The club is comprised of local business and community leaders who are committed to the service of others. The tradition dates back to 1919 in Madison when local leaders chartered the club. This makes it one of the longest running Rotary clubs in the region.

Club members meet every Thursday for lunch or dinner for fellowship and to plan service projects. The club has several service projects that it tackles every year including helping with manpower at the Madison Regatta and Chautauqua festivals, holding Christmas parties at the Lide White Boys' and Girls' Club and the Madison State Hospital, ringing bells for the Salvation Army and providing customized "I Like Me" books to every Kindergarten student in the county.

The above-mentioned projects might be enough for many clubs but the list does not even include the club's premiere local service project. The Madison Rotary club awards $10,000 in scholarships each year to Jefferson County graduating seniors.

We are actively involved in the "Fulfilling Our Promise" fundraising campaign to help Rotary International complete the task of eradicating polio from the world. In October 1985, Rotary International pledged US $120 million to fund its End Polio Now campaign. By February 2005, Rotarians contributed a total of over US $500 million. At this time, only three countries are still polio endemic. This global effort will not be complete until all countries are polio-free.