Rotary International

Rotary International is a significant global service organization dedicated to creating lasting change through community service, fellowship, and leadership development.

Overview

Rotary International, founded on February 23, 1905, by Paul P. Harris, is headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, USA. It comprises over 46,000 clubs worldwide with a membership of approximately 1.4 million individuals, known as Rotarians. This includes volunteers from Rotary, Interact, and Rotaract clubs, totaling over 1.9 million members[4].

Mission

The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through fellowship among business, professional, and community leaders[4].

Structure

Rotary clubs are organized into a hierarchical structure consisting of clubs, districts, and zones. Each club operates autonomously but adheres to Rotary International's constitution and bylaws. Members can attend any Rotary club meeting worldwide[4].

Programs

Rotary International focuses on seven key areas:

• Promoting peace
• Fighting disease
• Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
• Saving mothers and children
• Supporting education
• Growing local economies
• Protecting the environment[2].

The Rotary Foundation

A crucial part of Rotary International is The Rotary Foundation, established in 1917 by Arch C. Klumph as an endowment fund to support humanitarian efforts. The foundation supports several global initiatives, including polio eradication and peace fellowships. It has spent over $4 billion on sustainable projects worldwide[1][3][5].

Impact and Recognition

Rotary's efforts have led to significant achievements, such as the near eradication of polio, with over 2 billion children vaccinated through Rotary's PolioPlus program[1]. The Rotary Foundation is recognized for its financial integrity, earning top ratings from charity evaluators[1].