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Rotary International
Rotary is
short for Rotary International – a world wide association of local clubs for
men and women in business or the professions who:-
·
Provide
humanitarian service to the community at local, national and international
level
·
Encourage high ethical standards in all vocations
·
Work for
goodwill and peace in the world
Rotary was
founded in 1905 by Paul Harris and now has over 1.2 million members in more
than 30,000 clubs in 166 countries and 530 Rotary Districts. There are 1835
clubs in Great Britain and Ireland with 58,000 members.
The Rotary Club and Membership
Each club operates independently within a common constitution. Membership,
drawn from the business and professional community, is by invitation. To
ensure the club represents the community there are limitations on membership
from each profession or type of business.
Meetings
Meetings are held weekly and Rotarians must attend at least 60% to remain as
members. Clubs meet for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Business often includes
a talk on a subject of general interest by an outside speaker. Every
Rotarian has the right to attend the meeting of any other club, and
Rotarians may invite non-Rotarian guests to their own club meetings. Weekly
meetings promote acquaintance and fellowship. Through this fellowship
Rotarians find the inspiration to serve the community.
Service to the community requires Rotarians to devote their time, energy and
professional skills to particular projects. Although funds are often raised
for charity, this is not a Rotary club's first aim. The emphasis is on
personal service.
"Service Above Self" is Rotary's motto
Service
Community service is the traditional and
well-known face of Rotary. It covers help and advice to the aged, the
handicapped, the infirm, young people and all those in need, either directly
or through local charitable organisations. Environmental projects are part
of community service.
As jobs are key elements in determining Rotary membership, vocational
service draws on the ethical standards, experience and expertise that
Rotarians apply in their work. Vocational projects support training and job
development, provide mock interviews, encourage the development of skills in
employment and foster the highest standards in business and the professions.
International service promotes world-wide goodwill. It includes emergency
boxes, eye camps, vocational training schools, text books, tools, water
filtration units and many other items for areas of need. Rotarians of
different race, creed and custom, when brought together in fellowship, play
an important part in breaking down prejudice and developing true
international understanding. Many Rotarians volunteer their free time to
projects in third world countries to bridge the gap of world understanding.
The
Rotary Foundation
The Rotary Foundation, Rotary's corporate charity, is dedicated to
furthering international understanding, goodwill and peace. The Foundation
administers the 3-H fund which seeks to alleviate the problems of the
disadvantaged throughout the world under the headings of Health, Hunger and
Humanity. The projects supported under this programme are usually beyond the
capability of a single club or group of clubs to support.
The Foundation's most ambitious project so far has been PolioPlus, a
campaign to help the World Health Organisation and UNICEF immunise the
world's children against polio. More than one billion children worldwide
have been immunised since 1885. Rotary’s financial commitment has reached a
half billion US dollars. Of equal significance is the huge volunteer army
mobilized by Rotary International for social mobilization, vaccine transport
and immunization activities. The Foundation also provides grants and
educational scholarships for young people, but not Rotarians or their close
relatives, to visit and study in other countries.
Rotaract and Interact
Rotary International has 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, a combination of the words international and action, is for young
people between 14 and 18. Rotaract, a contraction of Rotary Action, is for
men and women between 18 and 30.
These clubs serve the community. Through fellowship they run a range of
local, national and international service projects with the energy and
enthusiasm of youth.
Rotary International and RIBI
Rotary International in Great Britain and
Ireland (RIBI), with its own governing body and constitution, is a
territorial unit of Rotary International, the association of Rotary clubs
worldwide. It administers 29 Rotary districts in England, Scotland, Wales,
Northern Ireland and the Republic of
Ireland. The Rotary ideal of fellowship and international understanding is
exemplified by the fact that a single Rotary district covers the whole of
Ireland. This district, with its
single organisation, is a working model of the Rotary spirit in action.
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