New Member Orientation Kit November 2016

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Welcome to

Rotary Club Addis Ababa

New Member Kit

Rotary club of Addis Ababa

Club trainer

New Member Orientation Kit November 2016

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Why join Rotary?

May be you have seen a need in your own community and wondered how to help

May be you want to use your professional skills to help others – or even learn new skills

May be you are seeking connections with other service minded professionals in your

community or abroad.

Around the world and around the corner there are 1.2 million men and women of Rotary who

Get involved with their communities

Connect with other professionals

Share their time and experience with young people

Support global causes, such as eradicating polio

Use their skills to help others

So you can join hands!

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What do we need to know about Rotary?

History of Rotary International

The world’s first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, was formed on 23 February 1905 by

Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to capture in a professional club the same friendly spirit

he had felt in the towns of his youth. The Rotary name derives from the early practice of

rotating meetings between member’s offices.

Rotary’s popularity spread, and within a decade, clubs were chartered from San Francisco to

New York to Winnipeg, Canada. By 1921 Rotary clubs had been formed on six continents. The

organization adopted the name Rotary International a year later.

As Rotary grew, its mission expanded beyond serving club members’ professional and social

interests. Rotarians began pooling their reserves and contributing their talents to help serve

communities in need. The organizations dedication to this ideal is best expressed in its motto:

Service above self.

Definition of Rotary

Rotary is 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

Mission

The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and

advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business,

professional, and community leaders.

Rotary basics

Rotary International, the world’s first service organization, is made up of over 33,000 clubs in

more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Its members form a global network of

business, professional, and community leaders, who volunteer their time and talents to serve

their communities and the world.

Rotary’s motto, Service above Self, exemplifies the humanitarian spirit of the organization’s

more than 1.2 million members. Strong fellowship among Rotarians and meaningful community

and international service projects characterize Rotary worldwide.

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Diversity and Rotary

Rotary International recognizes the value of diversity within individual clubs. Rotary encourages

clubs to assess those in their communities who are eligible for membership, under existing

membership guidelines, and to endeavour to include the appropriate range of individuals in

their clubs. A club that reflects that community with regard to professional and business

classification, gender, age, religion, and ethnicity is a club with the key to its future.

Standard Rotary Club Constitution

Rotary International is the most territorial organization in the World. And all the Rotary clubs of

the world operate in almost identical style following the standard Rotary Club Constitution. One

of the conditions to receive a charter to become a Rotary club is to accept the Standard Club

Constitution, originally adopted in 1922. The Standard Club Constitution outlines administrative

techniques for clubs to follow in holding their weekly meetings, procedures for membership

and classifications, conditions of attendance and payment of dues, and other policies relating to

public issues and political positions.

The Organization of Rotary

Rotary is essentially a grassroots organization, with most of its service efforts being carried out

at club level. The district and international structure is designed to support the clubs and help

them provide more service in their local communities and abroad.

Clubs: Rotarians are members of Rotary clubs which belong to the global association Rotary

International (RI). Each club elects its own officers and enjoys considerable autonomy within

the framework of Rotary’s constitution and bylaws.

Districts: Clubs are grouped into 530 districts, each led by a district governor, who is an officer

of RI. The district administration, including assistant governors and various committees, guides

and supports the clubs within the district

RI board: The 19-member board of Directors, which includes the RI president and president-

elect, meets quarterly to establish policies. Traditionally the president, who is elected annually,

develops a theme and service emphases for the year.

The Secretariat: Rotary International is headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Evanston,

Illinois, USA, with seven international offices in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Japan, Korea,

and Switzerland. The office for RI in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI), located in England serves

clubs and districts in that region. The Secretariat’s chief operating Officer is the RI general

secretary, who heads a 740 member staff working to serve Rotarians worldwide.

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Rotary’s Wheel Emblem

A wheel has been the symbol of Rotary since our earliest days. A first design was made by

Chicago Rotarian Montague Bear, an engraver who drew a simple wagon wheel, with a few

lines to show dust and motion. The wheel was said to illustrate “Civilization and Movement”.

Most of the early clubs had some form of wagon wheel on their publications and letterheads.

