Who can join the Sunrise Rotary Club?
Any civic-minded individual who is sponsored by an existing member of Sunrise Rotary may be eligible for membership.
We welcome all kinds of people to join Sunrise Rotary. Our club has members ranging in age from 20+ to 80+, from many different backgrounds in our community. We have judges, lawyers, school district superintendents, business owners, doctors, nurses, artists, and professionals from both for-profit companies and not-for-profit organizations. Many retirees have also found our club brings joy to their long-awaited retirement life.
A top priority for Rotary is growing and diversifying our membership to make sure we reflect the communities we serve.
We’re creating an organization that is more open and inclusive, fair to all, builds goodwill, and benefits our communities. We want people with differing perspectives and ideas who will help Rotary take action to create lasting change in communities around the world.
Through Rotary, you’ll find unique opportunities to get involved. Everyone is welcome in Rotary.
Why should I join the Sunrise Rotary Club?
Sunrise Rotary prides itself on being the largest, most active, fun-loving Rotary club in Bloomington-Normal. We have a number of well-organized committees, and members are encouraged to get involved in different activities that will serve our club, our community, and the world. Each week, members learn something interesting about our community or Rotary from a speaker who presents a 20-minute program. We are confident that when you attend one of our meetings, you will experience the reason individuals join our club — and stay! Each weekly meeting lasts approximately 60 minutes. We have an important saying in our club, “you’ll get out of Rotary what you put into it.”
What does it cost?
Membership cost includes a one- time $30 initiation fee and $660 in annual dues for membership. After the initial prorated induction cost, dues are billed at $330 in January and $330 in July each year. Dues cover the fees to be part of the Rotary District and Rotary International, as well as the cost of the weekly breakfast meeting (location and food).
Apart from dues and the initiation fee, members (in-person and online) are encouraged to contribute at least $100 each year to the Rotary Foundation. Members are also encouraged to participate in a Sunrise Rotary tradition, donating money on the member’s birthday each year in an amount equal to their age. Birthday checks go to our club’s Foundation. This information will be fully covered with you by a member of the Membership Committee during your orientation.
What are the expectations of me?
In addition to the financial expectations, Sunrise Rotarians are expected to attend at least 50% of our weekly meetings or make up a meeting to maintain a 50% attendance record. Make-up meetings can be as simple as attending a committee meeting or club service event, or participating in a Sunrise Rotary community service activity. Actually, any function where five or more Sunrise Rotarians are present counts as a make-up meeting. Or, you can always attend a weekly Rotary meeting at a different Rotary club to help achieve your 50% monthly attendance goal.
Additionally, we do ask all members to actively participate on one Sunrise Rotary committee, attend at least one club service event annually, and also, help with at least one community service activity annually. Lastly, all Sunrise Rotarians are expected to help with our largest fundraiser, our Brats and Bags event, held the first Friday of August each year.
How do I become a Sunrise Rotarian?
To become a member, contact an existing Sunrise Rotarian and discuss your interest in the club. Officers of our club are listed on this website. If you know one of us, just mention that in your contact email. Anyone interested in joining Sunrise Rotary must have a sponsoring member, and we can find you one if needed. You then attend a Sunrise Rotary meeting three times (pay $15/time at the door if in person), and submit an application for membership to our club. After the application is submitted, you will need to sit out for three meetings. During this waiting period, our board of directors will review your application. Upon approval, a member of the Membership Committee will meet with you for orientation. You will then be notified of the date of your official induction into Sunrise Rotary. It’s that simple. Don’t wait, get started today!
If interested in membership, in person or online, please email bnsunrise.rotary@gmail.com for more information.