What is Rotary? An organization of business and professional persons united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world. The world’s first service club which was founded in Chicago in 1905. Rotary celebrated its Centennial Year in 2004-05. 31,603 clubs with 1,211,723 members in 529 districts located i
n 166 countries. The Rotary Foundation, which each year provides some $60 million for international scholarships, cultural exchanges, and humanitarian projects large and small that improve the quality of life for millions of people. PolioPlus, Rotary’s commitment to eradicate polio in the world by the year 2005. Nearly two billion children in developing nations have been immunized against polio. More than 150 countries are now declared polio free. By the year 2005, Rotary will have contributed an estimated $500 million to eradicate this crippling disease. Planning and carrying out a remarkable variety of humanitarian, educational and cultural exchange programs that touch people’s lives in their local communities and our world community. Membership is by invitation and is based upon a vocational classification. Attendance at meetings is a basic obligation and a member may make up a meeting at any Rotary Club in the world. Rotary is not a political organization, but all Rotarians are vitally concerned with everything pertaining to good citizenship and the election of good men and women to public office. Rotary is not a charitable organization, yet its activities exemplify the charity and the sacrifices that one should expect from people who believe that they have a responsibility to help others. Rotary is not a religious organization, but it is built on those eternal principles that have served as the moral compass for people throughout the ages. Who Can Be a Rotarian? Any business man or woman who owns his or her own business or is in a position of management with a company. Professional men and women are also welcomed as members. A retired person who held a qualifying position when working would be eligible as a “Past Service” member.