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All About Rotary:

An Introduction to the Rotary Club of Bolton

All About Rotary

…… for new and

prospective Rotarians

The Rotary Club of Bolton

Chartered June 26, 1950

Rotary Place, 7 Rotarian Way, P.O. Box 405

Bolton, ON L7E 5T5  905-951-6114

2009-10 President: Ed Broeders 905-857-0921

2009-10 Membership Chair: Karen Fast 905-951-2480

Rotary International District 7080

To find out more about Rotary, check the following web sites:

July’09

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is Rotary...... Page 3

The Object of Rotary ...... Page 3

The Four Way Test ...... Page 4

Obligations of a Rotarian ...... Page 8

What Happens at a Rotary Club Meeting? ...... Page 8

What Does Rotary Cost? ...... Page 9

Welcoming a New Rotarian ...... Page 9

What is a Make-up? ...... Page 10

The Four Avenues of Service ...... Page 11

Rotary International ...... Page 12

The Rotary Foundation ...... Page 14

What Rotarians Say About Membership ...... Page 16

The Rotary Club of Bolton

History ...... Page 5

Contributions in Our Community and the World ...... Page 7

Past Presidents ...... Page 17


What Is Rotary?

Rotary is officially defined in this way:

“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.”

A young lawyer named Paul Harris started Rotary in Chicago in 1905. Feeling lonely in the big city, and missing the fellowship of his small-town upbringing, he invited three young business acquaintances to his office, and explained his idea for a different kind of businessmen's club. They met regularly, rotating around each member's place of business - hence the name "Rotary Club."

Since then, Rotary has grown into an organization of 1.2 million members, in 28,200 clubs, in 189 countries and geographic regions. It also developed into the world's first service club, which, because of its size and scope, is able to work in a unique way to help improve the quality of life, and to work for peace and understanding throughout the world.

Two statements of policy guide Rotarians:

  • The Object of Rotary, and
  • The Four-Way Test.

The Object of Rotary

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis for worthy enterprise, and in particular to encourage and foster:

  • The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
  • High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
  • The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his/her personal, business and community life.
  • The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace, through a world fellowship of business and professional people, united in the ideal of service.

The Four-Way Test

Of the things we think, say or do:

  • Is it the TRUTH?
  • Is it FAIR to all concerned?
  • Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
  • Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

This is one of the most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics in the world. Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor created it in 1932, when he was asked to take charge of the Chicago-based Aluminums Company, which was facing bankruptcy. Taylor looked for a way to save the struggling company. He drew up the 24-word code of ethics for all employees to follow in their business and professional lives. The survival of the company was credited to this simple philosophy.The message should be known and followed by all Rotarians

The Rotary Club of Bolton

Our History

The Rotary Club of Bolton was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Brampton and was granted its charter by Rotary International on June 12, 1950. When the Club received its charter, there were 28 members. The first meetings were held in the “Village Municipal Hall” located on the north side of King St. E. between Queen and Chapel Sts. Currently the Club meets every Monday at 6:30 PM at Rotary Place, 7 Rotarian Way, Bolton, just behind the “Wellness Centre”

In 1981 the Rotary Club of Bolton sponsored the Rotary Club of Palgrave. Both clubs are now part of the 51 clubs in Rotary District 7080.

Locally, the Club is very active in supporting charitable organizations such as; Caledon Community Services, Meals on Wheels, Transition Place, Hospice Caledon, The Salvation Army, Brampton Caledon Community Living, Headwaters, Brampton and Etobicoke Hospitals, Big Brothers/Sister of Peel, Boy Scouts to name a few.

Our most recent success was the building of the Rotary Youth Centre, completed in 2008, where we partnered with the Town of Caledon for design and construction. Our club donated $1.5 Million to the project.

In addition the Club has supported the Town Volunteer Fire Department, and the Caledon OPP. We donated funds to the Albion/Bolton Community Centre during its construction. The Club was the leading fund raiser for the first TransHelp bus to be located in Bolton; conceived and built Rotary Mill Park, located on the north side of the Humber river between Queen St and Humber Lea Rd.; built Rotary Place, a centre for the senior citizens of Caledon to enjoy themselves;and a major donor and advisor in the construction of the Animal Shelter located on Coleraine Dr. The Club sponsors the Probus Club of Bolton, a club for those people who have taken early and/or regular retirement, who want to socialize and hear an interesting speaker once a month, without having the same commitment as a service club.

The Club donates academic and athletic scholarships yearly to the local high schools. Bolton Rotary’s special interest in ‘Youth’ has resulted in the Club’s support of the Youth Exchange Program. In addition, the Club has been active in Adventures in Citizenship and was a founding member of CampEnterprise in PeelCounty. Along with the Palgrave Club we activated an Interact Club at Humberview school. When called upon, the Club members will volunteer to interview students as part of their Careers Planning program.

