Handbook

Dear Friend:

The directors, officers and members of the Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club are pleased that you are considering Rotary membership with us. Membership in Rotary is obtained by invitation only. With your acceptance of membership, you will join approximately 1.2 million other Rotarians who are members of the 31,000 clubs in 166 countries and geographical regions which comprise the worldwide civic organization, Rotary International. The Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club was chartered in June 23, 1986. As of July 1, 2011, we have 144 members representing 123 organizations in the Birmingham area. The Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club is a member of Rotary District 6860, comprised of 56 Rotary Clubs located throughout northern Alabama.

An invitation to be part of Rotary is an honor, and likewise, we will be honored if you choose to accept. Rotarians represent a wide variety of businesses and professions. Because of this fact, you will associated with an unparalleled group of fellow members in the Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club and, through attendance at district, national and international Rotary functions, you will have the opportunity of forming friendships with Rotarians in other clubs. Being active in Rotary will result in the realization that Rotary emphasizes community and worldwide service as well as fellowship and friendship.

Please read the following pages. We hope that when you are finished, you want to join us. If so, please complete the application form and return it to your sponsor. Membership requests must be approved at a monthly meeting of the board—you should expect to receive communication from the board approximately four weeks from submission of your application. If you have any questions, please contact one of our board members. Their contact information is listed on the Board of Directors page on this site.

Thank you for your interest in The Sunrise Rotary Club of Birmingham.

www.bhmsunrise.org

What is Rotary?

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

Rotary is the world’s first service club. The first Rotary club was founded in Chicago, Illinois on February 23, 1905.

Rotary is 1.2 service-minded men and women belonging to more than 31,000 Rotary clubs in virtually every nation in the world.

Rotarians meet weekly for fellowship and interesting and informative programs dealing with topics of local and global importance. Membership reflects a wide cross-section of community representation.

Rotarians plan and carry out a remarkable variety of humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs that touch people’s lives in their local communities and our world community.

Rotary is The Rotary Foundation, which each year provides some $80 million for international scholarships, cultural exchanges, and humanitarian projects large and small that improve the quality of life for millions of people. Rotary is widely regarded as the world’s largest private provider of international educational scholarships.

Why should you join Rotary?

Professional Networking
A founding principle of Rotary was to provide a forum for professional and business leaders. Today’s membership includes leaders in business, industry, the professions, the arts, government, sports, the military, and religion who make critical decisions and influence policy. Rotary offers the opportunity to meet people of this high caliber and work with them in serving others.

Personal Growth and Development
Membership in Rotary ensures continuing personal and professional development. Rotarians have countless opportunities to further enhance their leadership skills, as well as gain experience in public speaking and communication, organization and planning, team building, fundraising, and teaching.

Friendship
Fellowship was a primary reason Rotary was started in 1905, and it remains a major attraction. Today, with more than 31,000 Rotary clubs in some 166 countries, Rotarians have friends wherever they go. Rotary helps to build a sense of community as well as enduring individual friendships.

Cultural Diversity
Rotary International is an association of local clubs in many countries. Membership is open to business and professional leaders from every ethnic group, political persuasion, cultural background, and religion. Rotarians value this cultural diversity and practice and promote tolerance.

Good Citizenship
Membership in Rotary makes one a better citizen. Weekly Rotary club programs keep members informed about what is taking place in the community, nation, and world. Rotary’s expansive network of clubs and programs provides extensive opportunities for service and cross-cultural interchange.

World Understanding
Rotary members gain an understanding of humanitarian issues and have a significant impact on them through international service projects and exchange programs of RI and its Foundation. Promoting peace if one of Rotary’s foremost objectives.

Entertainment
Every Rotary Club and district hosts parties and activities that offer diversion from life’s demands. Each year, the Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club hosts a holiday party, and annual golf event, and service opportunities throughout the year that involve the entire family.

Future Generations
Rotary sponsors some of the world’s largest cultural and educational exchange and scholarship programs. Rotary clubs provide innovative training opportunities and mentoring for future leaders.

