Membership Information

Rotary is a service organization, not a business or networking group, and membership in a Rotary club is a personal membership, not corporate or institutional. That means the individual member is committed to service and participating in the club's activities and projects.

Joining the Rotary Club of White Plains is by invitation. Any current club member can sponsor a new member. Here's how it works.

The invitation process begins with determining that a suitable classification is open. A "classification" reflects the occupation of the proposed new member,  and since 2001 the club can have multiple members in the same occupation. The classification committee reviews and approves the classification.

We ask the sponsor to:

1. Make certain that the prospective member is qualified according to the constitution of Rotary International, which states that "A club shall be composed of active members who are adult persons of good character and good business, professional, and/or community reputation,
   • (1) engaged as a proprietor, partner, corporate officer, or manager of any worthy and recognized business or profession; or
   • (2) hold an important position in any worthy and recognized business or profession or any branch or agency thereof and have executive capacity with discretionary authority; or
   • (3) having retired from any position listed in sub-subsection (1) or (2) of this subsection; or
   • (4) being a community leader who has demonstrated through personal involvement in community affairs a commitment to service and the Object of Rotary

   and

   having their places of business or residence located in the locality of the club or the surrounding area."
    

2. Bring the prospective Rotarian to at least 3 meetings, to see how our club operates and meet other members.
    
3. Discuss membership responsibilities -- specifically the financial implications of being a member and the attendance requirements.
    
4. Find another Rotarian who knows the prospective member to second the proposal.
    
5. Submit the membership proposal form to the club Secretary, providing information that permits an assessment of whether the prospect promises to be a good Rotarian.   (Forms are available in the members-only website, under "References.")

The proposal form will be sent to the Membership Committee for review and recommendation. The committee submits its recommendation to the Board of Directors. If approved, the proposal is published in the weekly Bulletin. If there are no objections (as provided in our by-laws), the Club invites the proposed member and sponsor to attend a pre-induction information meeting.

At the pre-induction briefing, the privileges and responsibilities of Rotary membership are explained in detail, and the proposed member is formally invited to join the club.

At this meeting, the proposed member is given a new member information form. Submission of the completed form together with the admission fee constitutes acceptance of the membership invitation and, thus, membership in the Rotary Club of White Plains.