It has come up a few times in meetings over the past months - Just what kind of a Rotary Club are we? As we go into discussion to update our Bylaws, to be followed shortly by a Vision and Strategic Goals exercise, it seems a good time to revisit where we started - the principles on which our Club was founded.
To help those who wish to start a new club, RI describes the differences between us based on Club types, formats, and models.
CLUB TYPE: First, determine whether your new club will be a Rotary club, a Rotaract club, or a satellite Rotary or Rotaract club.
We are a Rotary club: Professionals and other leaders who meet regularly for service, connection, and personal growth. Appeals to people who are looking for friendship and service opportunities
MEETING FORMAT: Next, determine whether your club will meet in person, online, or both.
We meet Online: A club that meets primarily online. Appeals to people who travel frequently, have circumstances that make it difficult to meet in person, or prefer an online experience
CLUB MODEL: Finally, determine the approach or elements your club will offer. You can choose a model below or design your own.
Our model is Passport: A club that allows members to attend other club meetings frequently as long as they attend a specified number of its own meetings each year. Appeals to people who travel frequently or who enjoy trying a variety of club experiences and meeting lots of people. Our own model has been adapted somewhat in that we also allow for service to be counted against meeting attendance
A bit of detail from the reference above:
HOW DO PASSPORT CLUBS WORK?
Passport clubs determine how they want to operate. Here are some common practices of passport clubs:
- Meeting less frequently
- Focusing meetings on service or social activities
- Setting affordable dues
- Measuring club health by participation rather than attendance
So there you have it: We are a Rotary Online Passport Club - that values Service.