Ethical Environment
Rotarians practice The Four-Way Test, which measures words and actions by their truthfulness, fairness, goodwill, and benefit to all. Encouraging high ethical standards in one’s profession and respect for all worth vocations has been a hallmark of Rotary from its earliest days.

The Program of Rotary

What Rotarians undertake to accomplish is called the program of Rotary. The foundation of Rotary is the Object of Rotary, which reflects Rotary's golden rule "to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise".

Object of Rotary consists of four parts:

The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
High ethical standards in business and professionals, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his/her occupation as an opportunity to serve society
The application of the Ideal of Service by every Rotarian to his/her
The advance of international understanding, goodwill, and peace

Four basic approaches have been developed for the expression of the Object of Rotary -- these are known as the "Avenues of Service".

Club Service -- service to and within one's Club - cornerstone of Rotary service.
Vocational Service -- service in and through one's business or profession.
This is best exemplified by Rotary's 4-way test. When Rotary
members used this in daily lives, it promotes incorporating the
highest ethical standards and ideals in their activities.

4-Way Test:
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendship?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Community Service -- service to one's local community.
For a community to thrive, each of its members must honor a commitment to contribute to the well-being of the whole by returning those benefits in kind.
What makes a community service effort effective? Relevance. A community service project must address a real, current community concern or issue. Rotary clubs should start by surveying their communities to find out where help is needed.
International Service -- "to promote understanding of international relations and intelligent goodwill toward all nations". This goal is best exemplifies by the work of the Rotary Foundation.

The Rotary Foundation began in 1917 when it was realized that there was the need for an endowment for "doing good in the world" in charitable, educational, or other avenues of service. Its mission is to support the efforts of Rotary International in the fulfillment of the Object of Rotary, Rotary’s mission, and the achievement of world understanding and peace through local, national, and international humanitarian, educational, and cultural programs. Today, the Rotary Foundation annually funds:

Approximately 1,400 scholarships for graduate, undergraduate, vocational, and journalism scholars, and teachers of the handicapped;
As many as 320 Group Study Exchanges;
More than 150 international humanitarian projects through Special Grants and Health, Hunger and Humanity Grants;
15 or more grants for university teachers, to teach in developing nations other than their own;
Immunization activities to protect millions of children against polio (Polio Plus);
In 1985, Rotary launched the PolioPlus program to protect children worldwide from the cruel and fatal consequences of polio. In 1988, the World Health Assembly challenged the world to eradicate polio. Since that time, Rotary's efforts and those of partner agencies, including the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and governments around the world, have achieved a 99 percent reduction in the number of polio cases worldwide. Rotarians stand at the brink of a great victory and look forward to celebrating the global eradication of polio in 2005, the organization's centennial year.
Approximately 160 international volunteers providing needed service abroad;
Up to 6 Rotary Peace Forum meetings; and
Assistance in communities devastated by major disasters.

These programs are funded through an annual programs fund “Every Rotarian, Every Year, which encourages Rotarians worldwide to participate fully in their Rotary Foundation through their spirit of volunteerism and generosity. This effort helps sustain the Foundation’s many wonderful programs. Through your club dues, you support this program at the level of $100 per year.

Paul Harris Fellow/Multiple Paul Harris Fellow
Anyone who contributes – or in whose name is contributed – a gift of $1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund may become a Paul Harris Fellow. Each new Paul Harris Fellow receives a commemorative certificate, a Paul Harris Fellow pin, and a medallion. Donors are eligible for Paul Harris Fellow recognition when their cumulative giving reaches $1,000. For additional gifts totaling US$1,000 or more, a Paul Harris Fellow:
· is recognized as a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow
· may also choose to honor someone else as a Paul Harris Fellow with their Foundation Recognition Points, formerly called "available credit"
· is eligible to receive a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow pin with additional stones.
Local Service Activities of the Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club

Vocational Service
· Cornerstone School Tutoring Project (60 members tutor per month)
· Supported The Literacy Council of Central Alabama through co-sponsorship of John Grisham premier of Mickey in the Birmingham area.

