Frequently Asked Questions
What To Know
About Rotary
01.
What is Rotary?
Rotary is officially defined as "an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world." Functionally, Rotary is a service organization composed of well-meaning individuals, Rotarians, who are members of a local Club; all local Clubs are members of the larger organization called "Rotary International." Rotarians actively seek ways to live up to the Rotary motto: “Service Above Self”
02.
How did Rotary begin?
Rotary was organized by a Chicago attorney named Paul Harris in 1905, making it the oldest of all recognized Service Clubs. The name "Rotary" was adopted because the original Club met in rotation at each member's place of business. This rotation allowed members to learn more about fellow members and their respective vocations and talent
03.
What about the Cape Charles Rotary Club?
The Rotary Club of Cape Charles was organized in 1924, by a group of 15 Cape Charles businesspeople, making it the oldest Rotary Club on Virginia's Eastern Shore. For many years the Club had a unique meeting place; it was believed to be the only Rotary Club that met weekly aboard a ship, the Penn R. R. Steamer, which crossed the Chesapeake Bay between Cape Charles, Old Point Comfort, and Norfolk. The docking time at Cape Charles was at noon, and the lay-over time was sufficient for the Club to board the steamer and enjoy a fine meal, great fellowship, and a full program.
The Cape Charles Club is the sponsor of the two other Clubs on the Eastern Shore: the Exmore and Onancock Clubs.
Learn more about the Cape Charles Club by visiting www.facebook.com/CapeCharlesRotary.
04.
Is Rotary a Large Organization?
Rotary is both large and small. Individual Rotary Clubs range in size from 20 to 300 members; many communities have but one Club while others may have several. Over its 115-year lifetime, Rotary has grown tremendously; today there are over 33,000 Clubs worldwide, and total membership exceeds 1.2 million individuals committed to helping others. Please visit www.rotary.org for more information.
05.
How can I become a Member?
Membership is by invitation. New members must be nominated by a current member and may be accepted into membership after review by both the Club's Board of Directors and the full Club membership. Each Club uses the "Classification Principle" of membership, which ensures that members come from a broad representation of businesses and professions, making each Club a cross-section of its community.
06.
What is expected of Members?
Rotary is built on service, fellowship, and friendship. Members are expected to participate in the Club's meetings as well as its social, service, and fund-raising activities.
Attendance is deemed vital to a Rotary Club’s success. Each member is therefore encouraged to attend at least 50% of the regular weekly meetings of his/her home Club during each half-year. It is, of course, understood that conflicts may arise, so each member is given the opportunity to "make up" a missed meeting at any Rotary Club in the world. There are also Internet Clubs, one of which is www.rotaryeclubone.org, where a member can do a "make-up" meeting. Make-ups afford Club members an opportunity to interact with other Rotarians, expand fellowship, and bring back ideas and information to their home Club.
Make-up meetings can also be “earned” by devoting time to service projects and fund-raising activities. Attendance at a district meeting also counts as “making up” a meeting.
07.
Where and when does the Cape Charles Club meet?
The Rotary Club of Cape Charles meets, at noon, each Tuesday, except for a “social gathering”, at 5:30, on the last Tuesday of each month. The meetings are held at the Cape Charles Coffee House, 241 Mason Avenue, Cape Charles, VA.
08.
What is the meeting format?
The official meeting starts at about 12 PM, with the Membership reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing a patriotic or lively song. The meeting continues with an Invocation given by a member. Guests are then introduced, and a lunch is served to all members and guests. Members are encouraged to get to know each other better by sitting randomly each week.
The business portion of each meeting starts about 12:30 PM. After Members share “Happy Dollar” events, the President will make brief announcements and conduct any pressing Club business.
With the exception of the monthly evening meeting, speakers from the community are invited to inform and/or entertain the Membership.
On the third Tuesday of each month, a “Club Assembly” is conducted without a guest speaker. During the “Club Assembly” local, Club, district, and international Rotary matters are discussed, and Club decisions are made.
New members are generally inducted into the Club in a simple ceremony led by the President which includes the presentation of a Rotary pin, membership badge, and selected brochures which explain various local and international activities of Rotary. New members are expected to perform some extra duties during the months after joining, such as being “greeters” at our weekly meetings. They are also recognized at the “evening social” when spouses and friends are present.
