of the leaders of other charitable and volunteer organizations are also Rotarians. You will have many choices and opportunities for your service.

I Have Been Elected A New Member. Now What?

CONGRATULATIONS! It's official. You have been adopted into the great family of Rotary. Not only do you represent your classification to Rotary, but you are also an ambassador of Rotary to your business, craft, or profession. Rotary cannot be adequately described or explained; it should be lived and felt. Rotary is a way of life. We believe, so you believe, that your life’s activity is an honorable and worthy one, and you will find Rotary a healthy and congenial influence, to which you are expected to contribute in fair measure to your fellow Rotarians, Jacksonians, Tennesseans, Americans and citizens of the world.

Rotary is not a political organization, BUT all Rotarians everywhere are vitally concerned with all matters pertaining to good citizenship. As a good citizen, you will want to see good men and women in public office, and once they are there, they should be worthy of your loyalty and cooperation.

Rotary is not a charitable organization, BUT within its kind and comprehensive grasp will be found all the charity and all the sacrifices you would expect from men and women who believe that the Golden Rule is more than a mere theory.

Rotary is not a religious organization, BUT behind it are all those eternal principles, which have made religion the vital influence that it has been on the destinies of men and women through the ages. Religion and denomination are manmade but the love for God is very personal.

Rotary is an organization of business and professional men and women pledged to the highest business and professional standards. They are earnest people who believe, and whose lives should be run parallel with the belief, that the development of the sacred thing called character is the supreme achievement of life. They are men and women who believe that worldwide fellowship and international peace can be secured through an organization of business and professional men and women united under the banner of service.

On entering Rotary you will assume many obligations, but we believe you are a person who realizes that our responsibilities are the greatest gifts that God can give to many. Our Mottoes are:

"Service Above Self"

and

"He Profits Most Who Serves Best"

As already indicated, we believe that the Golden Rule is applicable even in these modern days of highly organized business and professional competition. You will take these principles with you into your home and personal life; you will take them into your business life; into the relations between yourself and the men and women whom you employ; and more than that, you will take them into your business, professional, or craft organization, for you are a Rotary missionary, carrying the gospel of unselfish service to all with whom you may come in contact.

Would you like to know more about our Members and our Club, specifically?

Visit our Projects section and other parts of our website for more information.

If you're sure you'd like to seek membership, Take the First Step!

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