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Frequently Asked Questions |
What is Rotary?
Rotary is the largest service organisation for business and professional people with some 1,180,000 members operating in 163 countries world-wide. In Great Britain and Ireland there are over 59,000 Rotarians in 1,816 clubs helping those in need and working towards world understanding and peace.
Of the many definitions of Rotary, the shortest is perhaps the best. It forms part of the last paragraph of the Movement's official "Object"or purpose, namely: "a world fellowship of business and professional people united in the ideal of service". The principle which underlies a Rotarian's responsibilities is that of service; primarily through the medium of his or her own vocation, but also through the other avenues which their fellowship with people of similar outlook must inevitably disclose.
This is why the unit of organization is the Club. Each Rotary Club is composed, generally speaking, of a single representative from each type of trade or profession within the local community. The Club meets weekly for a meal, and each member is pledged to attend with regularity.
Members also possess the privilege of visiting any other Clubs and are encouraged to do so on convenient occasions, particularly when prevented by some personal emergency from attending their own. This insistence upon attendance throughout the year is of the greatest importance, since it is through the regular presence of its members that a Rotary Club can best develop that fellowship upon which the Movement relies for its impetus.
A Rotary Club is, however, far from being just a "luncheon club", because its fellowship is not an end in itself. Its fellowship is the means through which service is encouraged and achieved: initially in each member's vocation and then, both individually and in co-operation, in communal and international life. By "service in vocation" is meant an acceptance and an implementation of the belief that the manner of earning one's living is also a manner of living one's life. Everyone is entitled to a fair profit from their chosen calling, but Rotary claims that a person is in business also to serve their customers or their clients, their employees, and all with whom he has to deal.
Rotary believes that each tradesman or woman, each professional man and woman, each manufacturer, and each distributor can thus obtain a genuine sense of vocation in their daily work, and will accordingly serve their fellow men and women as unselfishly as they may. "Service" implies an appreciation of the fact that duties are at least as important as rights. It has been described as a willingness to go the extra mile: the price which people should pay for their room on earth. It is, indeed, that eager "good neighbourliness" on which so much of humanity's progress depends.
Rotary makes no pretence to be in itself a philosophy of life. It is, nevertheless, an organization which provides a channel through which a person's urge to serve; an urge which, incidentally, is inherent in all civilized religions and philosophies; can find abundant expression and opportunity. Thus Rotary claims, and has amply proved, that people of all beliefs may come together in mutual harmony within its ranks. It demands of each member only two things. First, that they shall practise, so far as they can, the obligation of "service in vocation" in accordance with their own tenets of religious faith or politics. And second, that they shall in fellowship acknowledge the same sincerity of purpose in all other Rotarians.
What is the Object of Rotary?
The Object of Rotary is:
To encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
1. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
2. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his or her occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
3. The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his or her personal, business and community life.
4. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world-fellowship of business and professional men and women united in the ideal of service.
Can I join a Rotary Club?
Membership of Rotary Clubs is open to any professional man or woman; (see "What is Rotary"); but it is by invitation only; so you cannot apply for membership directly. If you think that Rotary might be right for you, make yourself known to the secretary of a Rotary Club (many can be accessed from the "Links to Other Websites" page)and find out the most likely appropriate club for you. This might be a club near where you live; or near where you work (it may also depend on whether you wish to attend a breakfast, lunchtime or evening club). Obtain the contact details for the secretary of that club and request an initial meeting. If the Rotarians that meet you consider that membership may be mutually beneficial, they will invite you to attend a Club meeting as a guest of the Club, so that you may meet the members and they may meet you. After you have attended three or four meetings; and if it is clear to all that it is appropriate for you to join the club, then the Membership secretary will arrange for a Member to sponsor your application for membership.
(See also "Is membership open to all races, genders and creeds")
Is Rotary a "Secret Society"?
Not at all; but at times it seems like it! Rotary is very open about its work, its objectives (See "Objects") and its proceedings. It does a great deal of fund-raising and other charity work; and normally tries to get this well-publicised in order to attract as much support as possible. Unfortunately, these days, there is tremendous competition for charity funds; and we have no advertising budget to match the professional charities; so we don't get a lot of media coverage!
Is membership open to all races, genders and creeds?
Rotary accepts members regardless of race, religion, gender or creed. The Movement operates within virtually every country of the world, with few exceptions resulting from political or religious oppression. Rotary claims, and has amply proved, that people of all beliefs may come together in mutual harmony within its ranks.
Is Rotary a charity?
Not in itself - Rotary is a Service Organisation. Individual Rotary Clubs, however, are generally registered as Charities in the UK; because they raise money for charity and administer charity funds. In the main, Rotary Clubs support other charities, usually in their own area, but also wider-ranging charities within the UK and overseas. They do this partly by fund-raising; and partly by the efforts of individual Rotarians in service to their fellow men.
Rotary International also incorporates one of the largest and most successful charities in the World - The Rotary Foundation:
The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world.
The Foundation was created in 1917 by Rotary International's sixth president, Arch C. Klumph, as an endowment fund for Rotary "to do good in the world." It has grown from an initial contribution of US$26.50 to more than US$73 million contributed in 2000-01. Its event-filled history is a story of Rotarians learning the value of service to humanity.
The Foundation's Humanitarian Programs fund international Rotary club and district projects to improve the quality of life, providing health care, clean water, food, education, and other essential needs primarily in the developing world. One of the major Humanitarian Programs is PolioPlus, which seeks to eradicate the polio virus worldwide. Through its Educational Programs, the Foundation provides funding for some 1,200 students to study abroad each year. Grants are also awarded to university teachers to teach in developing countries and for exchanges of business and professional people. Former participants in the Foundation's programs have the opportunity to continue their affiliation with Rotary as Foundation Alumni.
For more information on current Foundation program awards and financial status see the Rotary Foundation Fact Card and the Rotary Foundation Annual Report, both of which are available for download from the Rotary Foundation website. (http://www.rotary.com/foundation/index.html)
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