We aim to create leaders.
We believe that our communities need leaders. Leaders who are responsible, take accountability for their actions and have the desire to create change.
The Rotary Club of North East Orange County aims to provide a place where aspiring leaders - no matter their age, race, or creed - can develop confidence, high self-esteem, and a portfolio of experience through service to the community.
By leading projects, committees, and events, our members will receive an experience that could be out of reach in their current companies, organizations, or schools. Our club allows members an outlet to try paths they’ve always wanted to.
“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.”
-Daniel Steven Peña Sr.
The Trillion Dollar Man
We believe the best way to network is when people work together for a common cause such as an event or community project. The Rotary Club of North East Orange County provides a new network of professionals and aspiring civic leaders who may not have had the chance to meet outside of the club. Who knows, you can also make lifelong friends that push you to the next level!
The Rotary Club of North East Orange County also has a board of advisors from different backgrounds and experiences. The board can provide our members with the advice and counsel our members may need to get to the next level.
How can Rotary help you with leadership?
Every July, the beginning of the Rotary year, the board members are rotated out. That means that members of the club have a chance to become the President for the year as well as other positions on the board, such as committee chairs. As long as the core values and mission are maintained, this is a great opportunity for members to gain experience being in board meetings, making high level decisions, as well as leading their team should they choose to be a committee chair.
Rotary clubs strive to do more hands-on projects and events, so this is also an opportunity - especially for a member who may not be on the board - to spearhead an idea that they may have. Ideas can range from service projects in the community, internal and external marketing/communications, membership outreach, sponsorship outreach, etc.
It gives you the chance to develop skills like public speaking, project management, and event planning. You’ll meet interesting people from your community and around the world. And you’ll tackle local and international issues that are important to you and your fellow club members.
Rotary path of leadership
A lot of people are not aware that there is a path to leadership which is becoming the Rotary International (RI) President!
We’ve provided the steps here, taken from the Rotary International website, to let you see where Rotary can really take you!
Path to Presidency
Club president
Any member in good standing is eligible to be elected club president for a one-year term, though most presidents have already served their clubs as a committee chair or in some other leadership role
District governor
Districts select their future governors through either a nominating committee, ballot by mail, or a district conference. Any club may suggest one of its members for consideration, though the nominating committee is not limited by these suggestions. Governors serve a one-year term. A nominee for district governor must have been a Rotarian for at least seven years and have served as a club president.
RI (Rotary International) director
Every year, eight or nine of Rotary’s 34 zones each selects a director. Nominating committees are made up of one past governor from each district in the zone or section of the zone for a two-year term. The committee members interview candidates and choose one to represent the zone. Past district governors are eligible; at least three years must have elapsed since the end of their term as governor. Candidates must also have attended at least two Rotary institutes and a Rotary convention in the previous three years.
RI president
Every year, half of Rotary’s zones get the opportunity to elect Rotary’s president through their representatives on the 17-member presidential nominating committee. (The zones electing the president alternate every other year.) Only past RI directors may serve on the nominating committee – current Board members are not eligible. If more than one past director from a zone wishes to serve, clubs in their zone hold an election.
Only past RI directors are eligible to serve as RI president, and most presidents have held additional leadership roles, including serving on committees that offer international experience. The term is one year.
Presidents choose their vice president and treasurer from among the second-year RI directors.
Additional steppingstones
While on paper the path to the presidency is only four steps, in practice, the Rotarians who lead the organization have held many other roles along the way.
District leaders: District committees include finance, membership, public image, and Rotary Foundation training. Other topics vary by district.
Regional leaders: Regional leaders include regional Rotary Foundation coordinators, Rotary coordinators, Rotary public image coordinators, and endowment/major gifts advisers. Other leaders may serve as trainers and facilitators at Rotary institutes, governors-elect training seminars, and other events.
RI and Foundation leaders: Rotary’s committees are made up of Rotarians and Rotaractors from around the world who work with the organization’s leadership. Qualifications for membership vary by committee. Application information is listed annually in The Rotarian. Rotarians may also serve as Rotary Foundation trustees.
Trustees of The Rotary Foundation: Trustees must be Rotarians. Candidates should have broad experience within Rotary and also have held leadership positions in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector.
Past and present Rotary senior leaders suggest individuals for consideration. A task force appointed by the Rotary president-elect reviews the names and recommends at least three candidates for each open trustee position. The Rotary president-elect chooses the nominees from among these recommendations, and the RI Board of Directors formally elects them to a four-year term.
The Board of Trustees elects its chair from among the current members for a one-year term.
"The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development. There is almost no limit to the potential of an organization that recruits good people, raises them up as leaders and continually develops them.”
— John Maxwell