Community Service

Raised $50,000 for the New Children’s Zoo (three year project)
Cahaba River Clean-up (supported for many years)
Cornerstone School Tutoring Project (60 members tutor per month)
Button Up Birmingham-coats for Birmingham homeless
Donations of Funds and Gifts for Christmas Programs at Gateway Children's Home
Whatley School Playground Project

International Service

Eye Glasses Collection Project for the Vision Screening Program
Promote the Paul Harris program
Support of the Polio Plus Campaign
Support of the Every Rotarian Every Year project
Rotary Foundation Scholarship Nominations

Club Service

Outstanding programs each week

Member participation in these avenues of service is not only welcomed, it is encouraged. Each year the club will select several new member projects. New members are required to participate in at least one new member project within 12 months of membership. Involvement in a specific project is a great way to meet other members while contributing toward Rotary service activities.

Membership Classification

Classification Principle - The Fundamental Building Block of Rotary The classification principle of membership is basic to the organization of all Rotary Clubs. Its purpose is to make certain that each Rotary club includes a representative of every worthy and recognized business, profession, or institutional activity in the community. In this way, each club strives to become a true cross section -- a microcosm -- of the business and professional life of the city or town of which it is a part.The classification principle is one of the chief sources of the strength and diversity of Rotary.

Section 1-General Provisions.

(a) Principal Activity. Each member shall be classified in accordance with the member’s business or profession. The classification shall be that which describes the principal and recognized activity of the firm, company, or institution with which the member is connected or that which describes the member’s principal and recognized business or professional activity.
(b) Correction or Adjustment. If the circumstances warrant, the board may correct or adjust the classification of any member. Notice of a proposed correction or adjustment shall be provided to the member.

Section 2-Limitations for clubs over 50 members.

The club may elect a person to active membership in a classification so long as it will not result in the classification making up more than 10% of the club’s active membership. If a member changes classification, the club may continue the member’s membership under the new classification notwithstanding these limitations.

Responsibilities of Membership
Members are expected to attend weekly programs of the club. Opportunities to make up attendance include attending the regular meeting of another Rotary club, attending various other Rotary meetings, or attending a club service project authorized by the club board of directors.

Rotary Club Attendance Rules
One of the privileges of Rotary Club membership is the opportunity to attend Rotary meetings. Each of the approximately 1.2 million Rotarians has the privilege of participating in the regular meeting of his home club each week or making up his absence by attending the meeting of a Rotary Club or provisional Rotary Club anywhere in the Rotary world. You may find a listing of local clubs to make up at our web site: www.bhmsunrise.org. When traveling outside of our local area, you can find a listing of clubs (nationally and internationally) at www.rotary.org.

Membership entails responsibility for regular attendance. The weekly meeting is the heart of each Rotary Club. You are needed-every week.

So there will be uniformity in the clubs as to what constitutes attendance and makeup for absence, rules have been established in convention by the Rotary Clubs of the world. (Article VIII, Section 1, Manual of Procedure 2001).

General Provisions. Each member should attend this club’s regular meetings. A member shall be counted as attending a regular meeting if the member is present for at last 60% of the meeting or is present and is called away unexpectedly and subsequently produces evidence to the satisfaction of the board that such action was reasonable, or makes up for an absence in any of the following ways:

