Rotary Gungahlin: Diverse, Driven, and Doing Good
Rotary is all about people—welcoming everyone, no matter their background, beliefs, or profession. At Rotary Gungahlin, we’re a vibrant mix of retirees, young parents, business owners, professionals, and service personnel, united by a shared passion for giving back.
Since 2008, we’ve been making a difference locally and globally through community projects and international humanitarian efforts. And we don’t just work—we connect, laugh, share great meals, and dream up ways to do good in the world.
If you’re keen to meet new people, make an impact, and have fun doing it, we’d love to welcome you. You can submit your Volunteer/Membership interest or just Contact Us.
Friends of Rotary
In addition to our full members, we have a great group of friends who support our activities, assist on BBQs and come along to meetings and social events when they can. Everyone who joins Rotary is unique – their background, experiences, culture, ideas and skills and this diversity among our members and friends is one of the key things that makes Rotary Gungahlin a great organisation to get involved in.
Keen to know more?
If you would like to know more and perhaps come along to a meeting to meet some members and get to know our club and its activities, then get in touch because we’d love to meet you.
Thinking about getting involved?
Are you looking for a way to make positive changes in the Gungahlin community and around the world?
Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group of professionals who share your drive to give back. Over a meal or coffee, or even online, you’ll:
- Discuss the Gungahlin community’s needs and discover
creative ways to meet them
- Expand your leadership and professional skills
- Catch up with good friends and meet new ones
If this sounds good to you or you would just like to know more about us, we want to hear from you. Joining us is a great way to get involved in our community.
Getting involved is easy.
1 Get in Touch
First step, get in touch with us, we’d love to hear from you! You can either contact us through this website, our Facebook page, call us, talk to us when you see us at a BBQ or pop in for dinner, a drink or a cuppa to our weekly meeting, every Monday night at 6.30pm (for 7pm) at the Eastlakes Football Club (51 Hinder St, Gungahlin ACT 2912).
Most weeks we have a guest speaker presentation, usually someone from the community though sometimes we also host international speakers with interesting stories to tell. We’ve had speakers from all walks of life, ranging from local community business people and students we have sponsored through the Rotary Youth Exchange, to international Peace Scholars and foreign experts in fields such as international development, science and education. It is a fantastic – and interesting – way to be introduced to Rotary so when you get in touch, be sure to ask when the next guest speaker is presenting.
We always love the chance to meet new people, we are an open, friendly, multicultural group from many backgrounds, professions, trades, religions and countries who share some common traits. Namely, the desire to be involved in supporting both the local and global community – to give back – and also an appreciation of good food, good conversations and good times together!
There is no pressure to join, no expectations of you and no need to make a decision to get involved straight away. It is up to you to decide whether you want to be involved and if so, to what extent you would like to be involved, based on your interest, availability and other responsibilities you are balancing in life such as family and work.
2 Find out about Rotary
In the following pages we outline what Rotary can mean for you. Read them over and explore the Rotary website to find out more. For more information about Rotary International, please visit the Rotary International ‘About Us’ webpage.
3 Decide what becoming a Rotarian could mean for you.
There are as many reasons as there are Rotarians but some common themes emerge.
Firstly, Rotary is a network of friends and you get to meet like-minded people who want to make a difference, while making life-long friendships with others from our community and even around the world. Among your fellow Rotarians you will meet those who are seeking an opportunity to put something back into their community, others who want to be a part of a Rotary program that affects whole regions across the world and others who simply want to grow, and assist others to grow, as contributing members of a team focused on addressing the needs of others.
Many of us feel bewildered by the challenges of need in so many communities and it is all too easy to despair that nothing useful can be done. What you see in Rotary is what becomes possible if people work together on a problem. You get to be part of something bigger, one of 1.2 million people around the world who volunteer to make real change in the world, in so many different areas, and you get to experience the joy of being a part of a positive change.
For more reasons to get involved, visit the Why join?
If the answer is yes, then get in touch now and we can answer any more questions you may have. You can email, phone, see us at the next BBQ or pop in to the meeting this coming Monday night (or any Monday night) at the Eastlakes Football Club in Gungahlin – all are welcome!
Remember, there is no pressure to join, so come along, meet some people, make some friends and see what you think, you have nothing to lose!
Why Join
Thinking of joining Rotary?
There are many reasons to join a local club.
Networking
An original goal of Rotary was to allow club members to meet periodically and enlarge their circle of business and professional acquaintances. As members of the oldest service organisation in the world, Rotarians include a cross-section of their community’s business owners, executives, managers, political leaders, and professionals – people who make decisions and influence policy
Service
Club members have many opportunities for humanitarian service, both locally and internationally. Service programs address concerns such as health care, hunger, poverty, illiteracy, and the environment. Rotarians regularly experience the fulfillment that comes from giving back to the community.
