ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
BASICS
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, Rotarians and members of the Family of Rotary.
It is a great privilege for me to be with you this morning. Thank you very much for your support of Rotary and your participation in this Organizational meeting of the Denver Metro North Rotary Club.
I am reminded of the friendships made and connections begun with the broad international community of Rotary. This meeting will help us all to understand the impact of Rotary and its worldwide mission.
Today, each of us brings a different understanding of Rotary. For some, this will be your introduction to Rotary. For most of us, we have become familiar with Rotary over many years of involvement. Some of you Rotarians have served as Club President, District Governor. Please know that the Family of Rotary and the Rotary community accepts and celebrates all of us. There is not a right way or a wrong way to participate in Rotary as a spouse, a District Governor, as a Rotarian, or as a friend of Rotary. Each of you brings with you the different customs of your home community and different levels of Rotary involvement. No matter what our connection is with Rotary, we each have something to offer Rotary.
At this meeting, it is important to review the basics of Rotary. In Rotary's Centennial year, we have a special opportunity to Celebrate Rotary. What is the history of Rotary International? What defines an individual Rotarian? What is it that distinguishes Rotarians and their families from others who serve their communities? Why is Rotary known as the most important service organization around the world? Let us take a moment to talk about these basics of Rotary International.
From the beginning, Rotary has been based upon a sense of community. Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, had spent his childhood in a small town. As a young man in the large city of Chicago, Illinois, USA, he missed the small town way of life and business. He recalled that a smaller town allowed businessmen to gather and to benefit from a shared knowledge of each other and their varied businesses. Paul Harris thought that such a gathering of professional and business people could happen, even in the large city of Chicago. For the first gathering in February 1905, Paul Harris included 3 other businessmen, each representing a different business or profession. The businessmen brought their own lunch to a simple meeting in one of their offices. They then agreed to meet regularly and to rotate among their offices. The name Rotary came from the concept that the meeting of Rotary would rotate from office to office of the first Rotary members.
It soon became obvious that others also felt the need for a sense of community among business people. Rotary quickly spread to both coasts of the United States and then crossed borders and oceans. Rotary expanded in numbers as well as territory. By 1920, Rotary had 45,000 members and clubs in 12 countries. The number of languages spoken by Rotarians increased as well, reflecting Rotary's growing popularity across Europe and Asia. Despite a dip in membership during the depression of the 1930's, there were almost 210,000 Rotarians by 1940. A 2
nd membership decline occurred during the WWII. But the Rotary ideals survived and thrived in the postwar era when people were searching for ways to build international understanding, and many countries were readmitted to membership. From the 1950's through the 1970's, Rotary spread throughout Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean region. Then world events took Rotary to a part of the world where it had not been welcome for many years. Extension throughout Central and Eastern Europe during the 1990's helped Rotary maintain a relatively stable membership at a time when other service clubs were experiencing declines. Today, membership exceeds 1.2 Million with clubs in 166 countries. Rotary's community today truly reaches around the world.
Over the years, the faces of Rotarians have changed to reflect the changes in society around the world; however, the Rotary community still begins with the individual Rotarian. Despite the changing face of Rotary, a key element has remained the same: each Rotarian is a business or professional leader who has accepted the invitation to join a local Club. By joining a Rotary Club, a Rotarian accepts the responsibilities of Club membership.
For example, you are probable aware of the requirement for attendance at weekly meetings. The weekly meetings allow members to enjoy their Club's fellowship and enrich their professional knowledge. The members do have some flexibility in "making up" meetings at another location or even on the Internet. If members miss their Club's meetings, they are encouraged to expand their Rotary horizons by attending make-up meetings at any Rotary Club in the world. This remarkable opportunity give Rotarians a warm welcome in communities around the globe.
Rotary has also been distinguished by its classification based membership. Each Rotarian is loaned a classification based on his or her business category. A Club's membership is encouraged to represent many different classifications. By ensuring that Rotary members reflect a wide variety of businesses, Rotary has maintained diversity in its membership and continues to allow for the inclusive community of business people engaged in a variety of businesses and professions.
The focus on business and classifications has led Rotary to be a leader in business ethics and principles. These business principles include the Object of Rotary which emphasizes:
High ethical standards in business;
Worthiness of all useful occupations;
Each occupation providing an opportunity to serve society.
