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Comment by driscoll42 | Hacker News Reader

I'm a member of my local Rotary, the one I'm part of does a lot of good work around the city. I'm also part of a non-profit, the Chicago Engineers' Foundation (https://www.chicagoengineersfoundation.org/) that I get a lot of value and connections out of. Also a city club to meet other professionals and chat.

But my main was going back to school to get a MBA, met a ton of people that way.

What you want is called a "third place", which has sadly died out in many ways recently. A great way to just meet people from different backgrounds with different interests.

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I joined a local Rotary club twenty years ago (in my mid-40s) and it’s become a pillar of my social health and personal productivity. Service clubs like Rotary (Lions, Kiwanis,etc) are facing an existential demographic crash right at a time when people have a renewed interest in IRL social/community engagement. Fingers crossed that resolves!

I tried applying to my local rotary club online in 2019. Basically just a web form expressing interest. I got an automated email saying someone would reach out in the next 30 days. I was met with complete radio silence. Never heard anything back at all.

I was a Rotary exchange student 20 years ago which completely changed the trajectory of my life (for the better), and was excited to help the next generation with becoming an exchange student. I was also involved with RYLA as a teen.

For a group facing an existential crisis, they didn’t seem too worried about it

That's interesting to hear. I was also a Rotary exchange student to Japan. It was an incredible experience. I've thought about whether Rotary would be a good option personally or professionally but haven't tried it yet.

You'll find that groups like the Rotary or Knights of Columbus or the Shriners are almost technologically phobic - it's entirely possible that your automated email came from a web form and your interest was forwarded to an email box of a member who had died years ago.

Phone or in person is often the only way to get things done, unless there happens to be a tech-savvy person involved.

I could see that for sure. At the time I couldn’t find any easy contact info for my local club and thought it would be inappropriate to just show up to the monthly lunch meeting. Maybe I’ll try that though!

That's what I'd do, at worst they tell you it's private and secret, but take your info down. Most likely they'd initiate you on the spot.

Rotarians are... older, and often not good with tech. I've been a de facto tech support of mine a few times. They really would see some good overall growth if they invested in that some more.

I don't think Rotary globally is facing an existential crisis, but it is in the US. It is very popular abroad but has been dying out in the USA.

May I ask - have you had a good experience with Rotary? Because while I am a member of my local club, I've been profoundly disappointed. Almost none of the service projects in my community are anything that's terribly useful - it's a lot of make work so people feel useful. I've also been disappointed in the punitive, "frat boy" like behavior among club members. While I don't think there is any fraudulent activity occurring, I have found some of the financial decision making a bit eye brow raising as well.

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