Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Isn’t Rotary just a club mostly for men ?

A: Certainly not. This isn’t your father’s Rotary. At left you’ll see the former President of the St. Albans, VT Rotary Club. The Randolph Rotary Sunrise Club has a diverse membership of all ages. 

Q: I’m 30, am I too young to join?
A: No. If you are an adult you’re eligible to apply to join Rotary. If you are in High School you may want to Join the Rotary Interact club.

Q: Is it just a local organization?
A: No, Rotary is a worldwide organization.

Q: How many clubs are there?
A: There are over 35,000 clubs worldwide, made up of approximately 1,200,000 members. As a Rotarian you may visit any club, anytime, anywhere in the world. You will be welcomed.

Q: How do I join?
A: Talk to your Rotarian friends if you would like to attend a meeting. See our current list of members on this site.

Q: Can anyone join?   A: Briefly – prospective members must be an adult of good character and have a sincere desire to make life better for people in our community. 

Q: What does it cost to be a member of the Randolph Sunrise Club?
A: There are three categories of membership. Standard membership requires a monthly dues of $15.00. Young Leader members, age 35 or younger, pay $9.00 a month. A Family Plan member pays dues of $8.00 a month. A new member also pays a one time Initiation Fee of $25.

Q: Are there any other costs?
A: Any other costs are strictly voluntary.  You may decide to contribute to the Rotary Foundation or our fight to eradicate polio. The Foundation provides grant money back to the clubs to help support many humanitarian causes.  Rotarians are more often asked to volunteer their time and effort on service projects, to make life better for people in our own community.

Q: Where did the name “Rotary” come from?
A: The name “Rotary” was chosen because in 1905 in Chicago, the first club met in rotation at each member’s place of business. From its beginning in Chicago, the Rotary idea of friendship, fellowship and service to others has spread to every continent, including Antarctica. The founder of Rotary, Paul Harris, was a native Vermonter.

Q: What is a Rotarian?
A: A Rotarian is a person who looks beyond himself or herself to the community, the nation and the world. A Rotarian seeks the truth, lets fairness govern relationships; endeavors to build goodwill and better friendships and strives to benefit all in every interpersonal relationship.

Q: What are the benefits of membership in a Rotary Club?
A: A Rotarian member:

• Broadens his/her circle of friends and acquaintances.
• Is in “touch” with the mainstream life of the community and the people who make it tick.
• Develops contacts in every business and profession represented in the club’s membership.
• Acquires the opportunity to seek counsel from others.
• Gains recognition for participating in an organization dedicated to service, vocation, community and international goodwill and understanding.
• Is enabled to express in a practical way those nobler desires found in every person who wishes to make a contribution to the betterment of society.
• Broadens his/her social life as well as that of his/her spouse/partner.
• Finds individuals with whom to share hobbies and interests.
• Acquires a friendly contact and a warm welcome in almost every important city of the world.