For the first decades of Rotary's history, the vocational service concept focused on Rotarians' personal contributions in their own workplaces. In 1987, the Vocational Service Committee made vocational service the individual's and club's responsibility within the workplace and the community. In this Centennial Year, volunteers will Celebrate Rotary by continuing to use their vocational skills to help others and set examples of ethical behavior.
The Rotary community begins with this participation of individual Rotarians in Clubs, the key element of Rotary International. A Rotarian cannot participate in Rotary unless he or she belongs to a Club, where the most meaningful work is carried out. More than 31,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide organize their activities around Four Avenues of Service:
Club service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club.
Vocational service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards.
Community service covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community.
International service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary's humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace.
Clubs are grouped into 529 Districts, each led by a District Governor, who is an officer of Rotary International. The District administration, including assistant governors are various committees, guides and supports the clubs.
The Districts around the world are divided into 34 zones. The Zone Institutes allow for the District Governors, current, future, and past, to share Rotary knowledge and fellowship.
The Rotary International Board of Directors is comprised of 19 members, which includes the Rotary International President and President-Elect, meets quarterly to establish policies. Traditionally, the RI President develops a theme and emphasis for the year.
Every year on the 1
st of July, a new president takes office at Rotary International. Since 1910, there have been 94 world presidents starting with founder Paul Harris, the only RI president to serve for 2 years. In the organization's first century, presidents have hailed from 22 countries in every part of the world.
This structure of Rotary provides for the local and international communities to be the center of Rotarian activities. In every corner of the globe, a Rotary project serves a specific need for a community. In addition to the humanitarian and educational programs of The Rotary Foundation, Rotary International has 9 structured programs which can enhance a Club's opportunity to serve around the world.
These programs include;
Interact, an international organization of service clubs for young people of secondary school age. The name was created by combining the words "international" and "action". Today Rotary Clubs provide guidance and inspiration, but the Interact clubs are self-governing and self-supporting.
Rotaract is an international program for young men and women ages 18-30. Rotaract clubs provide an opportunity for young adults to enhance the knowledge and skills that will assist them in personal development, to address the physical and social needs of their communities.
Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) is a training program for leaders and potential leaders between the ages of 14 and 30. RYLA participants attend a seminar, camp, or workshop to discuss leadership skills and to learn those skills through practice. Rotary clubs and Districts select participants and facilitate the event.
Youth Exchange provides young people with the opportunity to meet people from other lands and to experience their cultures by living abroad. The program today involves more than 8,000 students each year.
The Rotary Community Corps program provides non-Rotarians with the organizational tools and technical assistance required to carry out community development projects. Rotary Club sponsorship and encouragement enable Rotary Community Corps to promote self-help projects, develop local leadership abilities, maximize local resources, and use cost efficient technology. Today, there are more than 5,600 corps in 70 counties and geographical regions.
The Rotary Volunteers program provides opportunities for Rotarians and others to offer their services and expertise to local, national, and international projects in need of assistance. Rotary International serves as an information network on volunteers and Rotary sponsored project sites. All contact and arrangements for terms of volunteer service are made directly between the volunteers and project contacts.
The World Community Service program links Rotary clubs needing extra help with community service projects with clubs in other countries that are willing to provide funds, materials, and technical assistance. These humanitarian projects involve Rotarians in 2 or more Rotary countries, one of which contains the site of the project. Each year, Rotary clubs provide MILLIONS of dollars and supplies for these projects.
Rotary Fellowships provide the opportunity for Rotarians sharing common interests to associate with each other. There are recreational, vocational, and issue related Fellowships.
Rotary Friendship Exchange offers Rotarians and their families the opportunity to carry out reciprocal visits, living for a few days in the homes of Rotarian families in other countries. All of these programs share the goal of furthering international fellowship, service, and world understanding and peace.
As we have talked about the basics of Rotary International, I hope that you have taken a sense of pride in Rotary. As we Celebrate Rotary, we need to remember the basics of Rotary which allows this organization to make such a difference around the world.
Now, I can truly appreciate how much Rotary has brought to me and to my family. Our sons and daughters have grown up knowing more about the world, its geography, its people, and its needs. My involvement in Rotary has led to their love of world geography and international travel.
If each Rotary family expands its involvement in Rotary, just imagine the increase in compassion and tolerance, one family at a time. Good luck as you learn more about Rotary this week and prepare for an exciting year ahead when you are committed to SERVICE ABOVE SELF.