Still More Rotary Firsts

• Rotary first presented Significant Achievement Awards in 1969 to clubs with outstanding international or community service projects.

• Rotary’s first Interact club was organized in Melbourne, Florida, USA, in 1962 to become the pioneer for about 8,600 Interact clubs in 110 countries.

• Rotary’s first convention held in the Southern Hemisphere was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1948.

• Rotary’s first community service project took place in 1907 when Chicago Rotarians led a campaign to install a public “comfort station” in the city hall.

• The first year The Rotary Foundation received total contributions of a million dollars in a single year was 1964-65. Today, more than US$70 million is given annually. Contributions since 1917 total more than $1.3 billion.

• Rotary’s first appeal for aid to disaster victims was in 1913 when $25,000 was given for flood relief in Ohio and Indiana, USA.

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RI’s General Secretary

The day-to-day operations of Rotary International’s Secretariat are under the supervision of the general secretary, the top professional officer of Rotary. Although the general secretary is responsible to the RI Board of Directors and president, he provides the ongoing management for about 600 staff members who comprise the Secretariat of Rotary International.

The general secretary serves as secretary to the RI Board and is also the chief executive and financial officer of The Rotary Foundation, under the supervision of the Trustees of the Foundation. He is the secretary of all Rotary committees as well as the Council on Legislation, regional conferences, and the annual RI Convention.

The general secretary is appointed by the RI Board for a term of not more than three years, which may be renewed by the Board. Since 1910, 10 men have served in that position. Chesley Perry, the original general secretary, served from 1910 to 1942. Others who followed were Phil Lovejoy (1942-52), George Means (1953-72), Harry Stewart (1972-78), Herb Pigman (1979-86 and 1993-95), Philip Lindsey (1986-90), Spencer Robinson Jr. (1990-93), Geoffrey Large (1995-97), and S. Aaron Hyatt (1997-2000). Ed Futa was appointed in 2000.

Throughout the history of Rotary, the personal influence and administrative skills of our general secretaries have significantly shaped the course of Rotary programs and activities.

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Selecting a President

Each year, a distinguished Rotarian is selected as the worldwide president of Rotary International. The process begins one year in advance when a 17-person nominating committee is elected from separate zones of the world. To qualify for the nominating committee, a Rotarian must have served on the RI Board of Directors. If there is no past director able to serve from the zone, a past trustee of The Rotary Foundation or a past governor who has served on an RI committee may be appointed to the nominating committee.

The nominating committee may consider all former RI directors for the presidential candidate. Members of the nominating committee and current directors are not eligible. Any Rotary club may suggest the name of a former RI director to the committee for consideration.

The committee convenes in September to select the Rotarian to be the presidential nominee, whose name is announced to all clubs. Any Rotary club may make an additional nomination before 1 December, which must then be endorsed by one percent of all the Rotary clubs of the world (about 300). If such an event occurs, an election is held by mail ballot. If no additional nomination is presented by the clubs, the person selected by the nominating committee is declared to be the president-nominee. From that point on, that special Rotarian and spouse will spend more than a year in preparation and then a year serving the Rotarians of the world as the international president.

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Annual Rotary Themes

In 1955, RI President A.Z. Baker announced a theme, Develop Our Resources, to serve as Rotary’s program of emphasis. Since that time, each president has issued a theme for his Rotary year. The shortest theme was in 196 1-62 when Joseph Abey selected Act. Other one-word themes were chosen in 1957-58 by Charles Tennent (Serve) and 1968-69 by Kiyoshi Togasaki (Participate).

Carl Miller, in 1963-64, proposed a theme for the times, Guidelines for Rotary in the Space Age. Other “timely” themes were in 1980-81 when Rolf Klarich created Take Time to Serve and William Carter in 1973-74 used Time for Action. Two themes have a similarity to commercial advertising: A Better World Through Rotary (Richard Evans, 1966-67) and Reach Out (Clem Renouf, 1978-79). Bridges have been a striking metaphor. Harold Thomas, 1959-60, urged Rotarians to Build Bridges of Friendship; William Walk, 1970-71, created Bridge the Gap; and Hiroji Mukasa, 1982-83, declared Mankind is One — Build Bridges of Friendship Throughout the World.

A worldwide focus was given by Stanley McCaffrey in 1981-82 with the message, World Understanding and Peace Through Rotary, and again in 1984-85 by Carlos Canseco who urged Rotarians to Discover a New World of Service. In other years, the individual was emphasized, as You Are Rotary (Edd McLaughlin, 1960-61), Goodwill Begins With You (Ernst Breitholtz, 1971-72) and You Are the Key (Edward Cadman, 1985-86). Frequently, the theme urges Rotarians to become more involved in their club, such as Share Rotary — Serve People (William Skelton, 1983-84) or Make Your Rotary Membership Effective (Luther Hodges, 1967-68). But whether you Review and Renew, Take a New Look, Let Service Light the Way or Dignify the Human Being, it is clear that the RI president provides Rotarians with an important annual program of emphasis.

