The Object of Rotary

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, 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 the worthiness of all useful occupations;
                     and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
 
THIRD.        The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;

 FOURTH.   The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business
                     and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Why Rotary?

 Rotarians are business, professional, and community leaders who take an active role in their communities while greatly enriching their personal and professional lives. A Rotary club contains a diverse group of professional leaders from the community that the club serves.
As a large and diverse organization, Rotary provides individuals with the power to help those in need. There are countless opportunities to make a difference to those less fortunate than ourselves. Membership in a Rotary club offers a number of benefits including:

• Friendship - In an increasingly complex world, Rotary maintains a simple philosophy - make friends in your own community and throughout the world.
• Giving back to the community - Through Rotary, service to local and overseas communities is well organized and rewarding. If you like helping others, here is your chance to do something worthwhile and make a real difference.
• Fun and entertainment - Rotary is fun... a lot of fun. Every Rotary club and district arranges parties and activities that provide a welcome distraction to a hectic business life.
• Business development - Networking opportunities are endless. Rotary consists of a cross-section from every business community and its members come from all walks of life. Rotarians help each other and collectively help others.
• Personal growth and development - Membership of Rotary develops leadership, public speaking, social, business, personal and vocational skills as well as improving cultural awareness.

The following video exemplifies the answer:

Things you might like to know about our Club

Who are our members?

Our Club is made up of both male and female members who mostly live in the West Pennant Hills, Cherrybrook and Castle Hill area. Our members cover a wide range of ages, some with young families through to those who have recently retired from full time employment. Most members have business or professional backgrounds covering a wide and varied range of vocations.

They are all brought together through a common desire to put something back into our community and help those less fortunate than ourselves in an environment of fun and fellowship.  This is both within our Club and within the wider Rotary organisation in Australia and the World. Our current membership is around 40.

How is the Club run and who organises it?

The Club has a Constitution and Bylaws and is run by an internally elected Board, headed by the Club President who holds office for one full year from 1 July through to the following June 30.  The Club Board meets formally once each month.  Most of the Club activities are organised through various Club Committees made up of members of the Club.  Members can either request or be invited to join various committees.  Most members of the Club participate in one or more committees.

Aside from the President, the members of the Club Board are:

  Secretary
  Treasurer
  Immediate Past President
  Club Service Director (Who is preferably also President Elect for the next Rotary year)
  Community Service Director
  Youth Service Director
  Vocational Service Director
  International Service Director
  Membership Director
​  Public Image Director
  Fundraising Director

The Club Board changes over each year at the end of June at a formal Changeover function.

Can any Club member be on the Board or be President?

Most definitely, in fact all members are actively encouraged to involve themselves in the running of the Club.  Most board positions can be held for more than one year although each board position must be re-elected each year.  The President holds the position for one year only.  

How often does the Club meet?

The Club meets one week on Monday evenings at The Vicar, Dural alternating with ZOOM meeting the next. At The Vicar, meetings start at 7pm with members arriving from 6.30pm to share a social drink with other members before the meeting starts. Meetings generally conclude before 9pm. On ZOOM meetings start at 7:30pm. Meetings are not held on Public Holidays. Occasionally meetings are held at other locations when joint meetings are organised with another Rotary Club in the area.  Vocational visits are also occasionally organised in lieu of a regular meeting.

​How much does it cost to be a member of Rotary?

Annual membership dues of $300 are paid each July although this can be paid in two 6 monthly payments if required.  A portion of this money goes to the Rotary International organisation, a portion goes to the local Rotary District 9685 to which our Club belongs and a portion is retained by our Club.  This money is used to run our Club, District and Rotary International.  Dinner is provided at weekly meetings and dinner dues of $30 are payable each week to cover the cost of the meal.  A light-hearted fine session is also held at the conclusion of each meeting with “fines” restricted generally to a gold coin donation. No other membership payments are required.  Normal costs are payable when participating in social activities and external Rotary activities such Conferences.

Do I have to attend meetings each week?

There is no obligation to attend meetings every week although it is required, for catering purposes that all members apologise prior to 11am each Monday if they are unable to attend.  Members are also encouraged to attend other Rotary Club meetings throughout Sydney, NSW, Australia and the world when possible to meet and interact with other Rotarians throughout the world.  You will always be made welcome.  If you are planning to miss more than 3 meetings in a row you are required, as a courtesy, to request leave of absence through the Club Secretary.

Are there other Rotary Clubs in this area?

There are a number of other Clubs in this area including Pennant Hills, Beecroft, Glenhaven, Castle Hill, Galston, Dural, Kenthurst, Carlingford and North Rocks.  Rotary is organised throughout the World into Rotary Districts.  Our Club, as well as the Clubs listed above, belong to District 9685 which covers around 78 Rotary Clubs from North Sydney to the Central Coast. There is one other District in Sydney covering the Southern part of the City as well as the Rotary Club of Sydney which is an extremely large Club and virtually constitutes a District in itself.

