Founded by Paul Harris in Chicago on Feb 23rd 1905, 100 years ago this year, Rotary offers
you an opportunity to:
- Serve your
community
- Make new
friendships, here and abroad
- Develop and
use your skills in new ways while assisting others
- Learn more
about your community and the world at large
- Have fun!
Rotary is a worldwide organisation of people
that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical
standards in all vocations, and helps to build goodwill and peace in
the world.
At present there are approximately 1.2
million Rotarians belonging to more than 31,000 Rotary clubs located
in 166 countries. Membership of the Rotary club represent a cross
section of the community's business and professional men and women.
The Clubs meet weekly and are non-political, non-religious and open
to all cultures, races and creeds.
The main object of Rotary is service - in
the community, in the workplace and throughout the world. Rotarians
develop community service projects that address many of todays' most
critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the
environment, literacy and violence. They also support programs for
youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for
students, teachers and other professionals. The Rotary motto is Service
above Self.
Although Rotary clubs develop their own
service programs, all Rotarians worldwide are united in a campaign
for the global eradication of polio. In the 1980's Rotarians raised
US$240 million to immunize the children of the world. By 2005,
Rotary's centenary year and the target date for the certification of
a polio-free world, the PolioPlus program will have contributed
US$500 million to this cause.
The Rotary Foundation of Rotary
International is a not-for-profit corporation that promotes world
understanding through international humanitarian service programs
and educational and cultural exchanges. It is supported solely by
voluntary contributions from Rotarians and others who share its
vision of a better world. Since 1947, the Foundation has awarded
more than US$1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants,
which are initiated and administered by local Rotary clubs and
districts.
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