Finally, in 1922, it was decided

that all Rotary clubs should

adopt a single design as the

exclusive emblem of

Rotarians. Thus, in 1923, the

present gear wheel with 24

cogs and six spokes was

adopted by the “Rotary

International Association”.

A group of engineers advised that the gearwheel was mechanically unsound and would not

work without a “keyway” in the center of the gear to attach it to a power shaft. So, in 1923, the

keyway was added and the design which we now know was formally adopted as the official

emblem of RI.

Invocations at Club Meetings

In many Rotary clubs it is customary to open weekly meetings with an appropriate invocation or

blessing. Usually such invocations are offered without reference to specific religious

denominations or faiths. Rotary policy recognizes that throughout the world Rotarians

represent many religious beliefs, ideas, and creeds. The religious beliefs of each member are

fully respected, and nothing in Rotary is invented to prevent each individual from being faithful

to such convictions.

At international assemblies and conventions it is traditional for a silent invocation to be given.

Usually all Rotary International board and committee meetings begin with a few moments of

silent meditation. In this period of silence, Rotary demonstrates respect for the beliefs of all

members, who represent all the religions of the world,

Since each Rotary club is autonomous, the practice of presenting a prayer or invocation at club

meetings is left entirely to the traditions and customs of the individual club, with the

understanding that these meeting rituals always be conducted in a manner which will respect

the religious convictions and faiths of all members.

In Rotary Club Addis Ababa we start with a toast to Ethiopia and end by toasting Rotary

International.

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Rotary International (RI) programmes

Programmes and service opportunities are designed to help Rotarians meet needs in their own

communities and reach out to assist people in need worldwide.

Interact: Rotary clubs organize and sponsor this service organization for youth aged 12-18

Rotaract: Rotary clubs organize and sponsor this leadership, professional development,

and service organization for young adults aged 18 -30

Rotary Community Corps (RCC): Rotary clubs organize and sponsor these groups of non-

Rotarians who work to improve their communities

Rotary Friendship exchange: Rotarian teams or individuals, who may be accompanied by

their families, make reciprocal visits to other countries, staying in each other’s homes and

learning about different cultures first hand.

Rotary volunteers: Rotarians and other skilled professionals are provided opportunities to

offer their services and experiences to local and international humanitarian projects.

Rotary Youth Exchange: Clubs and districts send and host students ages 15-19 who travel

abroad for cultural exchanges of one week to a full year.

Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) Clubs and districts sponsor seminars to encourage

and recognize leadership abilities of youth and young adults aged 14-30

World Community Service (WCS): Rotary clubs and districts from two different countries

form partnerships to implement community service projects. ProjectLink is a searchable

database of club and district community service projects in need of volunteers, funding,

donated goods, featuring descriptions of projects seeking international partners and

examples of successful completed projects. More information can be found at :

http://www.rotary.org/en/ServiceAndFellowship/makeConnections/ProjectLink/Pages/rid

efault.aspx

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Rotary’s Guiding Principles

The Four-Way Test

Followed by Rotarians worldwide in their business and professional lives, the Four-Way Test

was created by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor in 1932. It has since been translated into more than

100 languages and is used by organisations and individuals throughout the world.

Of the things we think, say or do we asl ourselves

1) Is it the TRUTH

2) Is it FAIR to all concerned?

3) Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

4) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? .

Object of Rotary

First formulated in 1910 and adapted through the years as Rotary expanded, the Object of

Rotary provides a succinct definition of the organization’s purpose as well as the club member’s

responsibilities.

The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of a worthy

enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster

First: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service

Second: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of

all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each other Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity

to serve society

Third: The application of the ideal of service inn each Rotarian’s personal, business, and

community life;

Fourth: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world

fellowship of business and professional persons united in the idea of service.

Avenues of Service

Based on the Object of Rotary, the Avenues of Service are Rotary’s philosophical cornerstone

and the foundation on which club activity is based:

Club service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning

of the club

Vocational service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to

practice high ethical standards.