14 Days Before or After the Meeting: If, within fourteen (14) days before or after the regular time for that meeting, the member

attends at least 60 percent of the regular meeting of another Rotary club; or
attends a regular meeting of a Rotaract or Interact club or Rotary Community Corps or of a provisional Rotaract or Interact club or Rotary Community Corps; or
attends a convention or RI, a council on legislation, an international assembly, a Rotary institute for past and present officers of RI, a Rotary institute of rpast, present, and incoming officers of RI, or any other meeting convened with the approval of the board of directors of RI or the president of RI acting on behalf of the board of directors of RI, a Rotary multizone conference, a meeting of a committee of RI, a Rotary district conference, a Rotary district assembly, any district meeting held by direction of the board of directors of RI, any district committee meeting held by direction of the board of directors of RI, any district committee meeting held by direction of the district governor, or a regularly announced intercity meeting of Rotary clubs; or
is present at the usual time and place of a regular meeting of another club for the purpose of attending such meeting, but that club is not meeting at that time or place; or
attends and participates in a club service project or a club-sponsored community event or meeting authorized by the board; or
attends a board meeting or, if authorized by the board, a meeting of a service committee to which the member is assigned.

When a member is outside the member’s country of residence for more than fourteen (14) days, the time restriction shall not be imposed so that the member may attend meetings in another country at any time during the travel period, and each such attendance shall count as a valid make-up for any regular meeting missed during the member’s time abroad.
** Members are required to pay quarterly dues to their clubs, their districts, and to Rotary International.

INITIATION FEE, DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

Initiation Fee: $300 initiation fee.

Dues are payable in advance. Statements are mailed at the beginning of each quarter.

Dues are: $225.00 per quarter

Any and all charged billed to member accounts are due and payable on receipt of statement from the Club Treasurer.

Any unpaid account balance of one quarter’s charges shall be considered delinquent if payment is not made on or before the last day of that quarter

Failure to settle account balances within thirty (30) days after becoming delinquent will result in termination of membership, unless excepted by the board for good and sufficient reason.

Members are expected to participate in local or international activities or projects of the Rotary club.

Member participation in the 4 avenues of service is not only welcomed, it is encouraged.

Each year the club will select several new member projects. New members are required to participate in at least one new member project within 12 months of membership. Involvement in a specific project is a great way to meet other members while contributing toward Rotary service activities.

** Clubs encourage members to aspire to leadership or committee roles within their clubs.

Duration of Membership-Summary. Detail provided in Manual of Procedure 2001.

Section 1-Period.

Membership shall continue during the existence of this club unless terminated as hereinafter provided.

Section 2-Automatic Termination.
Membership Qualifications. Membership shall automatically terminate when a member no longer meets the membership qualifications. For additional detail see Article XI, Section 2 of the Manual of Procedure 2001,

Section 3-Termination-Non Payment of Dues.

(a) Process. Any member failing to pay dues within thirty (30) days after the prescribed time shall be notified in writing by the secretary at the member’s last know address. If the dues are not paid on or before ten (10) days of the date of notification, membership may terminate, subject to the discretion of the board.
(b) Reinstatement. The board may reinstate the former member to membership upon the former member’s petition and payment of all indebtedness to this club. However; no former member may be reinstated to active membership if the former member’s classification has been filled.

Section 4-Termination-Non-attendance

(a) Attendance Percentages. A member must
(1) attend or make up at least 60% of club regular meetings in each half of the year;
(2) attend at least 30% of this club’s regular meetings in each half ot he year. If a member fails to attend as required, the member’s membership shall be subject to termination unless the board consents to such non-attendance for good cause.
(b) Consecutive Absences. Unless otherwise excused by the board for good and sufficient reason each member who fails to attend or make up four consecutive regular meetings shall be informed by the board that the member’s non-attendance may be considered a request to terminate membership in this club. Thereafter, the board, by a majority vote, may terminate the member’s membership.

Section 5-Termination-Other Causes.
The board may terminate the membership of any member who ceases to have the qualifications for membership in this club or for any good cause by a vote of not less than two-thirds of the board members, at a meeting called for that purpose. For more information regarding duration of membership, refer to Article XI, Manual of Procedure 2001.

Applying for Membership
To apply for membership, complete application form and return it to nominating member. The nominating member will complete the application form at www.bhmsunrise.org and submit for approval. The board meets monthly to review all membership applications received during the previous month. After board approval and classification, the name is submitted to the general membership for comment for 2 weeks. If no opposition, membership will begin immediately.