What is Rotary?
The Rotary movement was founded by Paul Harris in 1905 in Chicago and the world headquarters are now in Evanston, Illinois, USA.
The Secretariat of Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland is at Kinwarton Road, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 6BP and more detailed information is readily available from that address or via their website.
Rotary is a service organisation of business and professional leaders, united worldwide, who help those in need, encourage high ethical standards and work towards world understanding and peace.
The Objectives of Rotary are
to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
- the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
- high ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
- the application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his personal, business and community life;
- the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
A Place in Society
Rotary International comprises around one million two hundred thousand service-minded men and women belonging to over 32,000 Rotary Clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas throughout the world. For them, the belief that "service above self" is fundamental and therefore membership of Rotary Clubs is by invitation.
Rotarians meet weekly to enjoy each other's fellowship and discuss ways to serve others.
Rotary provides help for the underprivileged, the sick and the disabled, who benefit from over 50,000 Rotary club service projects in the world each year.
Rotary runs the biggest non-government scholarship scheme in the world.
The Rotary Foundation is the movement's charity, giving around £115 million (USD 167m) in Rotary year 2008/9 to educational and humanitarian programmes which promote international understanding.
