Thank you for coming to learn how you can get involved. There are many roles to be filled in order to continue building our larger, more comprehensive committees to effectively provide support, education and resources to the 100+ clubs that will make up CNY Rotary.

Review committee needs below for more details on the roles and teams that need volunteers. There are opportunities for volunteers of all experience levels, with training and education available to help you in your role.

2026-27 Committee Recruitment

Use the form on this page to let us know how you want to get in on the fun and team work. Reaching out is not yet a commitment, but rather a starting point for discussion to help you find out more about what joining one of these teams would entail. You can also use it to just ask questions and we'll get you answers. Existing committee members looking to step into a different role can use this form to express their interest too.

After reaching out with this form, you can expect a bit of a delay as the leadership team gathers up all responses to share with committee leaders for follow up. We'll be in touch this summer with next steps!

CURRENT OPENINGS

Foundation

Vice Chairs Needed

Our current District Rotary Foundation Chair*, Grants Sub-Committee Chair and Global Grants Sub-Committee Chair are all entering the final year of their term. Our succession plans outline that a Vice Chair should work with them during this year to ensure a smooth transition of leadership and continuity of our Foundation-related activities, many of which are incredibly important to our ability to Create Lasting Impact. This is a great opportunity to learn on the job before you take the lead!
*Per RI, the District Rotary Foundation Chair (DRFC) cannot hold any other significant roles in their club or district and must serve (and is limited to) a three year term.

We also welcome people interested in getting involved in committee positions that support giving (endowment, PHS, etc.), peace, stewardship, and more.
 
Fill out the form on this page to submit your interest!
 

Membership

This key committee has a lot of growing to do and some important roles to be filled.


Vice Chair Needed

Our current Chair Kimmy Talbot is entering the final year of her term, and our succession plans outline that a Vice Chair should work with her during this year to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. Now is the time to step up so you have ample opportunity to learn and develop a plan to succeed.
 

Sub-Committee Members and Vice Leads Needed

Per RI, every district must have three sub-committees as part of their membership team:
New Club Development - Leads Melissa Rathbun & Pam Baxter
Join this team to help identify communities that are ripe for a new club or clubs that would benefit from developing a companion club, then help with the recruitment and chartering of the new club. There are a lot of resources and support for this if we can find some new club champions to lead around the region!
Member Engagement - Lead Dave Perkins
Keeping our existing members engaged is vital to being able to Create Lasting Impact. Join Dave and his team, or even sign on as Vice Sub-Committee Chair, to work with our clubs on ways to improve their member experience and retention.
Member Attraction - Lead Matt Adler
Bringing more people into the family of Rotary must also be successful if we want to see meaningful growth in CNY. Joining this sub-committee could mean participating in learning events, working one-on-one with clubs, or sharing out communications that inform through our News Network on the latest tactics for making our clubs irresistible.
When joining any of these sub-committees, let the current leads know if you are interested in becoming a lead too. Serving as a Vice Lead would give you experience in the role prior to starting a term in that position.
 
In addition to these required sub-committees, the original design for CNY Rotary's Membership Committee included forming teams around:
  • Leadership Development: Helping clubs have better succession planning with strong leaders
  • Small Club Support: Providing support for the group with less bandwidth or skill gaps
  • Learning (Growing Rotary IQ): Locking arms with the Learning Committee for events (virtual and in person) on membership-related topics
  • And the Membership Committee includes our Rotaract Chair
The Rotaract Chair is a member of the Leadership Council that requires approval by the Executive Committee. They serve as a central connection for all existing Rotaract Clubs, assist with chartering new ones, and help us keep in touch with these young volunteers. This new position provides a lot of space for carving a brand new path.
 
We encourage you to consider expressing your interest in any of these areas of membership that are so vital to maintaining healthy and vibrant clubs!
 

Public Image

The team managing the very website you are on is in need of more talented members to help with the website, social media and our outbound communications. This must be a cohesive team with a variety of skillsets, so consider lending your PR talents!
Chair Joe Abraham already leads an active team, but is alwys looking for more hands to make lighter work. Their team needs:
  • People with graphic design skills and an understanding (or willingness to learn) the Rotary brand
  • Members willing to serve as a Regional Reporter and help clubs in their part of CNY develop stories about their service impact
  • Videographers and photographers willing to lend their services at events around CNY
Reach out if you have some skills to bring to our communications hub!
 

Service Committee

This brand new committee has an energized chair, Donna Adams of Auburn Rotary, looking to welcome more help in executing club support, being part of our learning team, helping with communications, and coordinating more service opportunities. It's also never too soon to secure a Vice Chair to succeed Donna - give yourself even longer to learn the ropes!
 