In 1986-87, President M.A.T. Caparas selected the inspiring message that Rotary Brings Hope. Charles Keller in 1987-88 saw Rotarians — United in Service, Dedicated to Peace, while Royce Abbey asked his fellow members in 1988-89 to Put Life into Rotary — Your Life. Hugh Archer (1989-90) urged us to Enjoy Rotary! and Paulo Costa (1990-91) asked that we Honor Rotary with Faith and Enthusiasm. Rajendra Saboo (199 1-92) exhorted every Rotarian to Look Beyond Yourself

In 1992-93, Clifford Dochterman reminded Rotarians, Real Happiness Is Helping Others, and in 1993-94, Robert Barth counseled Rotarians, Believe In What You Do and Do What You Believe In. In 1994-95, Bill Huntley encouraged Rotarians to Be A Friend to their communities. During 1995-96, Herbert Brown asked Rotarians to Act with Integrity, Serve with Love, Work for Peace. In 1996-97, Luis Giay called on Rotarians to Build the Future with Action and Vision. Glen Kinross in 1997-98 pro­posed the plan to Show Rotary Cares, and James Lacy asked Rotarians to Follow Your Rotary Dream in 1998-99. In 1999-2000, Carlo Ravizza proposed the theme Rotary 2000: Act With Consistency, Credibility, Continuity. The next year, Frank Devlyn asked Rotarians to Create Awareness and Take Action, and in 2001-02, Richard King reminded Rotarians that Mankind Is Our Business. For 2002-03, Bhichai Rattakul encouraged Rotarians to Sow the Seeds of Love.

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Campaigning Prohibited

One of the interesting bylaws of Rotary International provides that “no Rotarian shall campaign, canvass, or electioneer for elective position in Rotary International.” This provision includes the office of district governor, Rotary International director, RI president, and various elected committees. The Rotary policy prohibits the circulation of brochures, literature, or letters by a candidate or by anyone on behalf of such a candidate.

After a Rotarian has indicated an intention to be a candidate for one of the elective Rotary offices, he or she must refrain from speaking engagements, appearances, or publicity that could reasonably be construed as furthering his or her candidacy. The only information that may be sent to clubs relating to candidates for an elective position is that which is officially distributed by the general secretary of RI.

A Rotarian who becomes a candidate for an elective position, such as district governor or RI director, must avoid any action that would be interpreted as giving him or her an unfair advantage over other candidates. Failure to comply with these provisions prohibiting campaigning could result in the disqualification of the candidate.

In Rotary, it is believed that a Rotarian~s record of service and qualifications for office stand on their own and do not require publicity or special promotion.

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The Rotary Foundation’s Beginning

 Some magnificent projects grow from very small seeds. The Rotary Foundation had that sort of modest beginning.

In 1917, RI President Arch Klumph told the delegates to the Atlanta convention that “it seems eminently proper that we should accept endowments for the purpose of doing good in the world.” The response was polite and favorable, but the fund was slow to materialize. A year later, the Rotary Endowment Fund, as it was originally labeled, received its first contribution of US$26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri, USA, which was the balance of the Kansas City convention account following the 1918 annual meeting. Additional small amounts were contributed each year, but after six years the endowment fund had reached only $700.A decade later, The Rotary Foundation was formally established at the 1928 Minneapolis convention.

 In the next four years, the Foundation fund grew to $50,000. In 1937, a $2 million goal was announced for The Rotary Foundation, but these plans were cut short and abandoned with the outbreak of World War II. In 1947, upon the death of Paul Harris, a new era opened for The Rotary Foundation as memorial gifts poured in to honor the founder of Rotary. From that time, The Rotary Foundation has been achieving its noble objective of furthering “understanding and friendly relations between peoples of different nations.” By 1954, the Foundation received for the first time a half million dollars in contribu­tions in a single year, and in 1965 a million dollars was received.

It is staggering to imagine that from those humble beginnings, The Rotary Foundation is now receiving more than $65 million each year for educational and humanitarian work around the world.

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The Permanent Fund of The Rotary Foundation

It was Arch Klumph, father of The Rotary Foundation, who said, “We should look at the Foundation as being not something of today or tomorrow, but think of it in terms of the years and generations to come.” That’s why the Foundation’s Permanent Fund is considered the most important way to ensure the future of Rotary’s educational and humanitarian programs. Contributions to this fund, formerly called the Endowment for World Understanding and Peace, are invested for the future. Only earnings from their investment are used to support Foundation programs. Ultimately, it is intended that the Permanent Fund will provide a steady and secure supplement to Foundation support, always guaranteeing a minimum level of program activity and allowing for the possibility of new and expanded programs in the future.

