What is Rotary?

• • Rotary is one of the largest and most influential international humanitarian service organisations in the world.
  • Rotary’s 1.2 million members worldwide belong to more than 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.
  • As volunteers, Rotary members have been serving the needs of communities worldwide since 1905.
  • Through volunteer service, the women and men of Rotary are able to widen their social circle and to build lasting friendships.
  • Participating in international service projects allows Rotary members to connect with people from around the world and promote cross-cultural understanding.
  • Rotary promotes peace and international understanding through its educational and humanitarian programs.
  • Rotary clubs promote peace by initiating thousands of humanitarian projects every year that address the underlying causes of social instability and conflict — hunger, poverty, disease, and illiteracy.

Some facts you may not know about Rotary:

• The name “Rotary” is derived from the early practice of the rotation of meeting locations.
• Rotary Foundation is the world’s largest private charity
• The first project of the first Rotary club of Chicago was installation of public toilets in the city.
• On 1 August 1912, the Rotary Club of London became the first club chartered outside of North America.
• The first women joined Rotary in 1987. Today, more than 196,000 woman are members of Rotary International.

Read more about Rotary and how you can contribute – Rotary UK and Ireland.