Rotary Membership

Information for Prospective Rotarians

Rotary is one of the world's largest service organizations, with some 32,000 clubs in more than 168 countries. Annually, the Rotary Club of Albuquerque invites a limited number of men and women to become members. These prospective members represent various businesses and professional activities in our community. As a progressive-minded business or professional person, you will see that belonging to a Rotary club, where outstanding representatives of the different vocations in your community come together, has many benefits.

To be invited, you must be:

• A leading representative of your business or professional activity
• Willing to help and participate in projects that enhance our community
• Willing to work on projects that help people in developing countries and promote international understanding and goodwill

Rotary membership provides:

• Friendships with other managerial and professional leaders in the community
• Personal connections within a worldwide organization
• Ongoing practical education
• A networking of people who can help you become more successful
• Promotion of higher ethical standards in your business or profession
• Projects to enhance our community
• Help for communities in countries around the world

Becoming a Rotarian

An important distinction between Rotary and other civic organizations is that membership in Rotary is by invitation. Our club's classification committee maintains a list of the types of businesses and professions in Albuquerque and seeks candidates to fill classifications not already held by an active member of the club. (Examples of classifications: Education - Universities; Medicine - Eye Surgery; Tires - Distributing; Tires - Retailing; Dramatic Arts; Law - Civil.) In this manner, our club strives to include a significant cross section of its community's vocational life, and has the widest possible resources and expertise for its service programs and projects.

The Membership Process

A candidate for membership is invited by a host member (sponsor) to attend one or more club meetings to learn more about Rotary. The sponsor may then submit the name of the candidate to the membership committee to begin the evaluation process. Others who are interested in membership, but don't know a Rotarian, can contact our Membership Chairperson or the Membership Associate (Meredith Stevenson) at the Rotary office.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Rotarian.  Rotary International  is an association of individual clubs, with each club operating autonomously. Membership is extremely important to us, and we are always eager to hear from individuals interested in our mission and in joining a Rotary club. The RI universal premise is that the membership of each club constitutes an accurate representation of the business and professional population within the community served.

Membership in a Rotary club requires available business or professional classification opportunities as well as an invitation and sponsorship by a member of the club. Sometimes an individual cannot be invited or sponsored for membership.

Rotarians are business and professional leaders who take an active role in their communities while greatly enriching their personal and professional lives. A Rotary club contains a diverse group of professional leaders from the community that the club  serves.

Membership in a Rotary club offers a number of benefits, including:

• effecting change within the community
• advancing business and professional contacts
• developing leadership skills
• gaining an understanding of - and having an impact on - international humanitarian issues

Through Rotary International's service programs, a Rotary club can have a significant effect on the quality of life in its community. Rotary Foundation programs offer opportunities to form international partnerships that help people in need worldwide. Some 1.2  million Rotarians in 30,000 clubs in more than 160 countries make significant contributions to the quality of life at home and around the globe.

Rotary International Theme 2009-2010: The Future is in Your Hands John Shomaker - President, Rotary Club of Albuquerque  Dick Jones - District Governor, District 5520 John Kenny - President, Rotary International