Rotary Basics

Your Guide to Getting Involved in Rotary    


Rotarians are part of a global network of business, professional, and community volunteers. In Rotary clubs around the world, Rotarians are changing lives in their own communities and those abroad — and forming strong, lasting friendships in the process. 

We’re a GRASSROOTS organization. We carry out our most meaningful service work through our Rotary clubs. Each club elects its own officers and enjoys considerable autonomy within the framework of Rotary’s constitution and bylaws. Rotary districts (groups of clubs - our District 6000 has 63 clubs) support these efforts and are led by district governors. Rotary clubs belong to the global association Rotary International, led by the RI president and the RI Board of Directors. 

So, how do you want to get involved in Rotary? 

VOLUNTEER MY SKILLS
IMPROVE MY COMMUNITY
BUILD MY NETWORK
SERVE INTERNATIONALLY
  HELP ROTARY GROW
OFFER YOUR SUPPORT


Of the things we think, say or do
1) Is it the TRUTH?
2) Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3) Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?


MISSION

The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. See the RI Strategic Plan.

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: 
  • FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
  • SECOND. 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;
  • THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;
  • FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

Our motto, SERVICE ABOVE SELF, embodies our humanitarian spirit. Rotary’s Avenues of Service guide our activities:
Through...
  • Club Service, we have fun, build lasting friendships, and make sure that our club runs well.
  • Vocational Service, we volunteer our professional skills to serve others and promote integrity in everything we do.
  • Community Service, we address local needs and work with our community to bring lasting improvements.
  • International Service, we meet humanitarian needs around the globe and promote world understanding and peace.
  • New Generations Service, we work with young people to help them become the next generation of leaders, visionaries, and peacemakers


AREAS OF FOCUS

We direct our service in six Areas of Focus: 
  1. Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
  2. Disease prevention and treatment
  3. Water and sanitation
  4. Maternal and child health
  5. Basic education and literacy
  6. Economic and community development

Our top priority is ERADICATING POLIO. Thanks to Rotary and our international partners, the number of polio cases has dropped 99 percent worldwide since 1988. But as long as polio threatens even one child, children everywhere are at risk.
Rotary clubs are raising US$200 million to match $355 million in challenge grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These funds support immunization campaigns in developing countries where polio remains a threat.
Rotary International is a spearheading partner in the Global Polio EradicationInitiative, along with the United NationsChildren’s Fund (UNICEF), the U.S.Centers for Disease Control andPrevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO)

ROTARY FOUNDATION

The Foundation helps Rotary clubs and districts work together to provide meaningful, sustainable service. Foundation grants support projects that provide clean water, medical care, literacy classes, and other essentials to people in need all around the world. Since 1947, the Foundation has contributed more than US$2.4 billion to fund these vital efforts.

The Foundation also awards Rotary Peace Fellowships for study at Rotary Peace Centers around the globe. Since 2002-03, more than 480 fellows from 80 countires have participated at a cost of more than $31 million.

Our contributions to the Foundation ensure that we can bring sustainable change to communities in need.

Ask your club’s Rotary Foundation committee chair how you can support our Foundation