Community service covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life

in its community

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International service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach

around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace

New Generations service recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and

young adults through leadership development activities, service projects and exchange

programmes

The Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation of RI is a not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to enable Rotarians

to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the

support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

The Rotary Foundation receives contributions and spends in support of humanitarian and

educational programmes implemented by clubs and districts and global polio eradication

activities. Contributions go into one of the three main funds

Annual Programmes Fund; which provides grants and awards through Foundation

programmes

Permanent Fund; en endowment from which only a portion of the earnings are spent in

support of Foundation programmmes, ensuring the long-term viability of the

Foundation

Polio Plus Fund; which supports Rotary’s goal of a polio-free world.

Every dollar contributed to the Foundation funds its humanitarian, educational, and cultural

programmes and programme operations. Clubs and districts apply for and receive Foundation

Grants to carry out many worthy projects worldwide.

Educational programmes

These programmes promote international understanding by bringing together people from

different countries and cultures.

Ambassadorial Scholarships; an international programme for University level student,

sends about 500 students every year to serve as goodwill ambassadors while abroad

Rotary World Peace Fellowships; awarded to individuals for study in Master’s Degree

and professional certificate programmes at one of the Rotary Centers for International

Studies in peace and conflict resolution.

Group Study Exchange; a short-term cultural and vocational exchange programme

between districts in different countries for non-Rotarian professionals aged 25-40

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Humanitarian Grants Programme

Humanitarian grants enable Rotarians to increase their support of international service projects

that provide water wells, medical care, literacy classes, and other essentials to people in need.

Rotarian participation is the key to the success of these projects.

District grants

District grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in your

community and communities abroad. Each district chooses which activities it will

fund with these grants

Global Grants

Global grants support large international activities with sustainable, measurable

outcomes in Rotary’s areas of focus. By working together to respond to real

community needs, clubs and districts strengthen their global partnerships. Read “A

Guide to Global Grants” for detailed information on planning your project, applying

for a grant to fund it, carrying it out, and reporting on your progress and outcome

Polio Plus

Eradicating polio is Rotary’s top priority. The Polio Plus programme provides

funding for mass immunization campaigns as well as support for social

mobilization, surveillance, and laboratories to help carry out the final stages

of global polio eradication. Rotarians have raised funds that will amount to

more than 1.2 billion dollar in support by the time the world is certified polio

free and have provided hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours. Rotary is a spearheading

partner with the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, and U.S. centers for Disease Control and

Prevention in this initiative. As a result of their efforts, over two billion children under the age

of five have received the polio vaccine, five million people who might otherwise be paralyzed,

are walking today. 500,000 new cases of polio are prevented each year and the number of polio

cases has declined by 99 percent worldwide.

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Benefits and Responsibilities of Club Membership

The club is the cornerstone of Rotary, where the most meaningful work is carried out. All

effective Rotary clubs are responsible for four key elements:

Sustaining or increasing their membership base

Participating in service projects that benefit their own community and those in other

countries

Supporting the Rotary Foundation of RI financially and through programme

participation and

Developing leaders capable of serving in Rotary beyond the club level

What Rotarians get out of Rotary depends largely on what they put into it. We know output

depends on input. So for the club to be alive and members to enjoy their Rotary experience,

members have responsibilities as a member and as a club officer.

As a member

Attendance

Attending weekly club meetings allows members to enjoy fellowship, enrich their

professional and personal knowledge, and meet new people. If members miss a meeting

of their own club they are encouraged to expand their Rotary horizons by attending a

meeting of any other Rotary club. Club meeting times vary to accommodate member’s

family and professional commitments. Some clubs meet at lunchtime, while others meet

early morning, after work or in the evening.

Service

By participating in local and international service projects, club members can volunteer

their time and talents where they are most needed. The avenues of service are:

Club service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the club’s effective

functioning

Vocational service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and

to practice high ethical standards

Community service covers the projects and activities a club undertakes to improve

life in the community

International service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian

reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace

New Generations service recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and

young adults through leadership development activities, service projects, and

exchange programmes

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Finding and keeping members

To keep clubs strong, every Rotarian must share the responsibility of bringing new people

into Rotary or invite them to participate in a service project.

