Rotary Toowong Membership

2014-15 Director:  Graham Wilson

At ToowongRC we see Membership as the basis of our on-going existence, and we look forward to hearing from any people looking to ‘give something back to the community”.
Simply submit the form below and we will get back to you with details of how you can contribute.

 

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Membership Guidelines

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These Guidelines apply to existing and intending Members of the Rotary Club of Toowong (RCT) and, in some aspects, to members of the Club’s satellite group known informally as the “RCT Satellite Club” (temporary name). Membership Guidelines for the RCT Satellite Club are set out in a separate document.

Rotary Club of Toowong:
TRC is a progressive non-political community-service organisation, and one of over 33,000 similar Rotary Clubs worldwide to which our members enjoy reciprocal access. Our Vision, as a Club, is to help make our community, our country and the World a better place. Our guiding philosophy is to have fun putting the FUN in FUNDRAISING, and even more fun showing we CARE about COMMUNITY SERVICE – at both the local and international levels.

Membership Qualifications:
The Club actively seeks new members on an ongoing basis. We are particularly keen to attract community minded men and women of good character and of good professional standing, irrespective of age, race, religion, political affiliation or sexual identity.

We are also open to nominations and applications from early-career professionals and tertiary-level students who wish to engage with like-minded persons and become involved in hands-on volunteer activities, either as active members of the parent Club or as members of our “RCT Satellite Club”.

Membership Joining Fee:
A $50 joining fee applies for Members of the Rotary Club of Toowong (it covers the cost of your Rotary polo-shirt and name badge).

Club Subscriptions:
Membership for Private Members is currently set at $195 per half-year ($390 per annum). Subscriptions are used for general Club running expenses, and to pay Club dues to Rotary International, District 9600 and Rotary Down Under (for our monthly magazine).

All members are required to pay their Club subscriptions (invoiced every 6 months) within 40 days in order to remain as financial members of the Club.

Orientation & Training:
 On joining, all new members of the Club, and of the Satellite Club, are assigned a Club Mentor, and enjoy access to the broad range of professional  and personal development advice available through our existing members. They are also invited to attend orientation briefings and training seminars.

Meetings:
Club meetings are held once per week (on Wednesdays) in a “dinner with speaker” format from 6.00 pm (for 6.30 pm). The current venue is the 4th Floor of the Jephson Hotel (cnr Sherwood Road and Jephson Street, Toowong).

The RCT Satellite Club holds after-work (happy hour) meetings on a twice a month basis (either separately, or as a prelude to formal RCT meetings).

Attendance:
The Club encourages members to attend weekly meetings as regularly as possible while recognising that other commitments will affect individual members’ ability to attend every week.

As a general rule, attendance at an average of 50% of meetings (including make-ups) is seen as a minimum requirement. Alternatively, attendance requirements can be satisfied by engaging in Club or Satellite Club projects/events/activities for at least 12 hours in each half-year (or a proportionate combination of meetings – e.g. 30% attendance – and other activities).

The Board is willing to consider requests for extended periods of non-attendance and/or leave of absence (LOA) for up to 12 months in duration provided the member concerned has acceptable reasons for their request and they continue to pay their semi-annual Club subscription while absent.

Participation in a Club event/activity, Board meeting or in a Satellite Club meeting (in lieu of a regular meeting) will be considered to be attendance at a regular Club meeting (provided it occurs within 14 days before or 14 days after the scheduled Club meeting).

Make-ups:
Where a member is unable to attend at regular Club meeting in a particular week, the member concerned may, if they so wish, be credited with attendance if they instead attend a meeting at another Rotary Club or participate in a Rotary e-Club meeting. In such instances, the member should request and receive a Make-up chit from the Club he/she attended and hand/forward this to the Club Secretary.

 Meal Costs:
 Currently, members are required to pay $25 to cover dinner costs at meetings. This amount includes a component for the hire of the meeting room and the presentation of a small gift to our weekly Guest Speaker. The Club is required to guarantee the Hotel a minimum number of dining members (currently 30) in order to meet its contractual obligations, or else pay the difference from Club funds. This requirement limits considerably the Club’s ability to invite non-paying guests, however prospective new members are welcome to attend without paying on a once-only basis. It also limits the Club’s ability to offer a “no meal” option to members unless there are medical, dietary or other compelling reasons acceptable to the Board.

Classifications:
Each member on joining will be entrusted with an occupational Classification based on that member’s profession, business or type of community service. The Club may seek to draw upon a member’s expertise should a particular community-service project or activity require such skills.

Termination of Membership:
Membership may cease for any of several reasons:

• the member chooses to resign from the Club or transfer to another Club
• the member has not paid their Club dues within a reasonable time after they fall due – being not longer than 40 days unless otherwise approved by the Board.
• non-attendance at Club meetings over an extended period of time without Board approval. The lower benchmark for acceptable attendance is 50% of Club meetings where make-ups at other Clubs, attendance at satellite club meetings and participation in Club events/activities (including Board meetings) are considered to be attendance at Club meetings.
• The member has engaged in activities that could bring the Club into disrepute.

Members have the right to appeal against Board decisions relating to termination.

 

Satellite Club Membership

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In the establishment phase, a Rotary Club of Toowong Coordinator will be responsible for helping set up the RCT Satellite Club (temporary name) as an affiliated entity, and for giving the new group the initial momentum it needs, in accordance with the aims and guidelines set out below.