The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor exists to encourage, foster, and implement the ideals of Rotary International in our local community and throughout the world in ways that enhance the quality of life and human dignity, create greater understanding among all people, and advance the search for peace. In all of our activities, we will abide by the highest ethical standards and always be guided by the Rotary principle of "Service Above Self."

Membership

Fifteen charter members founded the club in 1916, only 11 years after the first Rotary Club was organized in Chicago . Membership hovers around 300, with women (first admitted in 1988) accounting for about 25% of the membership. New members are inducted in March, July and November.

Meetings

Meetings are held every Wednesday in the Anderson Room of the Michigan Union. There are no meetings the week of Art Fair and the weeks of Christmas and New Year's. Buffet luncheon begins at 11:45 am. The business portion of the meeting begins at 12:30 pm. Guest speakers begin no later than 1:00 pm with the program ending at 1:30 pm.

Money

Club dues of $240 are billed in June ($200 for members over 70), and a $170 Community Services Assessment billed in December of each year. In 1986, our 70th Anniversary, the club established the endowment with $70,000 raised as the initial corpus. As of June 30, 2005, assets and bequests total just over $1,000,000. The purpose of the endowment is to improve the quality of life in the Ann Arbor area by providing funds to community groups and scholarships to deserving students.

Governance & Committees

Committees include Program, Attendance/Invocation, Music, Community Spotlight, Club Directory, Membership Development, Vocational Service, International Service, Special Events, Harpoon, Public Relations, Bowling, Social, History, and Community Service. Join a committee or committees as soon as you can - it's a great way to meet members and really feel a part of the Club. Yearly, the Club elects four officers (president, vice- president, secretary, treasurer). The immediate past president also serves on the Board. The vice-president serves as president in the succeeding year.

Social Events

Annual Spring party for members and their spouses/significant others. One occasion, there are outings to the Performance Network. The Huron High School Choir entertains members and guests at a meeting in the spring. One of the December meetings is a holiday luncheon in the Michigan Union Ballroom where the Pioneer High School choir entertains members and guests.