{"id":50,"date":"2017-05-02T18:49:25","date_gmt":"2017-05-02T18:49:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/newsite.swdurhamrotary.org\/?page_id=50"},"modified":"2026-03-29T18:47:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T18:47:16","slug":"get-involved","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/","title":{"rendered":"About Our Club"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-515 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/logo_750px.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/logo_750px.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/logo_750px-350x93.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 89vw, (max-width: 767px) 82vw, 740px\" \/>The Southwest Durham Rotary Club is a service organization based in Durham, North Carolina. We are non-partisan and do not have a religious affiliation. Our goals are simple: We want to help others, particularly in our own community, and to build fellowship among those who want to share in that goal.\u00a0How do we do that?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-889\" src=\"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-2.06.46-PM-350x223.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"223\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-2.06.46-PM-350x223.png 350w, https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-2.06.46-PM-750x479.png 750w, https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-2.06.46-PM-768x490.png 768w, https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-2.06.46-PM.png 1260w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>First, we meet weekly, on Thursdays, where we eat lunch together (<a href=\"https:\/\/newsite.swdurhamrotary.org\/index.php\/get-involved\/come-eat-lunch-with-us\/\">you can come too<\/a>), talk about our projects and goals, and hear programs from interesting speakers and others in the Durham community and leaders in community service. Sometimes the speakers &#8211; also known as programs &#8211; just have knowledge to share about an interesting topic (for example, the marketing of art, the history of Durham and solar eclipses, to name a few) and sometimes they are leaders in non-profit work or the Durham community who talk about projects and organizations we want to get to know and see how we can help. We also chat, joke around, donate Happy Dollars and have a nice break in our workday.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-953\" src=\"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2026-03-29-at-2.35.09-PM-350x239.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"239\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2026-03-29-at-2.35.09-PM-350x239.png 350w, https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2026-03-29-at-2.35.09-PM-750x512.png 750w, https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2026-03-29-at-2.35.09-PM-768x524.png 768w, https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2026-03-29-at-2.35.09-PM.png 1242w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>What else do we do?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">Service projects! Our club is extremely active in service projects, particularly those here in Durham. We have rebuilt community gardens, thrown parties for Alzheimer caregivers, painted Habitat<br \/>\nHouses, put together thousands of meals for hungry families, filled buses with supplies for teachers so they don&#8217;t have to buy their own, filled kids&#8217; backpacks with food for their families, collected new shoes for foster children, operated a mobile dental clinic for a day and so much more. We have also given <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2019-03-06-at-5.58.04-PM-150x150.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2019-03-06-at-5.58.04-PM-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2019-03-06-at-5.58.04-PM-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>scholarships, sent and hosted kids abroad through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotary.org\/en\/our-programs\/youth-exchanges\">Rotary International Youth Exchange<\/a>,\u00a0sponsored <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotary.org\/en\/our-programs\/peace-fellowships\">Rotary Peace Fellows<\/a>\u00a0and sponsor the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotary.org\/en\/get-involved\/interact-clubs\">Rotary Interact Club<\/a> at Riverside High School.\u00a0Sometimes we also go abroad with Rotary International to do things like build schools, dig\u00a0wells and give out Polio vaccines.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">We also regularly hold fellowship events outside of our weekly meetings where we can get together with our families and hang out. Sometimes it&#8217;s at holiday parties, sometimes it&#8217;s just at a local brewery, but it&#8217;s always fun!<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Who are we?\u00a0<\/strong><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-758 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2019-03-06-at-5.58.27-PM-350x297.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2019-03-06-at-5.58.27-PM-350x297.png 350w, https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2019-03-06-at-5.58.27-PM.png 562w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">We&#8217;re a diverse group of professionals that has one thing in common &#8212; our commitment to helping others. We are doctors, non-profit leaders, lawyers, real estate agents, dentists, teachers, bankers, writers, fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, friends, neighbors and so much more. Some of our members have been in this club or in another Rotary for 30 or 40 years. It is a place to find and form lifelong friendships.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/>\nWe also love the Durham community. If you live in, work in or care about making a difference in the Durham community, we&#8217;d love to have you consider joining us.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-752 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/rotarians-at-work-0319.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/rotarians-at-work-0319.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/rotarians-at-work-0319-350x187.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 89vw, (max-width: 767px) 82vw, 740px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading-h2 -alternate\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><b>The Four Way Test<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">One distinction between Rotary and other service organizations is the Four Way Test, which is an ethical guide for members to use in both personal and professional relationships.\u00a0The test has been translated into more than 100 languages and Rotarians recite it at club meetings.<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Of the things we think, say or do:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Is it the TRUTH?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Is it FAIR to all concerned?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"heading-h2 -alternate\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><b>Become a Rotarian<\/p>\n<p><\/b><\/span><b><\/b><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-959\" src=\"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2026-03-29-at-2.36.44-PM-350x234.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2026-03-29-at-2.36.44-PM-350x234.png 350w, https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2026-03-29-at-2.36.44-PM-750x502.png 750w, https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2026-03-29-at-2.36.44-PM-768x514.png 768w, https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2026-03-29-at-2.36.44-PM.png 1288w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>Rotarian membership is by invitation only. Prospective members need to hold \u2014 or be retired from \u2014 a professional, proprietary, executive or managerial position; demonstrate a dedication to service, be able to attend the meetings and live or work near our club location in Southwest Durham. <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">We welcome all people, regardless of race, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or nationality to visit or join.<\/span><em><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Still reading? Come <a href=\"https:\/\/swdurhamrotary.org\/index.php\/get-involved\/come-eat-lunch-with-us\/\">meet us for lunch<\/a> already!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Southwest Durham Rotary Club is a service organization based in Durham, North Carolina. We are non-partisan and do not have a religious affiliation. Our goals are simple: We want to help others, particularly in our own community, and to build fellowship among those who want to share in that goal.\u00a0How do we do that?\u00a0 &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;About Our Club&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-50","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/50","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/50\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":960,"href":"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/50\/revisions\/960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swdurhamrotary.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}