What is Rotary?

 

Rotary is surely one of the most remarkable organisations in the world today.  Paul P Harris founded Rotary International on 23 February 1905 in Chicago USA and there are now over 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide.

 

All Rotary clubs support the same ideals of service to the community, promotion of high ethical standards in business and the professions, and the cultivation of friendship between individuals and between nations.

              

Rotary has a unique system of club membership where people with diverse backgrounds exchange ideas and form meaningful and lifelong friendships. The name “Rotary” derived from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of each member.

 

Each Rotary club seeks to carry out projects of service to the community, whether it is aid to the sick, the under-privileged, the elderly or youth. Our club is very strong in supporting youth, e.g. International Youth Exchange, School debating, National Youth Science Forum, Model United Nations Assembly, Rotary Youth Driver Awareness and so on.

 

In the international field, a club will sponsor business study groups such as Group Study Exchange. It will finance assistance to the people of underdeveloped countries,  and seek to promote international understanding and goodwill.             

 

The badge of a Rotarian is a small cogwheel lapel button and he/she may attend any Rotary club in the world at its weekly dinner meeting and enjoy the hospitality of that club, whatever the country or the language spoken. This is an essential part of Rotary International, a lively, friendly community of people over the last 108 years.