Regular attendance is essential to a strong and active Rotary club. The emphasis on
attendance is traced back to 1922 when Rotary International announced a worldwide
attendance contest which motivated thousands of Rotarians to achieve a 100 percent
attendance year after year. Many Rotarians take great pride in maintaining their 100
percent record in their own club or by making-up at other Rotary club meetings.
Although the bylaws of Rotary require members to attend only 60 percent of all meetings,
the custom has emerged that 100 percent is the desirable level. Rotary stresses regular
attendance because each member represents his own business or profession and thus the
absence of any member deprives the club of the values of its diversified membership and
the personal fellowship of each member.
From time to time, proposals have been made to give attendance credit to Rotarians who
are on jury duty, serving in the community, attending a trade convention, on vacation
in remote areas, on shipboard or unable to attend because of ill health or other special
reasons. None of these exceptions has been adopted. The policy is very clear-a Rotarian
is not given attendance credit if he does not attend a meeting.
There are a few circumstances where attendance credit is awarded when a Rotarian
participates in an alternate type of Rotary event. If a Rotarian is requested to attend
an Interact or Rotaract meeting, attendance credit may be allowed. When a member attends
a Rotary district conference, district assembly, international convention, Council on
Legislation, a meeting of an international committee, an inter-city meeting and a few
other specially designated events, attendance may be credited. A Rotarian actively
participating in a district-sponsored service project in a remote area where it is
impossible to make-up may also receive attendance credit.
Last Revised: May 2, 2007