Corporate Membership Opportunity - November 23, 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Membership: Commonly Asked Questions
 
By Satya Mitra
 
During our visits to many clubs in our District, many Membership Committee members have discovered that there is a great interest in finding out about the opportunity of Corporate Membership. Hence, here are details of Corporate Membership, answering some of the commonly asked questions about this concept.
 
1. What Is Corporate Membership?
 
Corporate Membership is a type of membership that is offered to the president or CEO of a corporation, a non-profit organization or an owner of a business in the community. However, he or she can also give names of two to three other employees or staff of the corporation who can also attend weekly meetings whenever the main person is unable to come.
 
2. What is the advantage of Corporate Membership over Individual Membership?
 
The advantage is mainly in attendance. An Individual Member is alone to attend the weekly club meeting. But the Corporate Member can send an associate member to replace him/her. It gives them a relief from attending the weekly meeting, which is not so easy for a corporate executive in today’s extremely busy business atmosphere. Individual Members need to fulfill 50-percent attendance but Corporate Membership is required to have 85-percent attendance between the main member and associate members.
 
3. Is the Corporate Membership fee higher than the Individual Membership fee?
 
Generally, a club can charge $50 to $100 extra in fees for the Corporate Membership to cover the expenses for extra name badges and extra subscriptions to Rotarian magazine for associate members. Each club can charge the extra amount based on its judgment. There is no set policy for extra fees.
 
4. Does each person in Corporate Membership submit a separate application for approval?
 
No, only one application is submitted by the main person of the corporation or organization - and either in the same application or in a separate sheet, details of associate members are provided to the club. The main person’s applications is reviewed and processed for approval by the appropriate committee as well as board of the club - just as with an Individual Member application.
 
5. Can all members under Corporate Membership attend weekly meeting together and can all of them vote?
 
Yes, they can all attend weekly meetings, as long as they pay for their food and drink as charged by the club. Only the main member has the voting right on any club issue. Associate members cannot vote.
 
6. Can an associate member become an Individual Member if he/she wants to be so?
 
Yes, but in that case he/she must apply by filling out the Individual Membership application and going through the approval process to be approved as an Individual Member of the club.
 
7. What happens if either the main member or an associate member is no longer with the corporation, organization or business?
 
The entity can replace both of them. In the case of a new main member, a new application will be submitted and his/her application will be processed for approval. However, in the case of a new associate member, no application processing will be required and only the details of the new associate member will be taken.
 
8. If there are two partners in a business, could they apply for Corporate Membership?
 
No, each would need to apply for Individual Membership. In case of a Corporate Membership, the chief of the entity would become the main member and another employee or staff would qualify for the associate membership. In the case of two partners, do not have that sort of relationship, because both owners of the same business.
 
9. Is Corporate Membership approved by the Rotary International?
 
No, RI has no policy written for Corporate Membership. But, if such a membership works for a club, RI would have no objection to the club adopting its own policy and pursuing this concept for membership development.
 
10. What are the best reasons that one can give to attract Corporate Membership?
  • Networking opportunity with many other club members
  • Opportunity for the Corporate Members to give back to the community through Rotary projects and helping the needy
  • Main member does not have to attend all weekly meetings, but can instead send his/her associate member as a substitute
  • It is an honor and prestige to be known as a “Rotarian” and as a member of the largest service organization in the world
  • Find an opportunity to become a better leader and /or extend your leadership ability.
  • All members will learn about the Rotary organization (club and International) and mentoring is the key. The entity's owners can either mentor young Rotarians or send young/junior associates from their business to receive some mentoring from the club.
11. Is there any information available on how to get started and what is required to establish the corporate membership in any club?
 
Assistant Governor John Sbrogna, a member of the District Membership Committee, has successfully created a Corporate Membership Kit that gives information and application forms for making corporate and associate members. If anyone wants those kits, you may either call me at 508-641-8441 or e-mail me at satya@thegurutax.com. I will make the kits specifically for your club and mail them to you.
 
Membership development is the No. 1 agenda of our district. Corporate Membership creates a tremendous opportunity to attract many corporate, non-profit and business presidents and CEOs to join your club. I encourage every club to pursue this concept and approach a few of those presidents and CEOs. I am certain it will be helpful in adding new members to your club.
 
If you have any question or doubt please do not hesitate to contact either me at the number or address, above, or John Sbrogna at jvsbrog@verizon.net. We will be very happy to help.
 
Satya Mitra chairs District 7910's Membership Committee.