Our Rotary Club, its History and How We Function
 
Hawthorn Rotary members are local men and women who meet weekly to connect socially, and plan and implement projects for their communities, both local and around the world.  It is a great way to meet new people, make new friends and have fun while helping your community!
 
The Rotary Club of Hawthorn was chartered on 24 August 1953 and currently has around 50 energetic and warm-hearted members.  Hawthorn Rotary encourages both male and female members to contribute their skills to the work of the club.  Membership is by invitation and requires a candidate to be well established in his/her profession, business or public service.  We recognise the special skills and abilities of our retired citizens and particularly welcome their membership in our Rotary club.
 
Membership in Rotary does require personal commitment.  Members are expected to attend at least 50% of the weekly meetings or to make up at other Clubs (which can be anywhere in the world), and to be involved in community and fundraising projects.
 
Rotary is based on a system that is comprised of classifications representing professional and business activities.  Rotary’s commitment to Service Above Self is channeled through five Avenues of Service, which form the foundation of club activity.  Rotarians serve on one or more of these service committees, and every year some 15 members of the Club serve as Directors, Committee Chairmen and Special Project Coordinators.
Annual subscription to the club is currently $350.
 
 
Our Meetings
 
We usually meet every Tuesday at 12.30am for an hour or so for fellowship and lunch at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, 489 Glenferrie Road, Kooyong.  Our meetings are one of the best things about our club because we always have a speaker or some other activity that gives us some real value to use in our business or personal lives.  Our members are busy people so no one minds if you can’t make every meeting.  But, if you don’t get to them often enough, after a while you miss your friends and pretty soon you find that the meetings are an important part of your week!
 
Rotarians are active in raising funds and supporting projects involving health and education, the support of the needy and disenfranchised, and the development of young people (and care of oldies) in our own neighbourhood.  We support some wonderful international projects too.  You are sure to involve yourself in one or two that pull at your heartstrings!
 
Some of our members say that the best thing for them has been the opportunity to take on tasks that they normally wouldn’t get to tackle things like organising an event or running a community activity, or helping out at the annual Christmas lunch for socially isolated citizens.  The skills and knowledge they have gained have been worth heaps to them in both their business and personal lives.
 
Through activities, responsibilities and opportunity, Rotary promotes growth in social skills, public speaking, leadership and motivation.