Frequently asked Rotary questions:
What are we doing in the community? The members of the Essex/Middle River Rotary Club are involved in a variety of projects in our community. The Club adopted several families for the year and just held an annual Christmas party in their honor. In addition, we provided almost 500 dictionaries to 3rd graders in our area.
What is a Rotary club? Rotary clubs are recognized by Rotary International as groups that meet the standard of club membership. The Essex/Middle River Rotary Club was established in 1940 by people in our community. Rotary International was established in 1905, in Illinois.
What do we do?
Who should join Rotary? Any person with a desire to work for the improvement of our community, state, country, and world.
How do I get in? After attending a meeting or two, a few members would invite you out to lunch to discuss membership. The prospective member would be profiled to the other members and a vote would occur. Existing members would have the final decision.
Is there more than one club? Yes! In fact, there are several clubs in this state, several hundred in the country, and thousands around the world. Any Rotary member is welcome to visit any club around the world. When members travel, it is customary to bring Rotary Club flags from a home club and exchange them with a visited club.
How often do you meet? We meet once per week (Mondays @ 6:00pm) for dinner and our meeting.
Where do you meet? Our meetings are held at Jad's Caddy Shack, 137 Back River Neck Road, Baltimore, MD 21221
How do you raise money? Rotary Clubs hold fundraisers during the year (such as flower sales and 50/50 drawings). In addition, we use the banking system to invest the money.
Are there membership dues? Yes. Every Rotarian pays membership dues that are due quarterly. Clubs differ regarding food dues because different clubs meet for different types of meetings (dinner, lunch, breakfast).
What ideals guide a Rotarian? You will hear most Rotary members recite the Rotary motto, "Service Above Self". Rotary also has a set of principles called the 4-Way Test to guide the things that we think, say, or do.
How do you help people of different ages
How is the club organized? The members vote for officers to serve during the year. We are an autonomous entity in the district and state organizations.
How large is the club? Our club consists of 15 members. We are a small, but faithful, group. Other clubs have large groups (some near 100 members).
Do I have to come every week? While we certainly encourage attendance at every meeting, club members recognize the intrusions of life. Quarterly and weekly dues accrue despite attendance. One of the great opportunities of Rotary is to make up attendance at a different club. There are also "e-clubs" that are available.
How might it benefit me to belong to a Rotary club?
