Associate and Corporate membership
Information about different types of membership
Information about different types of Rotary Membership
Further Membership options ...
Rotary Growth Opportunities (Rotary GO) offer clubs the opportunity to try two new types of membership, Associate membership and Corporate membership.
It should be noted that these two membership options are currently in their pilot stage. Whereas there are some restrictions regarding associate membership, there are no commonly accepted procedures or rules regarding Associate and Corporate members. This is deliberate as it allows clubs the flexibility to see what works best for them. As we proceed within the pilot, we will be sharing the experiences of those clubs who are participating in these pilots and we will be able to obtain best practice from them.
Any thoughts on these options, you can contact Iain by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
What is Associate Membership?
The Rotary GB&I Associate Membership Pilot Programme allows an individual to become associated and acquainted with a Rotary Club, its members, its programmes and projects and the expectations of club membership with the intent of becoming an active member within a designated period of time.
Is there an established membership approval process to be used by clubs in Rotary GB&I?
No, it is up to each club to decide what this process should be. It is best to develop this process before inviting individuals to join as associate members.
Is this type of membership the same as being ‘A Friend of Rotary’?
Many clubs do have supporters who are considered Friends of Rotary but no official programme is in place. Many of the friends turn up to support clubs at events rather than have an interest in joining. The Associate Membership pilot is in place to give people the opportunity to experience at first hand the work and fellowship of Rotary without the need to become an active member. It can easily work alongside any programme that a club has with Friends. As a simple comparison a ‘Friend of Rotary’ is more likely to be a valued supporter but is unlikely to become an active member whereas an associate member is a potential active member.
How does the Rotary club approve prospective members?
This is for each club to decide. Processes may vary from club to club but it will be helpful if that process is shown to prospective members. The process can be informal or a more formal ‘Seven day letter’ method.
Does the associate member have a classification?
The classification of the associate member will be established by the club. Because the associate member is not an official member of the Rotary club this classification does not count towards the classification limits set out in Article 8 of The Standard Rotary GB&I Club Constitution.
What are the attendance requirements of an associate member?
It is for the club to decide the attendance requirements of an associate member as well as what is expected in club-sponsored service projects and club social events. Make-ups should be determined by the club.
Are associate members registered with RI?
At present associate members are not listed on the RI database as official members of Rotary. It may be possible to register them on club or district databases depending on which type of database is in use.
Do associate members wear badges?
Yes, if the club wishes this. It is up to the club to consider what references should be on the badge in line with the club traditions. Some Rotary suppliers have associate member badges available.
Do associate members have a vote on club matters?
For the purpose of general meetings it is up to the club to decide whether an associate member may vote on club matters. Because associate members are not official members of Rotary International they cannot take part in RI or Rotary GB&I voting. Districts have the right to decide whether they will accept an associate member as a voting member of a club.
Can an associate member hold office in the Rotary club?
Associate members are not entitled to hold any club officer position but they are encouraged to work with club committees.
What are the fees for an associate member?
There are no RI or Rotary GB&I dues for an associate member. Districts may decide if they wish to charge a fee. Clubs may also decide if they want to charge a fee. It is acceptable that fees vary from club to club as they do with active members.
Will an associate member have to pay the Rotary GB&I affiliation fee?
No. Associate members are not official members and do not pay the affiliation fee.
Can an associate member convert to active membership?
Yes, this can be done at any time and the club should determine a process of how this can be achieved and record this. This will take into consideration the way in which the associate member was introduced to the club in the first place. For example, if the club used the ‘seven day letter’ process it may not wish to go through the full process again. On conversion to active membership an affiliation fee is payable to Rotary GB&I as with all new active members. This is £15 in 2015-2016.
Can an active member of the club convert his/her membership to associate?
No. This pilot is about ways in which new members may be introduced to Rotary. Under the pilot it is not permissible to convert from active to associate.
Is there a process for terminating the membership of an associate member?
The club should consider a process for terminating membership. Article 12 of The Standard Rotary GB&I Club Constitution may be helpful.
Is there a designated time for an individual to be an associate member?
It is for clubs to decide. However, the purpose of this pilot is to encourage new active membership so clubs may wish to consider how long active membership should continue to maintain this goal. Six months to two years is a suggested guide.
It seems that clubs can make a number of decisions about the processes they use with regard to associate members. Surely, it would be better if Rotary GB&I agreed upon these processes?
We are still at the stage of piloting these processes within Rotary GB&I. In due course, an evaluation will be carried out and good practices from that may be spread to clubs.
Do clubs need to record the way in which they are introducing pilots for their own purposes?
There is no instruction to do this. However, for clarity and so that all understand the way a pilot is conducted clubs may wish to consider adding short Standing Orders to their Club Constitution.
CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP
What is Corporate Membership?
