Rotary Club of North Napa

What is Rotary?

Rotary International was founded in 1905

The  Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular to encourage and foster.

First.

The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

Second.

High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

Third.

The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s person, business, and community life;

Fourth.

The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

The Social Side of Rotary

Friendship and fellowship are important in Rotary.

Families, friends and co-workers participate in all of our service and social activities.

Who Is In Rotary?

Rotary International is one of the world’s largest service organizations, with some 1.2 million members in 34,500 clubs in more than 163 countries.  Rotarians are men and women who are leaders in their professions, industries and communities.  Many are business owners, managers, executives, and professionals, or retired from these occupations.  Rotary Clubs seek to have each industry and profession in the community represented in their membership.  Membership is by invitation.

Rotarians are willing to help and participate in projects that enhance the community.  They are willing to work on projects that help people in developing countries, and promote international understanding and goodwill.

Rotary Clubs provide:

Friendships with other managerial and professional leaders in the community.

Prestige of membership in a world-wide organization.

Promotion of higher ethical standards in your business or profession.

Participate in projects to enhance the community.

Help communities in countries around the world.

The Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation was established in 1917 for the purpose of doing good in the world in charitable, educational, and other avenues of community service.

The first grant was made in 1919 to the International Society for Crippled Children which has since grown into the Easter Seals organization.

The projects are too numerous to mention, but among them are:

Group Study Exchange, a tour in another Rotary country for professionals.

Polio Plus which seeks to eradicate polio and other infectious diseases, in partnership with the World Health Organization, governments and other organizations.

Scholarships programs that make Rotary the world’s largest scholarship provider.

Programs providing clean water, medical treatment, micro banking and many more services to alleviate poverty

Disaster Relief Grants.

International Peace Fellowships.

What happens at a weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of North Napa?

Club meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and end about 8:00pm. Most meetings start with time to socialize, and include:

• Brief committee reports and announcements
• Fines, a light-hearted Rotary custom in which the club president calls attention to members’ accomplishments and personal milestones
• An informative and interesting presentation by a guest speaker.  Topics vary widely and include community affairs, humanitarian projects, social issues, technology, business, art, education, health and personal development

When Rotarians cannot attend their own Club weekly meeting, they enjoy visiting other Rotary Clubs - anywhere in the world.

Where and when do we meet?

We meet every Tuesday Evening at the Wine Train Commissary, Second Floor, 801 Eigth Street (behind Jimmy Vassar Chevrolet).

What does it cost to be a Rotarian?

The rewards of Rotary service call for a commitment of time, energy and money.  Most members budget between $1200 to $1400 a year to cover dues, meals at meetings, social events, and contributions to Rotary Foundation.

Past and Present Service Projects of the Rotary Club of North Napa

The North Napa Rotary Club is a “working Club”, expending large amounts of time and effort in one project or another.  Whatever the project may be, it is undertaken with enthusiasm and pride, regardless of the financial rewards.  Just a few of the projects are:

• Refurbishing of several local parks in Napa, including playground equipment
• Floating boat docks for the Boy Scout Camp
• Building Handicap Ramps for the financially disadvantaged
• Napa Emergency Women’s Services Shelter Rehabilitation
• Medical equipment to India, Nicaragua and Fiji, and Ambulance to India
• Earthquake relief to Mexico City, Japan, El Salvador & India
• Typhoon relief to the Philippines
• Support for underprivileged communities in Mexico
• Local Immunization Clinic for low income children
• Rotaplast
• High School Scholarships to a 3 local High Schools, Voices, and “If given a chance”
• Highway Cleanup & Interchange Planting ( The club was awarded “Volunteer of the Year Award” by CALTRANS)
• Art Exchange With Sister City Club in Japan and Local Middle School
• Pathway Home support
• Literacy projects at the Napa County Library
• Little Free Library and reading room at Scientopia