Rotary FactsRotary FactsRotary International, a worldwide organization of
business and professional clubs, dedicated to high vocational
standards, community service, and international understanding. To
foster fellowship through diversity of interests, a Rotary club
is composed of one representative of each business and profession
in a community.
Established in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, it now has its
headquarters in Evanston, Illinois. Rotary is the oldest service
club organization in the world; in 1922 the name became Rotary
International as clubs were organized in other countries.
Rotary International is comprised of more than 1.1 million men and women in nearly 27,000 Rotary clubs in 149 countries and 39 geographical regions. Membership is by invitation, and clubs determine their own service activities. Currently the organization is encouraging clubs to focus community activities on fighting hunger, illiteracy, and drug abuse, and helping the elderly and the environment. Clubs also may participate in the international programmes of the Rotary Foundation, which administers privately funded scholarships and grants in order to accomplish large-scale, international humanitarian projects as well as smaller projects that are sponsored and partially funded by Rotary clubs or districts in two or more countries. Rotary International's PolioPlus programme, in cooperation with the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), funds vaccine purchases and social mobilization activities in order to help eradicate polio worldwide by the year 2000. The organization also publishes an official periodical, The Rotarian in English and Revista Rotaria in Spanish.
Reviewed by: Rotary International
