BECOMING A MEMBER
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Rotarian. Rotary International is an association of individual clubs, with each club operating autonomously. Membership is extremely important to us, and we are always eager to hear from individuals interested in our mission and in joining a Rotary club. The RI universal premise is that the membership of each club constitutes an accurate representation of the business and professional population within the community served. Membership in a Rotary club requires available business or professional classification opportunities as well as an invitation and sponsorship by a member of the club. Sometimes an individual cannot be invited or sponsored for membership.
Rotarians are business and professional leaders who take an active role in their communities while greatly enriching their personal and professional lives. A Rotary club contains a diverse group of professional leaders from the community that the club serves.
Membership in a Rotary club offers a number of benefits, including:
- effecting change within the community
- advancing business and professional contacts
- developing leadership skills
- gaining an understanding of – and having an impact on – international humanitarian issues
Through Rotary International’s service programs, a Rotary club can have a significant effect on the quality of life in its community. Rotary Foundation programs offer opportunities to form international partnerships that help people in need worldwide. Some 1.2 million Rotarians in 30,000 clubs in more than 160 countries make significant contributions to the quality of life at home and around the globe.
OUR CLUB HISTORY
The Rotary Club of Grand Haven held its organizational meeting on November 11, 1929, and received its charter on December 27, 1929.
The Rotary Club of Grand Haven was preceded by an Exchange Club and by a Community Club, which were absorbed by the 1929 charter organization. Thus the group became identified with a worldwide organization dedicated to civic, charitable, educational, and business service.
Today, the Rotary Club of Grand Haven has approximately 90 members. The local club has one of the largest memberships in District 6290 and has established several enduring service enterprises.
Of particular note is the establishment of the predecessor organizations for the local United Fund and the Grand Haven Community Foundation; the Crippled Children and Handicapped Adult program, which provide medical equipment to persons in need; the hospital magazine program; and a very active involvement in the international student exchange program.
Rotarians are prominent, both on a Club and individual basis, in the conduct of most community projects. The influence of the Rotary Club of Grand Haven extends well beyond the community. For example, it has provided three District Governors: Gordon Laughead (1949), Glenn H. Olsen (1965), and Ralph Van Volkinburg (1974). Grand Haven’s club has also provided two Assistant District Governors: Don Moss ( ), and Chuck Vonesh (1999 to present).
The Rotary Club of Grand Haven has assisted in establishing three separate Rotary Clubs: Coopersville (1947), Baldwin (1950), and Spring Lake (1958).