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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rotary?
Rotary International is a worldwide service organisation, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotarians and Rotary clubs reflect their community, coming together in the belief that ‘They profit most who serve best’.
Rotary is a diverse, non-partisan, non-sectarian and secular organisation. Membership is open to professional men and women over the age of 18.
Clubs usually meet weekly for breakfast, lunch or dinner, while this is organised as a social event, it provides the framework for clubs to organise their service activity and community engagement strategies. Additionally, these meetings are the foundation on which members build lasting friendships and worldwide contacts.
Membership is open to those in their communities who align themselves with Rotary’s core principle ‘Service above self’. Rotary club’s aim for its members to reflect its community with regard to professional and business classifications, gender, age, religion, and ethnicity.
Use the links to learn more about Rotary International and Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland and if you feel Rotary is for you, please contact us to arrange a visit to the Westminster International Rotary Club.
When does the Club meet?
We meet every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 6.30pm for a 7pm start at the Civil Service Club, 13-15 Great Scotland Yard, London SW1A 2HJ. Normally the 2nd Wednesday is a 2-course dinner meeting and the 4th Wednesday is a lighter finger food buffet. Meetings usually include a presentation or speaker as the focus of the evening. We also have informal and social meetings throughout the year. Please contact the Club for details if you would like to visit us, as registration is usually required latest 5 days before the meeting.
What are the meetings like?
We start the meetings with introductions, followed by a short quiz to break the ice, and then enjoying our meal. We then have Club updates, followed by our guest speaker covering many different subjects, the object being to widen the experience and knowledge of our members and guests. The meetings finish around 9 pm.
In addition to the two meetings a month at the Civil Service Club, the club organises cultural and social events for the enjoyment of the members and their partners, who are always welcome.
Please note there is no formal set dress code, but smart casual is preferred.
How much does the meal cost?
The cost of the 2-course dinner on the 2nd Wednesday of each month is usually £35, where as the light buffet meetings are £18. As we have to inform venues of the number of diners, we need to have confirmation of attendance not later than the Friday evening before the meeting, by registering and paying on TicketTailor.
What is the membership process?
We recognize that people come to Rotary for many different reasons and that choosing the right club is essential to get the most out of Rotary and it is important for each club to have as wide a cross section of professions as possible in its membership. In consequence membership is by invitation only for women and men of all professions.
Due to Rotary’s unique combination of friendship amongst the club members and the service activities they undertake it is essential that both the candidate and the existing members are comfortable with each other.Each prospective member is asked to attend Club meetings and to get involved in one of the clubs community service projects and/or one of the clubs internal administration tasks before being invited to join. This gives the prospective member a chance to work with other members, get a feel for the Club and get acquainted with the activities undertaken by the members and the commitment expected.
The Club’s Membership Secretary will support and assist the applicant throughout the process, outlining the responsibilities and privileges that come with being a Rotarian. All applications are reviewed by the Membership Committee, who in turn makes their recommendation to the Club Council, followed by a formal notification (the Seven Day Notice) circulated to all Club members. If no objection is received, the applicant is considered to be elected and is notified by the sponsoring Rotarian. After induction and payment of the fees (an annual subscription of £250 for the period of 1st July to 30th June), the individual becomes a member of the Club and a Rotarian.
In order to enable the club to fulfil its dual function of friendship and community service Rotarians are expected to attend at least 50 % of all weekly meetings and participate actively in the clubs programmes, projects and administrative work. An additional benefit of becoming a member is the ability to attend Rotary meetings anywhere in the world, providing a group of friends wherever you are on this globe!