ROTARY CLUB OF NORTHAMPTON
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!

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.