Rotary International

Rotary International is a global network of community leaders, with members from Australia to Zambia, dedicated to Paul P. Harris' vision of "Service Above Self". The organization has a rich history, dating back to its founding on February 23, 1905, by Paul P. Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram E. Shorey in Chicago, Illinois. With its headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, Rotary International has grown to become one of the largest and most respected service organizations in the world, with partnerships with United Nations, World Health Organization, and UNICEF. The organization's mission is to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards, and promote international understanding, as exemplified by its involvement in the Helsinki Accords and the Camp David Accords.

● History

The history of Rotary International is closely tied to the lives of its founders, including Paul P. Harris, a Chicago, Illinois lawyer, and his friends Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram E. Shorey. The first Rotary club meeting was held on February 23, 1905, at the Unity Building in Chicago, Illinois, with the goal of promoting fellowship and service among its members, inspired by the principles of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. The organization quickly grew, with the establishment of new clubs in San Francisco, California and New York City, and the first convention was held in Chicago, Illinois in 1910, attended by William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson. Rotary International played a significant role in the development of the Geneva Conventions and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and its members have been involved in numerous international events, including the Olympic Games and the Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China.

● Organization

Rotary International is a decentralized organization, with a global network of over 35,000 clubs in more than 200 countries, including Japan, China, and India. The organization is divided into districts, each led by a District Governor, who is responsible for overseeing the activities of the clubs in their district, in collaboration with UNDP and World Bank. Rotary International has a strong partnership with other organizations, including Lions Clubs International, Kiwanis International, and Soroptimist International, and its members have worked together with Nelson Mandela and Jimmy Carter on various projects. The organization also has a number of programs and initiatives, including Rotaract, Interact, and Rotary Youth Exchange, which provide opportunities for young people to develop their leadership skills and participate in community service, inspired by the examples of Malala Yousafzai and Jane Goodall.

● Membership

Membership in Rotary International is open to individuals from all walks of life, including Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Richard Branson, who share the organization's values and are committed to community service, as exemplified by the work of Mother Teresa and Albert Schweitzer. Members are expected to attend regular meetings, participate in service projects, and contribute to the organization's charitable foundation, in partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Clinton Foundation. Rotary International has a diverse membership, with individuals from a wide range of professions and backgrounds, including Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, and Pope Francis, and its members have been involved in numerous high-profile events, including the G20 summit and the World Economic Forum.

● Service

Rotary International is committed to providing humanitarian service, both locally and internationally, in collaboration with Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and Oxfam. The organization's members have been involved in a wide range of service projects, including disaster relief, healthcare, and education, inspired by the examples of Florence Nightingale and Jonas Salk. Rotary International has also been a leader in the global effort to eradicate polio, working in partnership with WHO, UNICEF, and CDC, and its members have worked together with Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter on various initiatives. The organization's service projects are often carried out in collaboration with other organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Save the Children, and CARE International, and its members have been involved in numerous international events, including the Rio Summit and the Copenhagen Summit.

● Foundation

The Rotary Foundation is the charitable arm of Rotary International, providing funding for a wide range of humanitarian projects and scholarships, in partnership with Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and Carnegie Corporation. The foundation was established in 1917, with a donation of $26.50 from Arch Klumph, and has since grown to become one of the largest and most respected charitable foundations in the world, with support from Warren Buffett, Mark Zuckerberg, and Michael Bloomberg. The foundation provides funding for a wide range of projects, including disaster relief, healthcare, and education, inspired by the examples of Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. The foundation also offers a number of scholarships and awards, including the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship and the Rotary Peace Fellowship, in collaboration with Harvard University, Stanford University, and University of Oxford.

● Governance

Rotary International is governed by a board of directors, which is responsible for setting the organization's policies and overseeing its operations, in collaboration with International Chamber of Commerce and World Trade Organization. The board is composed of representatives from each of the organization's zones, as well as a number of at-large members, including Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon. The organization also has a number of committees and task forces, which are responsible for overseeing specific areas of the organization's work, including Rotary International Convention and Rotary International Assembly. The governance of Rotary International is guided by a set of core values, including integrity, diversity, and community service, inspired by the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.. The organization's governance structure is designed to ensure that the organization remains true to its mission and values, while also being responsive to the needs of its members and the communities it serves, in partnership with European Union, African Union, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations.