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.

Rotary in action

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