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Please find below some of the more frequently asked questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the club do?

We plan, deliver and support projects which help our local community and communities around the world, while at the same time having fun and making new friends and networks.

Our club has regular meetings which differ from week to week and are held at the Smithaeligh Hotel near Lee Mill.  We normally have one business meeting a month, when we discuss what projects we are currently planning and the charities which we are supporting. Other weeks we have very interesting speakers from various charities, businesses, and also fellow Rotarians, which extend our knowledge of local and international projects.

We also have regular social events and this gives us a chance to get to know other club members and ultimately build friendships.

There are also activities out of the club meetings which support projects from our club and others, these can range from dinner dances, themed evenings, gardening, helping in the community and also attending district events such as assemblies and council meetings where you can interact with Rotary and Rotarians at a wider level.

What activities will I be involved in?

You can be involved in as little or as much as you like. The club has different committees and you will be encouraged to get involved with one of these each year. You can choose the committee to match your area of expertise or you may want to pick one which you are interested in supporting but have never been involved in before.

The committees include:

  • New Generations (Youth Activities)
  • Foundation (Rotary’s Charity)
  • International
  • Community and Vocational

And our projects often fit in to one or more of these committees. Some examples of projects we have done include, The Young Artist Competition, Young Chef, Young Photographer, Fundraising events for Foundation and many more including our annual Christmas collections. Please look through our website for further information.

Am I required to attend every meeting/event?

An attendance record of 50 percent per year is ideally required to remain an active Rotarian but we understand and appreciate the time commitments our younger members in particular have outside of Rotary.

Any missed meetings can be made up by attending or taking part in other Rotary activities such as events, other club meetings and aforementioned projects which happen outside of our normal meeting time.

How much does membership cost?

Currently the cost of being a member of our club is approximately £120 per year although many members spread this out via monthly payments. This includes membership and administration to Rotary International. We try to keep the costs as low as possible to encourage and enable more people to attend, however this fee is subject to change on annual basis.

Other costs which you may like to know about include our weekly meetings which currently cost £10 and includes a 2 course meal.

You will also get numerous invites to other clubs to help them support their projects; you can go to as many or as few of these as you wish and they are usually great fun!

Who else attends the club?

The Rotary Club of Plympton is one of the most diverse clubs in the district and truly reflects the local community. We vary in age, size, ability, religion, origin, business and wealth and welcome anyone to join in with us too!

Can I visit the club before joining?

Yes, we would suggest you do this so you can meet us and get to know more before you commit to anything. Membership to a Rotary club is by invitation only so you will need to get in touch with us so we can officially invite you to a meeting which we think would be suitable for a prospective new member to attend. From there, if we are all happy, you will then be proposed for membership, this can be in a matter of weeks or months depending on how you feel.

Who do I contact?

Please contact us through the contact page on this website, or if you know one of our members feel free to contact them directly. We look forward to hearing from you.

What is Rotary?

Rotary International is an association of Rotary clubs worldwide. It’s made up of more than 33,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. The members of these autonomous clubs are called Rotarians, and they form a global network of 1.2 million business and professional leaders, all volunteering their time and talents to serve their communities and the world. Individual Rotary clubs, in turn, belong to the global association called Rotary International.

What is the minimum or maximum age to be in Rotary?

There are no age limits in Rotary however Rotarians must have achieved a level of career experience that enables them to bring a specialization to their club. You may be invited to join at any age after you become established in a career and have the time and financial resources to meet all Rotary club membership requirements.

There are other Rotary related clubs for non-professionals such as students and young people. Rotaract Clubs are for young people aged 18 – 30 and Interact Clubs are for those aged 12 – 18. To find out more about these please visit the Rotary International website.

If I’m not a Rotary club member, can I still help out with service projects?

Yes! You can offer to assist any Rotary club with its local service projects so please do feel free to get in touch.

How many clubs are there in Rotary?

Rotary has more than 33,000 Rotary clubs worldwide.

How many members are there worldwide?

There are more than 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide.

What is the mission of Rotary?

The mission of Rotary International, a worldwide association of Rotary clubs, is to provide service to others, to promote high ethical standards, and to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

Can I come and talk to your Rotary club about my charity / project?

Although our calendar is very busy and booked up in advance we would be happy to hear from anyone who feels that they can contribute to our club by making a presentation. However as we do get many requests it is unfortunately not possible to accommodate everyone.