The Foundation gives special recognition to donors to the Permanent Fund as Major Donors, Bequest Society Members, and Benefactors. Major Donors make gifts of US$10,000 or more; Bequest Society Members include the Permanent Fund in their estate plans for $10,000 or more; and Foundation Benefactors make provisions in their will or make an outright contribution of $1,000 to the fund. These individuals are ensuring that The Rotary Foundation will remain a powerful force for good in the world far into the future.

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Ambassadorial Scholarships

The Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships program is the world’s largest privately funded international scholarships program. In 1947, 18 “Rotary Fellows” from 11 countries were selected to serve as ambassadors of goodwill while studying in another country for one academic year. Since that time, approximately US$413 million has been expended on some 34,000 scholarships for people from some 110 countries, studying in 105 countries around the world.

The purpose of the scholarships program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. Scholars are expect­ed to be outstanding ambassadors of goodwill to the people of the host country through both informal and formal appearances before Rotary and non-Rotary groups. Each scholar is assigned a host Rotarian counselor to facilitate involvement in Rotary and integration into the host culture.

Since 1994-95, The Rotary Foundation has offered two new types of scholarships in addition to the Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships. The Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship is awarded for two years of specific degree-oriented study abroad. The Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarship provides funding for three or six months of intensive language study and cultural immersion in another country.

In addition to being an investment in the education of tomorrow’s leaders, Rotary Foundation scholarships create personal links between countries and are an important step toward greater understanding and goodwill in the world.

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Rotary World Peace Scholarships

In 1999, The Rotary Foundation launched the Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution, a partnership with eight leading universities around the world to provide advanced educational opportunities for a group of Rotary World Peace Scholars chosen from various countries and cultures. Each year, 70 scholars are selected to begin two-year master’s-level degree or certificate programs in conflict resolution, peace studies, and international relations. Each Rotary district may nominate one candidate for a world-competitive selection process every year. The first World Peace Scholars began their studies in the 2002-03 academic year.

The Rotary Centers will provide future leaders with opportunities to study the root causes of conflict, theories of international relations, and effective models of cooperation. Beyond academics, Rotary Scholars will gain practical tools in conflict resolution for use in their chosen careers. The Rotary Centers will also help to advance research, teaching, and publication on issues related to conflict resolution and world understanding.

The Rotary Centers for International Studies mark an exciting new chapter in Rotary’s mission to help achieve world understanding and peace. It is envisioned that Rotary World Peace Scholars will contribute significantly to the world commu­nity in a variety of ways working for international agencies such as the United Nations or for governments as diplomats, foreign service officers, economists, or policy analysts.

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Group Study Exchange

One of the most popular programs of The Rotary Foundation is Group Study Exchange. Since the first exchange between districts in California and Japan in 1965, the program has provided educational experiences for more than 44,500 business and professional men and women who have served on about 9,000 teams.

The GSE program pairs Rotary districts to send and receive study teams. Since 1965, almost US$79.5 million has been allocated by The Rotary Foundation for Group Study Exchange grants. One of the attractive features of GSE is the opportunity for the visiting team members to meet, talk, and live with Rotarians and their families in a warm spirit of friendship and hospitality. In addition to learning about another country through visits to farms, schools, industrial plants, professional offices, and governmental establishments, the GSE team members serve as ambassadors of goodwill. They interpret their home nation to host Rotarians and others in the communities they visit. In recent years, teams of a single vocation or cultural group have been exchanged. Some GSE teams help create humanitarian projects between their countries. Many of the personal contacts blossom into lasting friendships.

Truly, the Group Study Exchange program has provided Rotarians with a most enjoyable, practical, and meaningful way to promote world understanding.

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Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grants

In 1978, Rotary launched its most comprehensive humanitarian service activity with the Health, Hunger and Humanity Grants program. The 3-H Grants program is designed to undertake large-scale service projects beyond the capacity of individ­ual Rotary clubs or groups of clubs.

Since 1978, more than 320 different 3-H projects had been approved and undertaken in 74 different countries, with an appropriation at more than US$85 million. The objective of these projects is to improve health, alleviate hunger, and enhance human, cultural, and social development among peoples of the world. The ultimate goal is to advance international understanding, goodwill, and peace.

The first 3-H project was the immunization of six million children in the Philippines against polio. This was the birth of what we now know as the PolioPlus program. As 3-H progressed, new programs were added to help people in develop­ing areas of the world. Now, in addition to the mass polio immunization of more than two billion children in various countries, 3-H has promoted nutrition pro­grams, vocational education, food production enhancement, polio victim rehabilitation, and other activities that benefit large numbers of people in developing countries. AU 3-H projects are supported by the voluntary contributions of Rotarians through The Rotary Foundation.

