ROTARY INFORMATION

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. There are 1.2 million Rotary members in 34,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary clubs have been serving communities worldwide for more than a century. The first Rotary club was founded in Chicago in 1905.

hat would it take to change the world? Rotary's 1.2 million members believe it

starts with a commitment to Service Above Self.

In more than 34,000 clubs worldwide, you'll find members volunteering in communities at home and abroad to support education and job training, provide clean water, combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, and eradicate polio.

Mission

We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

Get to know The Rotary Foundations Goals

1. priority Eradicate polio, our top

2. Build a sense of ownership of our Foundation among Rotarians through their contributions to the Annual Programs Fund, the Permanent Fund, and our Rotary Peace Centres 3. Continue our progress on the Future Vision plan and align our service projects with the six areas of focus
o o o o o o

Peace and conflict prevention/ resolution Disease prevention and treatment Water and sanitation Maternal and child health Basic education and literacy Economic and community development

Strategic priorities and goals

he revised strategic plan, effective 1 July 2010, identifies three strategic

priorities supported by 16 goals:

Support and Strengthen Clubs

Foster club innovation and flexibility

Encourage strategic planning at club and district levels

Increase collaboration and connection with other organizations

Encourage clubs to participate in a variety of service activities

Focus and Increase Humanitarian Service

Create significant projects both locally and internationally

Eradicate polio Increase sustainable service focused on: -New Generations Service programs -The Rotary Foundation's six areas of focus

Promote membership diversity

Enhance Public Image and Awareness

Improve member recruitment and retention

Unify image and brand awareness Publicize actionoriented service Promote core values

Develop leaders Start new, dynamic clubs

Emphasize vocational service

Encourage clubs to promote their networking

opportunities and signature activities

Support and Strengthen Clubs

Develop club innovation and flexibility Encourage clubs to participate in a variety of service activities Promote membership diversity Improve member recruitment and retention Develop leaders Start new, dynamic clubs Encourage strategic planning at club and district levels Eradicate polio Increase sustainable service focused on: New Generations Service programs The Rotary Foundation's six areas of focus Increase collaboration with other organizations Create significant local and international projects Unify image and brand awareness Publicize action-oriented service Promote core values Emphasize vocational service Encourage clubs to promote their networking opportunities and signature activities

Focus and Increase Humanitarian Service

Enhance Public Image and Awareness

Rotary International works with many leading organizations and educational institutions in carrying out its worldwide humanitarian efforts. Rotary International is a spearheading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative along with:

World Health Organization U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention UNICEF

Rotary International also works with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, donor governments, UNESCO-IHE, several universities, amongst others.

Why join Rotary?

aybe youve seen a need in your own community and wondered how you

could help. Maybe you want to use your professional skills to help others or even learn new skills. Maybe youre seeking connections with other service-minded professionals in your community or abroad.

Whatever your reason, joining Rotary can help you achieve these goals, and so much more. See why these men and women are members of their local Rotary club. Then learn how you can get involved.

Community service

Rotary creates the perfect venue for me to give back to the community I live in while enjoying the camaraderie of positive and active individuals. Tom Brand, Rotary Club of Kenosha West, Wisconsin, USA
Networking

Rotary is a tremendous network. Leaders in the community can connect and reach out to people in need. Russel Honor, Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Leadership skills

A week doesn't go by that I don't learn something new from the speaker at our club or just from working on projects with people. It's an opportunity to grow indefinitely. Stephen Brown, Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle, California, USA
International service

I've become much more internationally focused, and understand that there's so much more I can do as part of a bigger whole than I could ever do on my own. Toni McAndrew, Rotary Club of Mid-Valley (Dickson City), Pennsylvania, USA
Friendship

I found a fellowship where every nation, every color, all of humanity can be like a family. I've got a place where I can serve my people and serve the world. Ailinda Sawe, Rotary Club of Dar-es-Salaam-Mzizima, Tanzania

Family-friendly

For me, Rotary is a way of life one that my husband and I have lived our whole lives. Julia Gereda de Carlin, Rotary Club of Monterrico-Surco, Peru
Opportunities for

young people

There's so much diversity in the work Rotary does. It can give you exposure to so many different areas and help you find what your interests really are. Andrea Tirone, Rotaract Club of University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

A great tool Rotary has is its educational programs. I was an exchange student (Rotary Youth Exchange) in Switzerland in high school. Thats how I got involved and what made me want to give back. Jorge Aguilar, Rotaract Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA

Contact Us

A team of Foundation specialists are here to help you. Specialists answer calls Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.