Learning Committee

The majority of this committee is made up of the other committee chairs who are the experts in their respective areas of Rotary leadership, but we also need people who are interested in being part of learning events (virtual and in person). Can you help with hosting the zoom room for a webinar so the learning leaders can focus on their presentations? Can you come to work the check-in table at learning assemblies? Would you like to be the communications point person for putting out details about learning opportunities? Join this committee with Chair Deb and Vice Chair Nicole by filling out the contact form on this page today!
 

Events Committee

This is also a new committee that is always welcoming new members. There are a variety of ways to contribute:
  • Coordinate a single social event
  • Be on the Conference 2027 planning team
  • Help with setting up registrations
  • Host a birthday party location
You can read more about the purpose of this committee and some of the roles here. New Chair Mia DeBernardis would appreciate growing her team, so please contact us at centralNYrotary@gmail.com or use the form on this page today!
 

Youth Programs

Youth Exchange

Vice Chair Needed
Our current Chair Zoren is entering the final year of his term, and our succession plans outline that a Vice Chair should work with him during this year to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. Now is the time to step up so you have ample opportunity to learn and develop a plan to succeed.
We are also looking for more people to serve as country contacts and get involved to ensure we have a strong bench of future leaders. This is incredibly rewarding work that helps you be part of the cultural exchange experience!
 

RYLA

We are looking for strong Rotary leaders to join our Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program and help it scale up to serve more of CNY. Now is the perfect time to join to help plan this leadership learning experience for local high school students for next June!
Fill out the form on this page to get on the list. We hope to host a committee meeting this summer.
 

Interact

Do you have a passion for bringing young people into service through Rotary? Our junior and high school program, Interact, has clubs all across CNY, but we don't have a centralized coordinator. This role is still to be defined, so we need someone willing to pave some new trails, but it would essentially be:
  • Supporting clubs in starting or growing an Interact Club
  • Helping track which communities have Interact Clubs
  • Identifying new ways CNY can support Interact students
  • Be part of our learning team to speak about the benefits of sponsoring an Interact Club
If this sounds like something you would be interested in delving into, we welcome you to fill out the form on the page to let us know!
 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB)

Our DEI team is always welcoming new people to get involved. The current structure of the committee has an individual serving on another committee to provide the DEIB perspective in everything we do, with the committee only meeting quarterly to touch base on happenings around CNY.
If you want to be the person who helps others see Rotary through a DEIB lens, reach out using the form on this page today!
    Enter your email address and the message you want to send.
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    WHY SERVE WITH CNY?

    Volunteering at the regional level is rewarding for many reasons.
     
    Committed Volunteers
    Typically, the people volunteering at this level operate at a higher commitment level, which can make for a more positive volunteer experience. People leading and participating on the committees outlined here are passionate about those aspects of Rotary and get excited to do that kind of work. It's a very positive vibe!
     
    Learning Opportunities
    The higher up you go in Rotary, the more learning there will be. Between osmosis the experienced leaders you are volunteering with and attending bigger learning events, your skills and expertise will grow. When you become someone who is in the loop with regional activities, you become much more informed overall!
     
    Meet New Friends
    In our new region, this is a great way to meet more members from places you may have never connect with before. People who are even more like-minded because they care about the parts of Rotary you are care about most. It's a great place for true connection and purpose!

    FAQs

    What is a Vice Chair?

    The Vice Chair serves at least one year prior to starting a term as Chair. This is different from a co-chair who may serve in collaboration with the chair, but with no intention to become the sole chair. Vice Chairs are a term we use in our succession planning to ensure leaders have some overlapping time together to have a smooth passing of the baton!
     

    Who can join a committee?

    Any active Rotarian in good standing can be part of a CNY Rotary leadership team. As noted above, we welcome a variety of experience levels for most committee roles, but the chair positions typically require a more experienced member, preferably someone who has served on the committee.
     

    How do I join a committee?

    Reach out to the CNY Executive Committee using the form on this page or email them at centralNYrotary@gmail.com to express your interest. Depending on the role you are interested in, there may be an interview or approvals needed by the executive, or you may be referred to the current chair to get invited to the next committee meeting.
     

    What kind of training and support is available for CNY Rotary leaders?

    In addition to our phenomenal Learning Center at rotary.org, each fall there is a Zone Institute hosted to prepare district leaders. CNY Rotary helps cover some of the costs to attend, depending on your role, and members are welcome to attend specific learning tracks on their own as well. 
    Click here to visit the zone website and find the next institute's details under the Events tab.
    And, as with many volunteer roles, you do the most learning on the job. Working with fellow committee members, attending CNY events in your official capacity, and meeting with clubs and members will all contribute to your learning experience!