Rotary is a family that unites

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By Rotary International

Wilson in South Africa

Mark Wilson during his Rotary Youth Exchange in South Africa.

By Mark Wilson, Rotary Club of London

After a long flight from London, I arrived in Durban, South Africa, in 2011 to begin a year as a Rotary Youth Exchange student, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Canterbury and hosted by Westville Rotary. I did not know what or who would be greeting me, so I had a bit of anxiety which I can clearly remember to this day.

In hindsight, of course, I had nothing to fear as I stepped off the plane into King Shaka International Airport. What followed was an adventure like nothing I had ever experienced before. Enjoying many opportunities to volunteer made me feel as though I was making a contribution to the world. And taking time to listen to my hosts, I learned a lot about South Africa.

The meaning of kindness

But by far the most memorable part of the trip was the people. Rotary members and their families inspired me, and those interactions had a lasting impact on me. Rotarians showed me the meaning of kindness, generosity, and love. I thank Rotary and the wonderful people in South Africa for giving me first-hand experience of …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

Arch Klumph’s hometown raises over $2 million through centennial celebration

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By Rotary International Rotary members in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, celebrated 100 years of The Rotary Foundation on 23 October with a banquet and a concert by The Cleveland Orchestra that have so far raised more than $2.1 million for the Foundation’s next century of good work.
Arch Klumph, a Cleveland Rotarian, planted the seed for The Rotary Foundation in 1917, with his idea of having an endowment fund dedicated to “doing good in the world.” Today’s District 6630 leaders thought that a concert was a fitting way to honor Klumph and mark the centennial because of Klumph’s love of music. Klumph performed in several… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

Pedaling for polio in three countries

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By Rotary International

Dave Stumpf and Christian Pepera during a training ride at the Wisconsin border.

Dave Stumpf and Christian Pepera during a training ride at the Wisconsin border.

By Christian Pepera, Rotary staff

In true Rotary fashion, my training for the Miles to End Polio ride has been an international affair. During the last three months, I have logged more than 700 miles. By the time we reach Tucson, I will have pedaled my way through five U.S. states (Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin), along the shores of two Great Lakes (Michigan and Ontario) and in three countries (Canada, Spain, and the US).

Along the way I have benefited from a tremendous Rotary support network that keeps me moving toward the finish line.

The Rotary Niagra Bridge on the Welland Canal trail in Ontario, Canada.

The support can be physical, like the Rotary Niagra Bridge that I crossed during a training ride on the Welland Canal trail in Ontario, Canada. But more often than not, that support is mental or emotional and comes in the form of words of encouragement from Rotarians or the camaraderie of a group training ride with fellow staff riders.

Each time I cycle passed a Rotary sign or receive a contribution toward my fundraising goal, I gain a little extra momentum and I’m reminded why …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

Rotary's World Polio Day event continues to grow

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By Rotary International Participation in this year’s World Polio Day live-streamed event continued the growth registered since it began in 2014.
Rotary, the world’s leading advocacy organization on polio eradication, held this year’s program on 24 October at the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The event brought some of the biggest names in the campaign together to highlight the progress that has been made and to discuss what further action is needed to end the disease for good.
Here is a summary of this year’s World Polio Day event, by the numbers:… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

It’s not “your” project

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By Rotary International

Community discussion

Discussing an economic and community development project in Uganda

By Dr. Francis “Tusu” Tusubira, a member of the Rotary Club of Kampala-North, Uganda

How many times do we hear Rotary members say, “we have our project in Kireberebe Kisunkaana?”

Let us get one thing right when dealing with economic and community development. And I will call this lesson one: it is not YOUR project.

It is a community project that you are supporting. Along these lines, I thought sharing a few experiential lessons is not a bad idea.

Lesson two: A community where disease is a challenge will lose so much time being sick that they cannot focus usefully on any other initiative that will help them develop. You cannot address economic and community development if you have not addressed basic health.

Lesson three: A community that does not have clean water, and which does not understand the relationship between “dirty water” and disease will have resultant health challenges: diarrhea, eye diseases, cholera, etc. You might as well have a comprehensive Water, Health, and Sanitation component as part of your project.

Lesson four: We all know that illiteracy can be a major barrier, if not a full block, to any efforts related to development. This really means …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

Rotary Foundation named World's Outstanding Foundation for 2016

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By Rotary International The Association of Fundraising Professionals has recognized The Rotary Foundation with its annual Award for Outstanding Foundation.
The award honors organizations that show philanthropic commitment and leadership through financial support, innovation, encouragement of others, and involvement in public affairs. Some of the boldest names in American giving — Kellogg, Komen, and MacArthur, among others —are past honorees.
“We are honored to receive this recognition from the AFP, which gives us even more reason to celebrate during our Foundation’s centennial year,” says Rotary Foundation Trustee… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

Rotary-UN celebration mixes business with diplomacy

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By Rotary International Outside the United Nations building in midtown Manhattan stands an imposing sculpture of a man wielding a sword in one hand and raising a hammer with the other. It reflects a shared goal that Rotary and the United Nations celebrated at the organizations’ annual meeting on Saturday, 12 November: to use our strengths and tools to build a more peaceful and just world.
The theme of this year’s Rotary Day at the United Nations, “Responsible Business, Resilient Societies,” emphasizes Rotary’s role as a global network of business leaders using the tools of their trades to build stronger, more… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

Rotary-UN celebration mixes business with diplomacy

by Leave a Comment

By Rotary International Outside the United Nations building in midtown Manhattan stands an imposing sculpture of a man wielding a sword in one hand and raising a hammer with the other. It reflects a shared goal that Rotary and the United Nations celebrated at the organizations’ annual meeting on Saturday, 12 November: to use our strengths and tools to build a more peaceful and just world.
The theme of this year’s Rotary Day at the United Nations, “Responsible Business, Resilient Societies,” emphasizes Rotary’s role as a global network of business leaders using the tools of their trades to build stronger, more… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

Join us in supporting Miles to End Polio

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By Rotary International Your district could earn a visit from Rotary International President-elect Ian H.S. Riseley by contributing District Designated Funds (DDFs) to support the Miles to End Polio fundraising goal.
On 19 November, Rotary General Secretary John Hewko and a team of Rotary staff will join Rotary members to bike up to 104 miles in El Tour de Tucson, an annual bicycle race in Arizona, USA, to raise funds for PolioPlus. The team’s goal is $3.5 million, which will be tripled by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for a total of more than $10 million.
Last year, Rotary members in Tucson along with… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org