How does this Club interact with these other Clubs?

Each Rotary District is run by a District Committee made up of members from Rotary Clubs within the District headed by a District Governor. The District Committee and Governor changes over each year in a manner similar to the Club board. Various projects and activities are organised on a District basis including an annual conference. This brings our members into contact with members of other Clubs in the District. District Committees are usually made up of Rotarians from a number of different Clubs. From time to time, joint activities are undertaken with other Clubs. Joint meetings with other Clubs are also sometimes held.

Does this Club raise money? If so how and what do we do with it?

Most Rotary Clubs raise money to fund their various programs and charitable activities.  Our club generally raises between $30,000 and $40,000 each year through a number of fund raising activities.  Our three main fund raising activities at the moment are a Garage Sale, a Book Fair and a Trivia Night.  With the Garage Sale, we sell donated goods over two days usually in September each year in the area outside the Cherrybrook Bush Fire Brigade and the park in front of the local Guide Hall. The Book Sale usually occurs over a Friday-Saturday in March at the Uniting Church.  This event involves the sale of donated books/records/CDs. The Trivia Night is held at the Cherrybrook Community Hall. 

In 2005, a spontaneous bucket collection was held by our members at Cherrybrook shops raising over $20,000 in one weekend to aid the Tsunami victims. 100% of this money was directed through Rotary controlled projects to assist villagers in Phuket rebuild their lives.

All money raised is placed into a separate Club bank account with 100% of the net funds raised (i.e. excluding direct costs incurred such as the hire of clowns, farm animals on the Sunday of the Garage Sale) used in Rotary programs and Charitable activities. Usually the President of the Club and the board nominate a Charity each year to receive a major portion of the money raised. As an example, major donations and Rotary programs supported by our Club in the 2021-22 year were:

Flood Appeal (various)
Nusa Tenggara Association
Rotary Foundation​
​Rotary Youth Leadership Awards
​Feed Phuket - RC Patong Beach
Cherrybrook RFS​

$11,000
​$10,292
​$9,612
​$1,960
$1,030
​$1,000

What other activities do members get involved with?

Rotary activities are generally divided into “Avenues of Service”. i.e.
  Vocational
  Community
  Youth
  International
  Club

Each Rotary Club Board plans a range of activities in each of these Avenues of Service. Some typical activities undertaken by our Club in recent years are shown in the "Our Projects" section of this site.

A general outline of each Avenue of Service is also given in the “Rotary Basics” leaflet.  Link

Do our partners get involved?

Although there is no obligation or expectation for partners of members to get involved in Club activities, when able, most do so willingly and happily.  The involvement of our partners has become a strong and integral part of our Club activities and their involvement is the backbone of our social activities.  Many actively help out with Club programs and are “virtual” members.  Although partners are welcome to attend any Rotary meeting, a special, Partners meeting is usually organised each month.

What do Rotarians believe in and stand for?

Rotary is not a political organisation, but all Rotarians are concerned with our place in the world and ensuring that the best people are elected to public office to lead this country and the world.

Rotary is not a charitable organisation yet its activities exemplify what one should expect from people who believe that they have a responsibility to help others.

Rotary is not a religious organisation but it is built on the moral principles that have served people well throughout the ages. Rotary is an organisation of business and professional people pledged to upholding the highest ethical and professional standards. Rotarians believe that worldwide fellowship and international peace can be achieved when people unite under the banner of service.

How can I join Rotary?

You need to be invited by a member to attend one of our Rotary meetings. If, after attending several meetings and talking to members of the Club about Rotary you express a desire to join, you will be interviewed by someone from the Membership Committee. Your name will then be circulated to the members as a prospective member. Once this has been done and there is no objection lodged, you will be invited to join and inducted in an Induction Ceremony at a Club meeting. In our Club, the process usually takes two or three weeks from the time you express a desire to join.

You need Rotary because

• You care about your community and want to be involved with people who share your commitment.
• You like to be associated with people and ideas that really make a difference in your world.
• You believe in service. You know that our world is enriched by women and men like yourself, and you want to do your part.
• You have talents that you are willing to share.
• You like to have fun. You like to be around people who enjoy what they are doing, whether working, or volunteering, or just socialising.

 Rotary needs you because

• Rotary needs talented people like you to be an effective organisation serving their community.
• You are a leader in your community. Whether you are outgoing or reserved, Rotary needs leaders like you.
• Rotary needs people with new energy and new ideas.
• Rotary is a highly regarded international organisation that makes things happen – locally, nationally, and internationally.  But nothing happens without the efforts of people like you.

Why not give Carol, our Membership Director, a call (0418 431 157) and learn how to join?