A Brief History

On May 16, 1996 The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise received its Charter and began a record of “Service above Self” that continues.   Today the club boasts an active membership of more than 50 men and women from throughout Norfolk County and all walks of life.  The Club undertakes a wide range of services locally and internationally.

Our Corporate Identities

On June 20, 1997, the Club was granted Letters Patent establishing The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise as a Not for Profit Corporation (Ontario Corporation #1218447) with the following Rotary objectives:

·         “To encourage and foster the development of acquaintance as an opportunity of service;

·         To encourage and foster high ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his/her occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

·         To encourage an foster the application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his/her personal, business and community life;

·         To encourage and foster the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional men and women united in the ideal of service.”

In that capacity, the Club is able “to collect monies by way of donation, dues, or otherwise …”.  Additionally the Club can “…  carry out work within the community and internationally” as it meets those objectives.  Many, but not all, of the Clubs’ works are undertaken under the umbrella of the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise. 

 Shortly after, the Club was granted Letters Patent setting up a second corporation, The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise Fund, which is a federally registered charity (Registration #868922691RR0001).   The Fund is classified by Revenue Canada as a Public Foundation.   As a Registered Charity, donations to the Sunrise Fund are eligible for tax receipts; however disbursements from the Fund are limited to charitable organizations and other eligible recipients pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada).

Using the two corporations, Norfolk Sunrise Rotarians are able to carry out the widest range of activities serving both the local and international communities.  Typically funds from the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise are applied to Rotary Programs (e.g. Youth Exchange, Group Study Exchanges, and the Welshpool Exchange etc), internationals activities, and other service activities not eligible for support by the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise Fund.  Because it is limited to providing funding to registered charities, most of the Fund’s activities are local, although from time to time the Fund supports registered charities working internationally.