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What is Rotary?
It is a worldwide organisation of more than 1.2 million business and professional people who are pledged to;
• serve the community, locally, nationally and globally
• promote the highest ethical standards in all areas of working life
• work for peace and goodwill worldwide
How it operates
Rotarians believe that commerce and community are not separate entities but totally inter-dependent. Through membership of more than 31,000 clubs worldwide they serve their communities by devoting time, energy and skills to a whole range of projects.
As the biggest organisation of its kind in Great Britain and Ireland, Rotary is uniquely placed to harness the energies of thousands of potential volunteers who want to make a contribution to the community at home or abroad.
Members and meetings
Each club must be representative of the local business and professional community, ensuring a proper balance across all sectors.
Fellowship and the exchange of ideas and experience through regular meetings are at the heart of Rotary's activities. Times of meetings can be flexible - breakfast, lunchtime or evening. Meetings are held weekly and members make a commitment to attend 60 per cent of them either at their own club or at other clubs around the world.
Because it's an international organisation, Rotarians are welcome at clubs throughout the world. In Great Britain and Ireland alone there are close to 60,000 members in more than 1,800 clubs.
Service at home..
Rotarians place strong emphasis on personal service to the community, and pride themselves on bringing the same degree of professionalism and integrity to their community work as to their occupation.
Through vocational projects they support job development, employment skills, literacy and numeracy training, and a range of work-related activities, as well as many environmental initiatives.
...and abroad
Many members also give community service overseas, particularly in third world countries where their professional skills are in great demand. Some run eye camps, others are involved in educational and engineering projects - from providing text books for schools, to building water filtration units.
Teachers, engineers, health professionals, technicians and IT specialists bring vital expertise to poorer countries, helping people to help themselves in a spirit of enterprise and self-development.
All this is central to Rotary's commitment to fostering global goodwill and understanding, breaking down prejudice and promoting understanding of other cultures.
The Rotary Foundation
The mission of the Rotary Foundation, Rotary's corporate Charity, is to improve world understanding and the prospect of peace by supporting the local, national and international humanitarian, educational and cultural programmes of Rotarians and Rotary clubs throughout the world.
The Rotary Foundation provides funding for a varied portfolio of projects throughout the world. The various programmes reflect the wish of Rotarians to create a better world.
The most ambitious project for the Rotary Foundation has been the eradication of poliomyelitis. Working with others in supporting UNICEF and the World Health Organisation to immunise the children of the world against this crippling disease, Rotary International has raised in excess of $400 million.
The Rotary Foundation also provides grants and scholarships to young people, giving them the opportunity not only to study abroad but act as Ambassadors for their own countries in the pursuit of improved international relations.
Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland
Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, with its own governing body and constitution, is a territorial unit of Rotary International, administering 29 districts in Great Britain and Ireland. True to the Rotary ideal of international goodwill, it is one of very few organisations with a single district covering the whole of Ireland.
Young Rotary
There are two organisations created for young people, two organisations dedicated to service and international understanding. Though closely associated with Rotary, their clubs are independent and self-governing.
Interact is designed for anyone aged 14-18 years old and membership is generally found in schools and community youth groups. Once again the international nature of Rotary offers many opportunities for contact and exchange visits. Rotaract is for 18 to 30 year olds. Both are rooted in the Rotary tradition of service to the community and run a range of local, national and international service projects.
Object of Rotary
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
· The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
· High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations;and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
· The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business and community life.
· The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland
Kinwarton Road
Alcester
Warwickshire B49 6PB
Tel: 01789 765411
Fax: 01789 765570
e-mail: secretary@ribi.org
Internet: www.rotary-ribi.org
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