is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders. Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary International is therefore a fellowship body that embraces a way of life as much as it's set of business principles embodied in its Four Way Test of the things Rotarians think, say or do - which are
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Korean dancers perform at the opening of the House of Friendship at the 2009 RI Convention in Birmingham, England. Rotary Images/Alyce Henson
There are 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. As signified by the motto "Service Above Self", Rotary’s main objective is service in the community and to bring peace and understanding throughout the world. Good fellowship, a greater understanding of the needs of those about us and a network of friends for life is the reward.
John Kenny RI President 2009/10
Within the structure of Rotary International and its central body at Evanston in the USA, exists the body known as Rotary Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health in the world, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty.
The Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians around the world through their clubs and also friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world.
Cheetah Outreach has been supported by Rotary Club of Hout Bay for many years, indicating the variety of projects supported by many Rotary clubs in Africa, ranging from HIV/Aids and healthcare needs to education, from orphanages to wild life causes, from Rotary Exchane students to fire and ambulance services..
Rotary is a grassroots organization, and most of its humanitarian efforts are carried out at the club level. The district and international structure is designed to support the clubs and help them increase service efforts in their communities and abroad. Rotary Club of Hout Bay is part of District 9350, in which geographical area it falls.
The Rotary year begins 1 July. At this time, the new Rl president and a new Rotary Foundation trustee chair begin their one-year terms. This process is echoed right down the structure of Rotary, through district level, to club level where the process of electing a new president, secretary, treasurer and board members in charge of certain aspects of Rotary activity takes place in similar fashion.
All Rotarians and clubs throughout the world use the Rotary International website for reference processes on recommended club procedures, instructions on how to apply for grants from Rotary Foundation, more about what is going on other parts of the Rotary international world and examples of the management processes needed to run clubs well.
Rotary, like most well run organisations, has its own Manual of Procedure, and reference can easily be made to the website on such issues.
Koffie Annan, previously Secretary General of the United Nations, quoted Rotary in his valedictory address as a guiding light to mankind of peace, goodwill and understanding.
If you are interested in becoming a Rotarian or as a club member, wish to know more on a certain aspect of Rotary, a visit to the Rotary International website can be most rewarding.
