Rotary International

Rotary International is one of the largest service organizations in the world, founded on February 23, 1905, by Paul P. Harris. Its mission is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. Rotary is a non-political and non-religious organization with a membership base that includes over 1.4 million individuals and more than 46,000 member clubs worldwide.

Organization and Administration

Rotary International operates at the club, district, and international levels. Each club functions independently within the framework of Rotary International's constitution and bylaws. Clubs are typically organized within 529 districts globally, which are further grouped into zones. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors that includes the international president, the president-elect, the general secretary (also serving as CEO), and 17 zone directors.

Rotary clubs focus on service projects both locally and internationally, often collaborating with other clubs or organizations to achieve broader goals. Each club elects its own leadership and conducts weekly meetings where members discuss club business, hear from guest speakers, and engage in community service projects.

Programs and Activities

Rotary International focuses on seven key areas:

• Promoting Peace
• Improving Health through disease prevention and treatment, and supporting maternal and child health.
• Water and Sanitation
• Education
• Economic Development
• Supporting the Environment

The Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation is a non-profit corporation established in 1917 to support Rotary's humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions and is renowned for its financial management and significant impact. The foundation has spent over $4 billion on life-changing projects, with a strong focus on polio eradication, scholarships, and sustainable development initiatives.

Notable Achievements

• Polio Eradication: Rotary has played a crucial role in the global effort to eradicate polio, contributing significantly to the reduction of polio cases worldwide.
• Scholarships: Over 350,000 scholarships have been awarded to support international education and cultural exchange.
• Humanitarian Grants: The foundation offers various grants to support disaster recovery, health initiatives, and economic development projects.

Membership and Volunteers

With 1.2 million members and over 47 million volunteer hours annually, Rotary remains a powerful force in global community service, transforming lives through their efforts. Members are encouraged to participate in club activities, join service projects, and engage with other Rotarians worldwide.

[1] https://rotarydistrict7030.org/stories/an-introduction-to-overview-of-the-rotary-foundation [2] https://www.rotary.org/en/about-rotary/rotary-foundation [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_International [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rotary_Foundation [5] https://www.rotary.org