Internationally, the Club has been active in projects outside of Canada such as; schools and books for S.Africa, deep water wells in Eritrea, supplying fresh water to two villages in Honduras, assisted in building a peanut factory in Mexico, that eventually employed 1/3 of the town population. The Club participates in District 7080 “Shoe Box Progamme” where every year members of the Club go to Mexico to distribute the necessities for healthy living to the children. The Club has supported Rotary International’s “Polio Plus Programme” since its inception in 1985.

We raised $15,000 in January 2005 for the Asian Tsunami Disaster Relief. We also donate $3000 to upgrade facilities at a nursing home in South Africa.

Our most recent International project is a fresh water project in Guatemala, where we are providing fresh water to 30,000 people in the city of Gualan. Bolton Rotary took the lead on this project and raised $150,000 US through the partnership with other clubs in our District 7080.

Where do we get the money?

The Club's main fundraising project is the annual golf tournament, called our “Early Bird Charity Golf Tournament”. We have raised over $500,000 during this time. now in its 15th year. We also do smaller fundraising projects in the community such as a concession stand at Midnight Madness. With the Club, we also have a special fundraising auction during our Christmas Party-Spousal Night.

Most of the Club’s fundraising efforts are returned to the communities that it serves.

The Rotary Club of Bolton has a solid history of 59 years of service to the community. The Rotary motto of "Service above self" guides each Rotarian today, as it has over the Club’s history.

The Rotary Club of Bolton:

Contributions in Our Community and the World

Since being chartered, our Club has donated and distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to projects like these:

  • Rotary International Student Exchange
  • Adventure in Citizenship - High School Students
  • District 7070/7080 CampEnterprise – High School Students
  • International Group Study Exchange
  • Rotary Foundation International
  • PolioPlus
  • Shoeboxes for Mexican Kids
  • The Canadian Cancer Society
  • Smile Theatre
  • Hospice of Caledon
  • Caledon Community Service
  • Bolton & District Boy Scouts
  • Girl Guides
  • Salvation Army
  • Sustaining Member Program
  • Tomatal (Mexico) Peanut Co-operative
  • Sonop (South Africa) nursing home improvements
  • Honduras Fresh Water Project
  • Guatemala Fresh Water Project
  • Sleeping Children Around The World
  • Grandmothers-To-Grandmothers Aids Relief
  • And Many Others

Our Major Fundraisers:

All members are expected to participate in some way in our Club’s major fundraising activities. Presently, these comprise:

  • Earlybird Golf Tournament (May)
  • Bolton Midnight Madness
  • Bolton Fall Fair
  • Canada Day

What are the obligations of a Rotarian?

A Rotary club has two main functions: to promote fellowship among its members and to provide service to the community and the wider world of Rotary.

When you become a Rotarian, you will be expected to attend meetings regularly, only missing a meeting when it is unavoidable.

Because we meet weekly, members get to know one another very well, learn about other businesses and professions and form strong and close friendships. Also, it helps to get jobs done when members can be counted on to be there. If it is necessary for you to miss a meeting, you will be encouraged to "make up" at another club. (See "What is a make-up".)

A Rotary club functions through committees, each under the umbrella of one of the four Directors. Everyone is expected to take a share of committee work, and be available to assist in fund-raising and service projects.

Rotarians are also expected to carry the ideals of Rotary outside the club into their own fields of endeavour. You can do this by wearing your Rotary pin proudly, by displaying The Four-Way Test in your place of business and by exemplifying its principles in your everyday business dealings.

When you accept the privileges and responsibilities of being a Rotarian, you can help the club grow by encouraging colleagues and acquaintances to come to a meeting, and perhaps become Rotarians themselves.

What happens at a Rotary meeting?

Every Rotary club has its own character, but there are some common elements that make Rotarians feel at home at any club worldwide.

Meetings are built around a meal, which may be breakfast, lunch or dinner and usually last for about an hour and a half. Members and guests start to gather about 15 minutes before the meeting for social talk and fellowship. In Canada, we usually sing our national anthem, toast the Queen and Canada and say a non-denominational invocation.

Following the meal, there is usually a guest speaker and time to conduct some club business - giving reports, making plans and solving problems. Committee Chairs will give project updates. Members often bring guests: spouses, prospective members or just people who are interested in the guest speaker.

There may be Rotarians visiting from other clubs in the area, or even from around the world.

The meeting is usually chaired by the President and run by the Sergeant-at-Arms whose job it is to handle the physical preparations for the meeting, keep attendance records, manage our 50/50 draw, and then help maintain an orderly, dignified and effective meeting.

Members can pay "happy bucks" for the privilege of giving good news, or bragging about achievements. It is a "fun-raising" time. Good-natured fines may also be doled out during the Sergeant-At-Arms Report.

What does Rotary cost?

