Occasional social get-togethers can keep family and friends a part of Rotary. Typically, meetings spend a little time reporting on the club's service projects, some time chatting with friends and then a program or presentation from a visitor about any one of a huge variety of topics. Programs range from presentations on current local issues, how-to business presentations, explanations or the stories behind the headlines. Because Rotary members are often involved and in touch with government, business, and headline makers, the speakers that are brought to the clubs to present topics are usually interesting, educational, and exciting. In total, meetings take less than an hour and a half.
Some clubs are big, some small.
Each club meets on a particular day of the week. Members try to attend every regularly - once a week at their own club or at another club that meets at a time and place convenient to their schedules. Individual clubs are in nearly every town and the city around the world, so finding friends nearby or far away is easy for traveling or vacationing members. The costs of membership include the cost of a meal, as well as modest dues. As pleasant as making friends or learning about the local business community is, the underlying mission of Rotary is to address the needs and problems of the less privileged in the community - locally or internationally.