Dues

Club members are required to pay annual dues to their clubs, districts and Rotary

International, as well as the subscription fee to the appropriate Rotary Magazine

Leadership

Club members are encouraged to volunteer for leadership roles at their club

As a Rotary Club Officer

A Rotary club can provide service to its community, retain members and develop leaders

for the club, district and Rotary International only when its operations are efficient. Club

officers are charged with carrying out the club’s long-range and annual goals. Each year

at the end of July club officers pass the responsibility to the incoming Club officer. We

have the following officers’ posts for the club

President

President elect

Secretary

Treasurer

Immediate past President

While subcommitees exist for

Club Administration Committee

Club Public Relations

Membership

Service Projects

The Rotary Foundation

In addition the Club has a Sergeant at Arms and a training officer.

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Main Obligations as a Member

Financial obligation

Rotary International Membership USD 100/year

Contribution to the Sunshine box not fixed

Attendance obligation

Being present at club meetings is one of the basic obligations a member accepts upon joining a

Rotary club. Being present at a Club meeting is considered a vital part of the operation and

success of every Rotary club.

All Rotary clubs must abide by the 50% attendance rule set forth in article 12, section 4, of the

Standard Rotary Club Constitution. This means that as a member of a Club, you accept the

responsibility for attending at least 50% of all club meetings in a six-month period.

If you are unable to attend a meeting, you can make up that meeting by attending a meeting of

another Rotary club in or outside of your city.

Use the cub locator at www.rotary.org to find meeting locations and times worldwide

Rotarians can also make up meetings by participating in a club service project or by attending a

club board meeting, a Rotaract or Interact club meeting or an on-line meeting at one of the

several Rotary e-clubs. E-clubs are Rotary clubs that meet electronically. A 2010 Council on

Legislation enactment recognized Rootary e-clubs as part of Rotary International, following a

six-year pilot project. As of July 1, 2010, RI has 14 e-clubs, all of them chartered during the pilot.

Non Attendance rules

The Rotary Club Constitution specifies three conditions under which a Rotarian’s membership

will be automatically terminated for non-attendance.

Failure to attend or make up four consecutive club meeting

Failure to attend or make up 60% of club meetings each six months and

Failure to attend at least 30% of the meetings of one’s club in each six month period

Under any of the three cases a member will lose his Rotary membership unless the club board

of directorshas previously consented to excuse such failure for good and sufficient reason

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Rotary in Ethiopia

The Rotary Club of Addis Ababa was chartered by Royal decree during the reign of Emperor

Haile Selassie. This happened in 1955 and makes the RCAA the second oldest Rotary club in

Africa, South of the Sahara, after the Rotary club of Nairobi in district 1912.

With a membership of 120, shared among 12 different nationalities, its meeting place was the

Polo Club Restaurant at the JanMeda. After a few years it moved to the then Ghion Imperial

Hotel. By 1975 the regular meeting place was transferred to the Addis Ababa Hilton.

As the Emperor was the patron of the club, each Rotary meeting started with a toast to “ His

Imperial Majesty”. This changed to a toast “to Ethiopia” in 1975, with the arrival of the Derg

regime.

Because members were labeled as “Capitalist Bourgeois” and the club as “American friendly”

by the Derg government the membership dwindled to 35. A permit from the Ministry of

Security had to be obtained for the weekly meetings, while detailed profiles of some of the club

directors were held by the regime.

After the collapse of the Derg, the Rotary club of Addis Ababa West was formed in 1991, while

RC Addis Ababa Bole followed in 1992. RC Addis Ababa East (Amharic language) was chartered

in 1999, followed by RC Addis Ababa Entoto, a francophone club, followed in 2002.

The Rotary club of Bahir Dar on the shores of Lake Tana was chartered in 2006. This was the

first club in the Northern part of Ethiopia, followed by RC of Finot Addis Ababa.

Three Rotary clubs were chartered in 2008: RC Addis Ababa Central Mella, RC Gondar and RC

Jimma Central. The RC Addis Ababa Central Mella is a club which derived its membership

entirely from former Rotaractors.

In 2009 two more clubs were chartered, Soddo and Ziway, bringing the total number of clubs in

Ethiopia to twelve.

District 9212 comprises of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan