WELCOME TO ROTARY

The Rotary Club of Cobden welcomes the opportunity to provide information to you about Rotary and the fellowship which it creates for its members.   

WHAT IS ROTARY INTERNATIONAL?

Rotary International is a worldwide organisation made up of Districts which are comprised of a number of Clubs. Individual members belong to a Club; the Clubs belong to Rotary International.

Members are business and professional leaders within their geographical location.

Rotary’s purpose is to provide opportunities for fellowship and service. This reflected in its motto - “Service Above Self”.

Rotary began in Chicago on 23 February 1905 when founder Paul Harris, an attorney, met with three friends - a coal dealer, a mining engineer, and a merchant tailor. From this first meeting for fellowship the men met in each other’s place of business, hence the name Rotary. Each Club seeks to establish a membership representing the cross-section of the local community. This gave rise to the classification principle of Rotary membership which maintains that each club should have members from as wide a range of classifications as practicable.

Rotary International is administered by a Board of Directors including the Rotary International President and President-elect. Its headquarters are in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Each Rotary District is a geographic territory in which Clubs are grouped for administrative purposes. Each District is headed by a District Governor whose job it is to guide and assist Rotary Clubs in the District. District Governors are elected for one year.

HOW DOES EACH CLUB OPERATE?

Each Rotary Club has a President and a Board of Directors who take responsibility for ensuring that the Club provides a balanced involvement in all four major avenues of service with which Rotary is involved - Club Service, Community Service, International Service and Vocational Service. Youth Service is an additional major avenue. The Board is also responsible for ensuring the proper administration, financial management, membership development, publicity and risk management of the Club.

The Club holds weekly meetings for fellowship and to advance the Club’s service goals in the community.

WHAT DOES ROTARY MEMBERSHIP INVOLVE?

The privileges of being a Rotarian are:

• fellowship with similar-minded people

• unique opportunities to serve your community, improve your vocation, and promote regional and international friendship

• establish a broad acquaintance with leaders of other businesses and professions

• participate in interesting and stimulating programs

• meet other Rotarians at neighbouring clubs and throughout the rest of the world.

Rotary membership also carries responsibilities:

• observing the Rotary “Four Way Test”

• regular attendance at weekly meetings, maintaining an annual attendance of at least 60%

• introduction of new members

• serving on Club committees

• attending District conferences and activities

• attending annual International Conventions.

The Rotary Four Way Test is applied to everything we think, say or do. It requires to consider:

    1. Is it the truth?

    2. Is it fair to all concerned?

    3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

    4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Rotary members commit family time and work time to Rotary so it is important for family members to understand what Rotary is about. Rotary International recognises that a member must give priority to family and work, but a real time commitment does exist with Rotary membership.

On becoming a Rotarian you will receive a number of booklets and pamphlets providing information about Rotary and these are to read and share with your family.

WHAT IS THE ROTARY CLUB OF COBDEN?

The Rotary Club of Cobden, in District 9780, was chartered in March 1966 and meets each Thursday evening at the Cobden Civic Hall at 6pm for fellowship. The dinner meeting commences at 6:15pm sharp. Meetings generally cover business matters and member information, and have a variety of guest speakers. Members’ partners are encouraged to attend.

Throughout the year other formats are adopted including working bees, golf days, barbecues, visits to local businesses and theatre nights, inter-club visits, catering and fun run/walks.

The annual general meeting is held in October/November, usually at 7am for a breakfast meeting, at which office bearers for the following year are elected. All office bearers are elected annually.

The changeover of office bearers takes place on 1 July each year, with a formal changeover function usually being held late in June.

Membership cost for our Club is currently $160 per year, and a dinner fee is charged for each meeting attended. This is currently $15 for an excellent three course meal. Membership fees go largely towards the costs of Rotary International, District 9780 and the monthly Rotary publications.

Each member receives a name badge and a Rotary lapel badge, and a name badge is provided for partners. These are for ease of identification at meetings, particularly when visiting other clubs or when visitors attend at Cobden.

WHAT ARE COBDEN’S SIGNIFICANT SERVICE ACTIVITIES?

The Rotary Club of Cobden has an outstanding record of service to the Cobden and district community, and is held in high regard by the community in general.

Some of our achievements over the years have been:

• the establishment and maintenance of Rotary Park by the lake (in conjunction with the Shire)

• significant financial support for the Aged Care facility

• financial support in the establishment of the Cobden airport

• participation in the Cobden Connection, including the erection of the Cobden Connection Rotunda (in conjunction with the Quota Club)

• the awarding of annual Vocational Service Awards for Customer Service, Trade Excellence, and Trainee Performance, and Citizenship Awards for secondary, primary and special school students

• sponsoring of outgoing exchange students and hosting of incoming students

• sponsoring young people to attend Rotary Youth Leadership (RYLA) and Rotary Youth Programs for Enrichment (RYPEN) programs for personal and vocational development

• support for students to attend science programs for academic development and broadening experience

• participating with others in establishing and maintaining the Cobden Community Christmas Appeal to support those in particular need at Christmas time

• sponsoring young people to participate in Group Study Exchange (GSE) teams for international exchange

• fund-raising for major disasters both in Australia and internationally

• collection and donation of used books, medical equipment, computers, and other useable items for use in developing countries

• organising the annual New year’s Eve Family Fun night at the miniature railway park.

Of course, the most obvious Rotary activity in the past few years is the establishment and operation of the Cobden Miniature Railway and Mini Golf Park, together with the South Western Model Engineers. This major community service project has provided the Cobden community with a magnificent tourist attraction and has brought economic benefit to the Cobden community.

WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO SAY?

This webpage provides the background to membership of the Rotary Club of Cobden. It tells what our Club has achieved in the past through the activity of many community-service minded members over 40 years.

What happens in the future depends on current and future members of the Club.

The Club is open in the way it operates, and members are encouraged to put their views forward and share their ideas.

We are always seeking new members who share the goal of service to their community, and the ideals of Rotary, and who can commit as fully as practicable to these goals and ideals.