Service Programs
Often described as the "Heartbeat of Rotary," Community Service is a many-pronged effort to improve the quality of life within our community. Rotary's commitment to Community Service grew out of the realization, early in the movement's history, that something more than fellowship or the opportunity for business profit was necessary to sustain the interest of club members over a long period of time. From the very first Community Service Project in 1907, when founder Paul Harris led a campaign to have a public restroom installed at the city hall in Chicago, IL, USA, Rotarians have been making substantial and lasting contributions to the communities in which they live. To a large extent, Rotary's reputation is built on the myriad of Community Service projects undertaken by Rotarians in their communities and abroad.  The Rotary Risers Club is no exception. 
A sampling of the community service work in which our club participates includes:

    -Adopt a Park 
    -Literacy initiatives (Rochester Reading Center) 
    -Salvation Army bell ringing

And there are some activities we do that are done in collaboration with the other two Rochester Rotary Clubs:
- Rotary US Bank Holiday Basketball Tournament
-STRIVE

Centennial Project
February 23, 2005 marked the 100th anniversary of Rotary International!  In nearly 100 years, Rotary grew from a group of four Chicago professionals into a burgeoning worldwide service organization of more than one million members. Visit www.rotary.org to explore and learn just how much Rotary has accomplished during its first century. Rotary International and all clubs around the world celebrated this astounding success with events and projects designed to make a mark for Rotary in their local communities.  The three Rochester Rotary Clubs collaborated on a joint project with the Rochester Park and Recreation Department to expand the Skateboard Park at Silver Lake Park.

Vocational Service
Vocational Service is the way in which Rotary fosters and supports the application of the Ideal of Service in pursuit of all vocations. Inherent in the Vocational Service ideal are:

(1) Adherence to and promotion of the highest ethical standards in all occupations including faithfulness and fidelity to employers, employees and associates and the fair treatment of them and competitors, the public and those with whom one has any business or professional relationships;
(2) The recognition of the worthiness to society of all useful occupations, not just one's own or those which are pursued by Rotarians;
(3) The contributing of one's vocational talents to the problems and needs of society.

Vocational Service is both the responsibility of the club and its members. The role of the club is to implement and encourage the objective by frequent demonstration, by application to its own actions, by example and by development of projects that help members contribute vocational talents. The role of its members is to conduct themselves, their business and their professions in accordance with Rotary principles and to respond to projects, which the club has developed.

The Rochester Rotary Risers promotes vocational service through the following activities:

• Vocational talks by new and current members
• Rotation days where we hold our meeting at another business

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
RYLA provides a time and place for a leadership camp for Rotary youth leadership awardees granted by local clubs for the purpose of developing qualities of leadership and good citizenship in young people.  All clubs are encouraged to participate. Our club has sponsored students to attend the St. Paul Youth Leadership Conference at Camp RYLA which was started in 1946.

Club Administration 
Club Administration is regarded an important part of the club mechanism, because without a vitally functioning club, little else can be performed via the other three Avenues of Service. This is the only Avenue of Service directed toward the internal functioning of the club to maintain its health and vigor. The purpose of the Club Service Committee is to assist clubs to be successfully administered.

Club Meetings
Members of the Avenue of Club Service hold a variety or roles. 

• Greeter schedule
• Program schedule
• Birthday raffle
• Facility oversight

Rotary Foundation
A foundation for peace is built of many small efforts to advance understanding and goodwill among people of different nations and to improve the quality of life. The Avenue of International Service focuses on the work Rotary does in the development of humanitarian and educational programs working with Rotarians and non-Rotarians in other countries.

District 5960 Fast for Hope (FFH)
FFH is an opportunity for all Rotarians in the district to contribute to a District World Community Service project addressing the needs of those who are hungry. The Fast is intended for Rotarians to give up a meal, remembering how most people in the world live in hunger. The Hope is to provide food, water, low cost shelters or basic necessities for a needy location in the world. The annual district-wide Fast for Hope is held in February during Rotary World Awareness month and makes a big difference in the lives of those helped. Over the years, this district initiative has raised over $100,000 toward building clean water projects in India, Guatemala and Guyana, supporting an orphanage in Columbia, providing decent housing in Bangladesh, wells for safe water in Haiti and in recent years has been partnering with a Rotary club in Nicaragua on community development and sustainability initiatives. 

Health Concerns
Rotarians work on many fronts to help people gain access to health care, build supportive environments, and learn to make healthy choices. The poor especially need the resources Rotarians can provide.  From sponsoring eye and limb camps in developing countries to providing surgery for children with congenital defects and building and equipping medical institutions, Rotary clubs have never ceased their efforts to ease suffering and provide life-sustaining care to millions of people. Special emphasis should be placed on developing activities to address pre-natal care and parenting, blindness prevention, reproductive health and AIDS awareness, primary health care issues, immunization of children, nutrition, water treatment and water management, environment and global polio eradication.

International
The Risers’ have supported a number of different international service initiatives.  For several years, the Risers contributed funding for the Guatemala Literacy project.  Prior to that, the Risers’ purchased wheelchairs sponsored by the Wheelchair Foundation for people in developing countries. Members who have an interest in an international service project should share their idea with the Chair for International Service.  In addition, the Risers have participated in hosting International Scholars and Group Study Exchange students.

The responsibilities of the Membership Committee are to promote membership recruitment within the club, provide information to the club on membership strategies, and facilitate membership growth within the club.

Public Relations/Communications
CICO (Club Internet Coordination Officer)
Administration of our club website, is the responsibility of our CICO. Our website needs the support of all members to keep information current so that it becomes the "go to" resource for our club’s information. Public Relations/Marketing Rotary is often times the "best kept secret". Efforts to promote Rotary and increase awareness about the purpose of Rotary are the responsibility of the Public Relations/Marketing Committee. 

In addition, promotion of Rotary in Rochester is coordinated through the Joint Public Relations/Marketing Committee which includes representation from the three Rotary clubs.

Public Relations and /Marketing Committee Charter

• Coordinate and triage public relations and marketing initiatives (local, district, international)

• Oversee the calendar of marketing opportunities. Focus on what is common; clubs emphasize what is unique

• Capitalize on existing Rotary program/venues to maximize marketing of Rotary to enhance the promotion of Rotary and not to replace the event Committee’s promotion of the event.

• Clubs promote events. The Joint Public Relations and Marketing Committee promotes Rotary.

• Maintain an electronic archive/repository of public relations outcomes/deliverables accessible to committee members
  (Committee “memory”)

• Promote transparency and sharing among clubs of best practices and ways to promote health and well being of all clubs

o       Direct visitors to club that best meets their needs

o       Promote club make-up at each other’s clubs

o       Reduce redundancy by working across club lines on similar activities

o       Promote interaction and fellowship among Rochester Rotarians