Why should I become a Northampton Rotarian?

To make a real difference…

Membership in the Northampton Rotary Club is an excellent way to help change the world for the better – beginning right here at home.

For starters, our members (known as “Rotarians”) are active in numerous local humanitarian initiatives. These include the Northampton High School Coat Project (supplying winter clothes for children in need); throwing an annual children’s holiday bash (in collaboration with the Easthampton Rotary Club); funding Boy Scouts of America and “Dollars for Scholars” scholarships; and supporting nonprofit agencies such as the Manna Soup Kitchen and the Soldier On veterans’ outreach program.

Abroad, the Northampton Rotary Club has directly funded and managed efforts to provide potable water and children’s pre-school meals to the people of El Porvenir, a village in Nicaragua.

Our club’s humanitarian activities benefit from the guidance and tremendous resources of Rotary International, the world’s oldest service organization, with more than 1.2 million business, professional and community leaders. In turn, through our annual dues, our contributions to the Rotary Foundation, and our voluntarism, we support Rotary’s global humanitarian initiatives, including polio eradication, disaster recovery efforts and education programs. This mutually
beneficial relationship is just one of the things that makes Rotary such a special organization.

In our charitable activities (as in our day-to-day lives) we find inspiration in Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self. And we seek guidance in a long tradition of the highest ethical standards, embodied in the Four-Way Test.

To make friends and have fun…

Of course, our club isn’t just about charity. It’s also great place to network with like-minded businesspersons and professionals – or simply enlarge your circle of friends. For many of us, it’s a way to get to know existing acquaintances better. (Have a look at our current membership roster: odds are you know at least one or two of us!) You should know that the men and women who make up our club enjoy a true bond of fellowship: one that’s infused with the spirit of shared goodwill, voluntarism and sense of purpose.

In view of the camaraderie, it’s no surprise that Rotary is also about having a great time. Heartfelt belly laughs are a common feature of our club meetings, and Northampton Rotarians often socialize outside of formal club activities. In fact, a number of our annual events (the golf and dinner socials come to mind) are first and foremost about having a blast.

Do I have what it takes?

We’re looking for leaders

Rotary is an organization of successful businesspersons and professionals, and our club ideally looks for men and women who are interested in exercising and enhancing leadership skills such as team-building, fundraising, public speaking, planning, organization and communication. We believe that active leadership is the key to motivating, inspiring and guiding others – and to fulfilling Rotary’s humanitarian mission.

By way of bedrock membership criteria, we seek adult men and women of good character and good business, professional, or community reputation. Northampton Rotarians must also hold or have held an executive position with discretionary authority in a worthy and recognized business, profession or trade; serve or have served as a community leader; or be an alumna or alumnus of
the Rotary Foundation.

With membership comes responsibility

Rotary definitely isn’t for everyone. That’s largely because membership in our organization comes with significant responsibilities and expectations – as our motto of “Service Above Self” properly suggests.

In particular, membership in the Northampton Rotary Club entails a significant devotion of your time and a significant financial commitment that need to be considered up front. You should be aware that, absent exceptional circumstances, we expect our Rotarians to:

• regularly attend weekly club meetings (or make-up meetings at other locations) and significant social functions;

• gradually assume a leadership role, and get involved in at least one of our five committees;

• actively seek to strengthen our membership base by recruiting new Rotarians and retaining existing ones; and

• last but not least, contribute financially through annual dues, luncheon charges, and helping to fund our charitable activities.

Sounds like work, right?

We won’t kid you: sometimes it is. Of course, we Rotarians believe
that the benefits to be derived from taking a positive role in our community – meaningful personal satisfaction; camaraderie; and lots of plain old fun, to name a few – more than make up for the undeniable time and expense that comes with membership.

How do I become a member?

Let us know you’re interested!

We’re always on the lookout for people who have what it takes to make our club – and Rotary International – a better, stronger and more vibrant organization. If you think we may be cut out for each other, and you know a Northampton Rotarian, we encourage you to express your interest to him or her. Alternatively, call our Club Membership Chair at , and they’ll get the
ball rolling for you. Either way, you will be assigned a sponsor who will provide you up front with some basic information, guide you through the membership application process and answer any questions you may have along the way.

Join us for lunch

So that we can get to know each other, your sponsor will invite you to attend a Northampton Rotary Club lunch meeting (our treat). Except during summer months, we generally meet for a buffet lunch and club activities every Monday at noon in the beautiful Hotel Northampton. Most weeks we schedule an interesting guest speaker address us on a topic of Rotary or community interest. (Recent speakers have included Northampton Mayor Claire Higgins, local author and
historian Susan Lewis Well, and Pioneer Valley Red Cross Executive Director Rick Lee.)
Occasionally we simply discuss club business. Either way, you’ll enjoy interesting conversation with our Rotarians and a delicious hotel-catered meal. And, odds are, you’ll learn a thing or two about our club!

Pre-induction chat; pre-application; and two more lunches

If after your first lunch with us it seems that you and Rotary might be a good fit for each other, your sponsor, together with one or two other Rotarians, will take another opportunity to meet with you to discuss our club and Rotary International in greater depth. This “fireside chat” will touch on a range of topics such as Rotary’s history and mission, our club’s activities, and the benefits, responsibilities and costs of membership. This meeting will also be an opportune
occasion to address any additional questions you may have about our club, Rotary International, or the Rotary Foundation. Your sponsor will also ask you to complete a simple pre-application form, the purpose of which is to provide our club’s Board of Directors with basic information about you.

Board approval and induction

After you attend two more lunches (preferably consecutively) at club expense, your preapplication form will be distributed to our membership for comment. Then, at the next meeting of our Board, your sponsor will move for your admission.

If your application is approved, congratulations: you’re a member! At the next club meeting, expect to be inducted by means of a simple but solemn ceremony during which you will be presented with membership materials and asked to give a short speech highlighting your personal and professional achievements. We welcome your family to attend.