Friendship
Rotary was founded on fellowship, a cornerstone that continues to attract members today. Rotarians enjoy camaraderie with like-minded professionals, and club projects provide opportunities to develop enduring friendships. Club members who travel have friendly contacts and can expect a warm welcome in cities across the world.
Family
Rotary sponsors some of the world’s largest exchange and scholarship programs. Rotary clubs provide innovative training opportunities and mentoring for young leaders, and they involve family members in a wide range of social and service activities.
Ethics
Encouraging high ethical standards and respect for all worthy vocations has been a hallmark of Rotary from its earliest days. In their business and professional lives, Rotarians abide by The Four-Way Test:Of the things we think, say or do:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Leadership
Rotary is an organization of that builds and requires high levels of leadership and management. Members can experience personal growth in many directions and team-building, fundraising, public speaking, planning, organisation, and communication are just some of the leadership skills that club members can exercise and enhance. Being a Rotary leader provides further experience in motivating, inspiring, and guiding others.
If this sounds like something you are interested in or would like to know more, then get in touch. Send us an email, give us a call or pop in to the next BBQ or Monday night meeting, we’d love to hear from you!
Memberships
Types of involvement
We welcome inquiries from potential members but we also want a decision to seek membership to be well-informed. Find out about the process of joining below.
Visitor
You may be interested in finding out more about Rotary but have not considered becoming a Rotarian yourself. That’s quite OK and at most meetings visitors would be welcome, so contact the President or another member of the Board to find out details of venue, time and program. Prospective members are encouraged to attend several meetings before making a decision to join so attending as a visitor may save you time in the long run.
You may decide you want to help out at a particular upcoming event, perhaps a BBQ on a Saturday morning or some other service event you hear about at the meeting or in an edition of our weekly news, ‘The Key’. Note that participating at a Rotary event, even as a visitor, provides coverage for you under our Club’s insurance policy. At some point you may decide to seek admission to Gungahlin Rotary – to become a Rotarian. Probably at about the same time we will have reached the same conclusion and a member will approach you with an application form, quite brief, to complete. The Board and Club will consider your application and when finished will invite you to join – to become a Rotarian.
Active Member
As a full member, you are encouraged to attend most meetings and take part in voting and decision making with regard to club activities, including approving club expenditure and deciding what projects the club will get involved in. We ask all active members to make time to volunteer at some of the various events we are involved in, though of course we understand all members will have varying demands upon their time from a range of responsibilities outside the Club.
Full members pay an annual membership fee, which covers club costs such as registration as well the fees paid to Rotary International in order to run the organisation. The membership fee is currently two payments of $120 per year. In addition there is a low meeting fee, currently only $5, and the purchase of dinner is optional. Members with young families, in particular, may well have eaten before attending.
The Induction of a New Rotarian is an important event for both the Club and for the individual member, so we usually run through some traditional formalities to mark the moment. A new member receives a certificate of membership, name badge and Rotary International pin and often further Rotary literature.
Board Member
All active members can be nominated – or you may self-nominate – to be a member of the Club Board. The Board comprises several designated officers and a group of directors and these have responsibility for a designated aspect of the clubs operations. Being on the Board is a great way to grow as a Rotarian and to become more aware of the policies and programs of our District 9710, of Rotary International and of the Rotary Foundation and to influence the course of Club activities.
There are a number of positions on the board: President Past President, Vice President, President Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and Directors (currently 3)
While most Rotarians have had a few years’ experience with Rotary before taking on a board role, we have also welcomed new members to the Board – who have then brought fresh ideas, enthusiasm and energy to our discussions.
Friends of Rotary
Some non-members and former members have decided to become a ‘Friend of Gungahlin Rotary’. It can be a good place for a non-member to start as a potential Rotarian and equally make separation easier for Rotarians who find they are unable to meet the responsibilities of an active member. There are no fees or costs associated with membership and no requirement to attend meetings or be on any BBQ or activity rosters. It is kind of like a casual membership, when you are available we appreciate you time, when not, no worries!
As a Friend of the Club, you are welcome to attend any meeting, social event (dinners, drinks, ten-pin bowling etc.) or other activity when you are available. You will also receive communications like the bulletin so you will still be kept in the loop as to what is going on.
You are then welcome to upgrade or return to full membership whenever you like.
If the answer is yes, then get in touch now via the Contact Us page and we can answer any more questions you may have. You can email, phone, see us on Facebook or pop into the next BBQ or meeting (or any Monday night, except public holidays) at the Eastlakes Football Club in Gungahlin – all are welcome!
Remember, there is no pressure to join, so come along, meet some people, make some friends and see what you think, you have nothing to lose!