|
| |
   
ABOUT ROTARY
Rotary is an
organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide
humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and
help build goodwill and peace in the world. In more than 160 countries
worldwide, approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 29,000 Rotary
Clubs
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.
Although Rotary clubs develop autonomous service programs, all Rotarians
worldwide are united in a campaign for the global eradication of polio. In the
1980s, Rotarians raised US$240 million to immunize the children of the world; by
2005, Rotary's centenary year and the target date for the certification of a
polio-free world, the PolioPlus program will have contributed US$500 million to
this cause. In addition, Rotary has provided an army of volunteers to promote
and assist at national immunization days in polio-endemic countries around the
world.
The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a non-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.
|