The Rotary GB&I Corporate Membership Pilot Programme allows an organisation or company in the club’s area to become a member of the Rotary club, through an established membership approval process, and to appoint up to four designees as the individuals attending club meetings, serving on projects, voting on club matters, and serving as club officers and on club committees and so on.
Is there an established membership approval process to be used by clubs in Rotary GB&I?
No, it is up to each club to decide what this process should be. It is best to develop this before organisations are invited by the club to consider Corporate Membership.
What is a good way to get started?
Once you have identified an organisation that wishes to be considered for Corporate Membership the Rotary club might establish the background to the organisation and whether it maintains the high ethical standards expected of Rotarians.
How does the Rotary club register the Corporate Member?
In due course this will be available on the Rotary GB&I website but in the meantime a simple form can be used to register the corporate member and retained with club records.
Who chooses the proposed designees?
This is up to the Corporate Member but one should be a senior executive of the organisation and the others of leadership status.
What sort of process should the club use to agree these individuals?
Again this is up to the club to decide. The organisation is the Corporate Member of Rotary and as such has the right to decide who its designees are. When deciding the process of agreement of designees the club may not wish to use the ‘7 day letter’ but may use a shortened or alternative process. The club could decide that it will simply accept those individuals whose names are put forward by the corporate partner. What will be important is that the club discusses with the organisation the process that it will put in place. It is recommended that any designees fill in the standard membership form suitably amended as the designee will not require a Rotarian sponsor.
How does the Corporate Member go about changing designees?
Again the club needs to discuss with the organisation the process it will put in place. This might be a simple process of the organisation advising that a designee is being changed
Is the individual designee inducted into the club?
It is suggested that the induction of a designee is inducted in line with the traditions of the club in relation to new members.
Does the Corporate Member and the designees have a classification?
The classification of the Corporate Member and its designees will be established by the club. Article 8 of The Standard Rotary GB&I Club Constitution deals with classification. It is for each club to manage classifications but it is suggested that each designee takes the classification of the corporate member and that this classification is counted once only when considering Article 8, Section 2.
What are the attendance requirements of a Corporate Member?
It is for the club to decide the attendance requirements either of the Corporate Member or of individual designees although a degree of regularity would be expected. For example, collectively, as a minimum the designees could be expected to represent the Corporate Member at the expected frequency for a normal member.
Are Designees registered with RI?
Each designee is listed as an official member of the Rotary club. The club secretary should ensure that they are listed on the RI database and included in returns to Rotary GB&I and district as appropriate.
Do designees wear badges?
Since all designees are full members of the Rotary club it is expected that they will wear a badge. It is up to the club to consider what references should be on the badge in line with the club traditions.
Do designees have a vote on club matters?
Designees are full members of the Rotary club and for the purposes of general meetings and club matters designee voting can be established by the club. Although clubs have discretion they should bear in mind that full members of clubs normally have full voting rights.
Can a designee, as an individual, hold office in the Rotary club?
Yes, a designee can hold office. It is up to the club to determine the number of designees of a Corporate Member who can hold office at any one time.
What are the fees for a corporate member?
Many Corporate Members will pay for their designees in relation to subscriptions. Currently, any designees will be registered with RI and will be required to pay the annual Rotary GB&I (including RI) subscription. Districts and clubs can decide to charge a fee other than the usual annual dues.
Will designees have to pay the Rotary GB&I affiliation fee?
Currently, this is the case so either the Corporate Member or the designee will need to meet this cost. The affiliation fee is £15 per member for 2015-2016.
Can a Corporate Member designee convert to individual membership?
Yes, this can be done at any time and the club should determine a process of how this can be achieved.
If a designee leaves the Corporate Member organisation can he/she convert to an individual membership?
Yes. Again it is up to the club to establish processes.
Is there a process for terminating the membership of a designee or the Corporate Member?
The club should consider a process for terminating membership. Article 12 of The Standard Rotary GB&I Club Constitution may be helpful.
It seems that clubs can make a number of decisions about the processes they use with regard to Corporate Members. Surely, it would be better if Rotary GB&I agreed upon these processes.
We are still at the stage of piloting these processes within Rotary GB&I. In due course, an evaluation will be carried out and good practices from that may be spread to clubs.
Do clubs need to record the way in which they are introducing pilots for their own purposes?
There is no instruction to do this. However, for clarity and so that all understand the way a pilot is conducted clubs may wish to consider adding short Standing Orders to their Club Constitution.
Can a club introduce other ways of getting Corporate Members? For example, could all the designees be associate members of the club?
The 2011-2012 Rotary GB&I General Council agreed that the RI Pilot Programmes could be introduced in Rotary GB&I clubs subject to the agreement of the District Governor. The intention was that the Rotary GB&I pilots followed the format of the RI pilots. The advice given in this Guidance Note does this for corporate members. However, clubs who wish to explore other methods of recruitment should use the ‘Innovative and Flexible’ pilot.
