As interest in the Whiskey DRAM Fellowship grows, members have contacted us about starting their own Chapter.  We hope you find this information to be helpful. And, as always, feel free to email the Fellowship with any questions.
 
The Whiskey DRAM Fellowship, sanctioned by Rotary International, is the governing body over all Chapters. Anyone that wishes to join a Chapter must first join the Fellowship and submit dues as follows: $35 Annually, $100 for a Lifetime Member, $125 for a Lifetime Member plus Spouse/Partner.
This entitles the member of the Fellowship to a Whiskey DRAM lapel pin, the quarterly newsletter, invitations to events and socials, opportunities to net(work) at the Whiskey DRAM House of Fellowship at the annual Rotary International Convention, an invitation to our Board Meeting, and an invitation to off-site events/socials held in conjunction with the Rotary International Convention.

Below is the list of suggestions and to-do's to successfully start a Chapter:
1. Notify the Whiskey DRAM President of your intentions.

2. Decide on an appropriate name for the local Chapter, typically covering one Rotary District.

3. Contact all the known Whiskey DRAM members in your designated area. This list can be obtained from the Whiskey DRAM Secretary - Jaime Moore can be reached at jaime_moore@bellsouth.net.

4. Hold a whiskey event, perhaps a tasting or dinner paired with whiskies. (It has been our experience that there are many restaurants willing to help you with such an endeavor.) Invite all the Whiskey DRAM members and every whiskey loving Rotarian you can contact from all the Clubs in your area to attend. Have an interesting format or program that will appeal to most of the attendees. Have fun with this!

5. Ask all the attendees to become members of the Whiskey DRAM Fellowship and at the same time, the local Chapter. Local Chapters can charge their own dues but from polling other Rotary Fellowships, Chapters typically do not assess an additional fee. However, any event held by the local Chapter are paid by the attendees directly to the Chapter. NOTE: All local Chapter members must be Whiskey DRAM members.

6. Encourage prospective members to become a Lifetime Member ($100 USD) or Lifetime Member plus spouse/partner ($125 USD). As a Lifetime Member, there is no annual billing, which means less administrative work and more commitment from the new member.

7. Plan at least four whiskey events during the Rotary year and promote the event to ensure good attendance and to sign up more members. Local events can be publicized in the Whiskey DRAM newsletter and on the Whiskey DRAM website. Use our Facebook Page to advertise your event; we encourage postings and photographs! You should also advertise in your District's newsletter and calendar of events. Send before and after event information to Terry Moore at tr_moore@bellsouth.net.

8. Arrange to have one or more whiskey event fund raisers so you can do a Rotary service project.

9. Name a charity of choice. Consider donating your Chapter's excess funds at the end of the fiscal year to a Rotary cause. For example, Whiskey DRAM's charity of choice is Rotary International sanctioned clean water initiatives.

10. Have a booth at all Club and District functions advertising Whiskey DRAM and your local Chapter.

11. Inform your District Fellowships Chairperson about Whiskey DRAM and your local Chapter members and ask for help in promoting the Fellowship.

12. Inform the District Governor about Whiskey DRAM and your local Chapter and ask for his/her help in promoting the Fellowship.Suggest offering a whiskey reception at the District Conference hosted by the local Whiskey DRAM Chapter.

13. When you have a decent number of members in your Chapter, hold an election of officers, elect a Board of Directors and adopt a set of By-Laws patterned after the Rotary Fellowship Standard By-Laws (recommended). The Whiskey DRAM By-Laws are on our website and are an excellent guideline.

14. Include a provision in your By-Laws to indemnify (hold harmless) the Whiskey DRAM Fellowship (Drinking Rotarians And Members) and Rotary International for the actions of the Chapter. Do a risk analysis of your Chapter's liability and obtain event insurance coverage, etc. as needed.

15. If you plan to collect money to fund your Chapter's activities (socials/events), you will need to set up a bank account once you have procured the proper tax identification number (if necessary). It is recommended that two Board Members be listed on the bank account.

16. Encourage your members to attend the Rotary International Conventions and participate in Whiskey DRAM activities and events.