This question is a little like ‘how long is a piece of string?’ However, we offer some guidelines. Each Rotarian pays quarterly dues to their Rotary Club. Our dues cover all administration expenses of the club as well as dues to District 7080 and Rotary International. In the Rotary Club of Bolton, each member is responsible for paying for their meal at weekly meetings (currently $15 for 48 weeks is $720).

In the Rotary Club of Bolton, annual dues are currently$375 and are subject to review annually. Total annual fee, including meals, is $1,095, due quarterly, upon invoice. Quarterly payments are approx. $240.

Additionally, all members are encouraged to become ‘sustaining members’ of the Rotary Foundation by contributing a minimum of US$100 (may be contributed in monthly instalments).

Our annual executive change-over, held in June, costs approximately $80 per person. Attendance is mandatory. All members will be invoiced whether attending or not.

Additional costs may include such things as the annual District Conference and other Rotary fun and fund raising functions and special club events. These events are optional but members and their spouses are encouraged to attend.

Overall, you should budget approximately $1,500-$1,600 per annum.

Welcoming a new Rotarian

New members are the lifeblood of any organization and Rotary is no exception. A new Rotarian to the Rotary Club of Bolton will get a “helping hand”, early on and as an ongoing effort, to make them welcome and create opportunities for them to build their own image of “service above self”. It is by “getting involved” that new members can realize their full potential through Rotary.

At induction to the Rotary Club of Bolton the inductee will receive:

  • Member pin.
  • Assigned mentor (a more experienced Rotarian who will help you through your orientation period and answer questions). This notwithstanding, new members should be proactive in ‘getting involved’ – you can take Rotary at whatever speed you are comfortable with or are able to offer – just as long as you have momentum!
  • An initial committee assignment.
  • 4-Way Test Plaque.
  • Objects of Rotary Plaque.
  • Membership Directory.
  • Access to ClubRunner on-line club management system and email facility.
  • The Club Constitution and Bylaws.

A new member’s first responsibility in Rotary will be to pay assessed dues to the Treasurer, at the first meeting they attend.

New members will be requested to attend the next “fireside chat” with a few established Rotarians, to talk informally about Rotary, ask questions and get to know some of the members better.

What is a “make-up”?

One of the obligations of Rotary membership is regular attendance at meetings. When attendance is not possible, Rotarians are expected to "make-up" at another club. This make-up may be done up to 14 days before or 14 days after the missed meeting. The club Sergeant-At-Arms will give a make-up card to any visiting Rotarian and this is brought back to the home club. Give this make-up card to our Sergeant-At-Arms at our next meeting.This will automatically put two things in motion; 1- your attendance will be credited, 2- the Sgt-at-Arms will forward the make up card to the Club treasurer and he will credit your account with $15.00.

As there are over 31,000 Rotary clubs in the world, including Antarctica it is usually possible to find one wherever you are. The Club Secretary has a directory listing these clubs with their meeting day and location. This information is also available on the Rotary Web Site at or under "Where clubs meet." One of the side-benefits of making up is the pleasure of visiting other clubs, meeting local people, and seeing what other clubs do, how they raise money and how they run their meetings – and building friendships in all kinds of places. This is a great opportunity to bring home ideas to make our club more effective.

The Four Avenues of Service

The Avenues refer to the four elements of The Object of Rotary.

The four avenues describe the primary areas of Rotary activity.

Club Service

The success of a Rotary club's projects depends on its ability to function effectively. Rotarians promote and strengthen their clubs through membership development, fellowship, attending weekly meetings, and communicating Rotary information within and outside the club. Attendance is particularly stressed, because it is impossible to participate and contribute to fellowship without being there. The Director of Club Service keeps the club active and interested through well-run meetings, stimulating guest speakers, an informative club bulletin, and fellowship activities.

Classification is an important cornerstone of club service, and one of the chief sources of the strength and diversity of Rotary. Each member holds a classification that describes his or her business or profession. Each Rotary club aims to include as many different classifications as possible and there are limits on the number of members who can represent any particular classification. The purpose is to make each club a microcosm of the community it serves.

Vocational Service

Rotary was founded at a time when entrepreneurs were unrestrained by any kind of official ethics, and when robber-barons were the norm in business. Paul Harris had the idea that if friendship and business mixed, there would be more friendship and more business. Today, Rotarians promote vocational service by urging and supporting "high ethical standards in business and the professions." The Four-Way Test exemplifies this effort. In addition, Rotary clubs undertake special projects to provide occupational information for youth, initiate vocational training programs, and provide job training and placement for the disabled. CampEnterprise is another major project within this avenue of service.

Community Service

Paul Harris initiated the first Rotary community project when he led a successful campaign to build public comfort stations at City Hall in Chicago, despite opposition from local saloon owners, who offered these services in an attempt to bring in customers. Now Rotarians dedicate their time, money and expertise to a wide range of projects aimed at improving the quality of life in their communities. These projects include such things as addressing problems of drug use, assisting the disabled and the aged, and responding to environmental issues.