Call

866-9ROTARY

or

866-976-8279

(U.S. and Canada only)

E-mail: contact.center@rotary.org (currently available in English only)

Visit www.rotary.org to learn how your contribution to Rotary International can make a difference and help eradicate polio. Moreover, read about The Foundation's 90-year history and learn more about researching Rotary. Finally, learn about the significance of PolioPlus as the volunteer arm of the global partnership dedicated to eradicating polio.

Programs of The Rotary Foundation

hrough Rotary Foundation grants and programs, Rotarians and other donors

help change the world. Rotary clubs and districts are providing clean water, improving the environment, sponsoring scholarships, and helping reach Rotary's No. 1 goal, eradicating polio. PolioPlus

Rotarians have mobilized by the hundreds of thousands to eradicate polio. Theyre working to ensure that children are immunized against this crippling disease, despite weak infrastructure, extreme poverty, and civil strife prevailing in many countries. Since the PolioPlus program began in 1985, more than 2 billion children have received the oral polio vaccine.

here's something that all Rotary club members have in common: We take

action. As community volunteers, we reach out to neighbors in need. We build, support, and organize. We save lives. We work locally and globally.

Around the world and around the corner, the 1.2 million men and women of Rotary

Get involved in their communities Connect with other professionals Share their time and experience with young people Support global causes, such as eradicating polio Use their skills to help others

Membership responsibilities

hat Rotarians get out of Rotary depends largely on what they put into it. Many

membership requirements are designed to help club members more fully participate in and enjoy their Rotary experience. Attendance
Attending weekly club meetings allows members to enjoy fellowship, enrich their professional and personal knowledge, and meet other business leaders in their community. If members miss a meeting of their own club, theyre encouraged to expand their Rotary horizons by attending a meeting of any other Rotary club in the world.

Service
By participating in local and international service projects, club members can volunteer their time and talents where theyre most needed. The Avenues of Service are Rotarys philosophical cornerstone and the foundation on which club activity is based:

Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the clubs effective functioning. 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 Rotarys humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace.

New Generations Service recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities, service projects, and exchange programs.

Read more about Rotary fellowship and service.

Finding and keeping members

To keep clubs strong, every Rotarian must share the responsibility of bringing new people into Rotary. Even new members can bring guests to club meetings or invite them to participate in a service project. Keeping members involved in Rotary is another responsibility. Fostering strong fellowship and encouraging early participation in service projects are two of the best ways to sustain a clubs mem bership.

New partnership will bolster rans of experts needed to stem the water and sanitation crisis killing millions in the developing world

Students and Youth

otary's programs for students and youth can change the lives of those who participate. Through

these programs, young people can earn scholarships, travel on cultural exchanges, or help a community through a service project.
Whether you participate in Rotarys long-term or short-term Youth Exchange programs, youll learn a new way of living, a great deal about yourself, and maybe even a new language. Youll also be an ambassador, teaching people you meet about your country, culture, and ideas. You can help bring the world closer and make some good friends in the process.

For over 75 years, students and host families have broadened their horizons through Rotary Youth Exchange. More than 80 countries and over 8,000 students each year participate in the program, which is administered at the regional level by Rotary districts and at the local level by Rotary clubs.
What a wonderful opportunity I was given, from both the Rotary club and my family, to spread my wings, taste the culture, and live the life. U.S. exchange student to Australia

Contribute to Rotary's $200 Million Challenge

Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge is the Rotary Foundation's response to the two grants totaling $355 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help eradicate polio. Every dollar given to PolioPlus will be counted toward the $200 million match, which must be completed by 30 June 2012.

As a Rotarian, there's a vast array of things you can get involved in, fromorganising events and competitions, supporting local charities and developingyoung people, to assisting with disaster relief and even eradicating diseases such as polio worldwide.