A TYPICAL MEETING

A TYPICAL MEETING AT THE ROTARY CLUB OF HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING

If you have never attended a Rotary Club meeting you may be wondering what to expect. All Clubs are different. They usually meet either at lunchtime or in the evening, although you can occasionally find Breakfast Clubs. In Houghton we meet every Wednesday evening at the Chilton Country Hotel, Black Boy Road. Members usually start gathering in the bar from 7.00pm. The meal starts promptly at 7.30pm.

There are some formalities usually associated with Rotary meetings although Houghton doesn't take itself too seriously!

The President opens the meeting promptly at 7.30pm welcoming the members and any guests that have joined us. (Any Rotarian can attend any other Club meeting anywhere in the world, which is one of the pleasent aspects of being a member. Since menus and catering are arranged in advance it is advisable to contact the Secretary to forewarn him that there may be a visitor)

Rotary International is not a faith based organisation. All faiths are welcome, however at Houghton we say a non specific Grace before the meal, although it is often fairly light in tone.

The dress code is best described as "relaxed informal". Most members probably wear a jacket and tie although some don't. Rotary International became "dual gender" a few years ago although some older Clubs, Houghton included, has not yet introduced their first female member. Perhaps it will be you!

We then sit down to a two course meal with coffee (price