What is Rotary?

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Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.

Rotary club membership represents a cross-section of the community’s business and professional men and women. The world’s Rotary clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.

The main objective of Rotary is service in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today’s most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development. The Rotary motto is Service Above Self.

rotary2The Rotary Foundation 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.

Rotary Interact LogOne of the goals of Rotary is to help young people develop their leadership abilities and self-confidence to the fullest. To accomplish that goal, Rotary clubs prepare thousands of young leaders through the RYLA program each year. RYLA was officially adopted by Rotary International in 1971, and is one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service. The RYLA events are organized by a District Committee of Rotarians who are business and professional leaders in the community.

Rotaract_redRotary clubs also sponsor other complementary programs for young people. They include Interact (a service club for secondary school students), Rotaract (a service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30, usually university-based) Youth Exchange (a chance to live and study abroad), and Global Scholarships (for university or post-university study abroad).

Click on the links above to learn about the local Rotary clubs, District 5320 and more about RYLA.

If you would like to learn how to become a member of a local Rotary Club please visit: Rotary International’s Membership Page.