Benefits of Rotary
Friendship
Rotary was founded on fellowship, an ideal that remains a major attraction of membership today. Club members enjoy the company of like-minded professionals, and club projects offer additional opportunities to develop enduring friendships. Rotary club members who travel have friendly contacts and access to clubs throughout the world.
Service Opportunities
Club members have many opportunities for humanitarian service. Programmes address international concerns such as health care, hunger, poverty, illiteracy, and the environment as well as issues important to our local community. Rotarians experience the fulfilment that comes from giving something back to the community.
Our international network of clubs also ensures that the help we provide actually gets to where it is needed.
Youth Activities
Rotary sponsors some of the world’s largest youth exchange, educational exchange and scholarship programmes. Rotary clubs provide innovative training opportunities and mentoring for young leaders and involve family members in a wide range of social and service activities.
Networking & Knowledge
A founding principle of Rotary was to meet periodically to enjoy fellowship and enlarge one’s circle of business and professional acquaintances. As the oldest service club in the world, Rotary club members represent a cross-section of the community. Rotarians learn from each others’ experiences, skills and interests. A programme of speakers also helps Rotarians to learn more about a wide range of topics from the serious to the light-hearted.
Rotary also organises a programme of district, national and international conferences.
International Awareness
The global nature of Rotary helps Rotarians and their families to gain an understanding of international issues through service projects and exchange programmes. One of Rotary’s highest objectives is to build goodwill and understanding throughout the world.
Social Activities
Although service is a key objective, Rotarians also enjoy a varied and active social life. Social events include dinner parties, sports events and theatre visits.
Guests at this year’s Charter Night
Diversity of Membership
Rotarians come from a variety of career backgrounds, ages and experience. Rotary clubs are non-political, non religious and open to all cultures, races and creeds.
The Origins of Rotary
The Rotary organisation was established in 1905 by Frank Harris, in Chicago. Since then it has grown to a worldwide organisation with 1.2 million members in more than 31,000 clubs across 167 countries.