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Matching Grants

Among the programs of The Rotary Foundation are the Matching Grants that assist Rotary clubs and districts in conducting international service projects. Since 1965, more than 16,000 grants have been awarded for projects in about 191 coun­tries, totaling more than US$165 million.

A club or district must contribute an amount at least as large as that requested from The Rotary Foundation with at least half the funds that the Foundation will match coming from a country outside of the country where the project will take place. Grants have been made to improve hospitals, develop school programs, drill water wells, assist the disabled or persons requiring special medical attention, provide resources for orphanages, create sanitation facilities, distribute food and med­ical supplies, and carry out many other forms of international community service in needy areas of the world. Some grants are for projects in the magnitude of from US$15,000 to US$50,000, but most are in the range of US$5,000 to US$10,000.

Matching Grants are not approved to purchase land or construct buildings, except for low-cost shelters for underprivileged families, and they may not be used for programs already underway or completed. Personal participation by Rotarians is required and the benefits should extend beyond the recipients.

The Matching Grants program is a very significant part of The Rotary Foundation and provides an important incentive for clubs to undertake worthwhile international service projects in another part of the world. They certainly foster goodwill and understanding, which is in keeping with the objectives of The Rotary Foundation.

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Individual and District Simplified Grants

In 2002, The Rotary Foundation Trustees simplified the Humanitarian Grants structure and replaced some of the grants programs with Individual Grants and District Simplified Grants.

Individual Grants, which replaced Rotary Volunteers and Discovery grants, support the travel of individual Rotarians planning or implementing service projects abroad. Volunteers must serve in a country other than their own at the invitation of the host Rotary club.

District Simplified Grants serve the same needs as Helping Grants, Humanitarian Transportation Grants, Community Assistance Program Awards, and New Opportunity Grants, all of which were phased out on 1 January 2003. These grants, which support the service activities or humanitarian endeavors of districts, are funded by the District Designated Funds (DDF) of the participating district.

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Polio Plus

PolioPlus is Rotary’s massive effort to eradicate poliomyelitis from the world by 2005. It was launched in 1985 with the goal of raising US$120 million to immunize the developing world’s children against polio for five years. The PolioPlus fundraising campaign that concluded in 1988 raised a record $247 million, and by 2005, Rotarians’ contributions to the global polio-eradication effort will exceed $500 million. Of equal significance has been the huge volunteer army mobilized by Rotary International. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers at the local level are providing support during National Immunization Days and mobilizing their communities for immunization and other polio-eradication activities.

In 1988, Rotary joined the World Health Organization in committing itself to the eradication of polio by 2005, Rotary’s 100th anniversary. Rotary works with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), national governments, and others, making this effort the world’s most extensive public/private health undertaking. As a result of the efforts of Rotary International and its partners, almost two billion children have received oral polio vaccine and are protected from poliomyelitis. WHO declared the Americas to be polio-free in 1994, the Western Pacific region in 2000, and the region of Europe in 2002.

As of 2002, the number of polio cases had been reduced by 99 percent since 1985. Efforts are focused on eradicating the virus in the 10 remaining polio-endemic countries — all in Africa and South Asia.

Achieving eradication will be difficult (only one other disease, smallpox, has ever been eradicated) and expensive (estimated total cost is nearly $3 billion). It requires polio-endemic, high-risk, and recently endemic countries to carry out National Immunization Days to immunize all children under the age of five, continuing rou­tine immunization of children worldwide, systematic reporting of all suspected cases, rapid response to outbreaks, and establishment of laboratory networks.

In 2002, a $275 million funding gap was identified as the most significant obstacle to global eradication. To help fill that gap, Rotary launched a new polio eradication fundraising campaign called Fulfilling Our Promise: Eradicate Polio, which seeks to raise $80 million during the 2002-03 year.

No other nongovernmental organization has ever made a commitment of the scale of PolioPlus. It may be considered the greatest humanitarian service the world has ever seen. Every Rotarian can share the pride of that achievement.

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Paul Harris Fellows

Undoubtedly, the most important step to promote voluntary giving to The Rotary Foundation occurred in 1957, when the idea of Paul Harris Fellow Recognition was first proposed. Although the concept of making US$1,000 gifts to the Foundation was slow in developing, by the early 1 970s it began to gain popularity. The distinctive Paul Harris Fellow medallion, lapel pin, and attractive certificate have become highly respected symbols of a substantial financial commitment to The Rotary Foundation by Rotarians and friends around the world. By 2002, some 813,000 Paul Harris Fellows had been added to the rolls of The Rotary Foundation.

The companion to the Paul Harris Fellow is the Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member, which is the recognition presented to an individual who has given, or in whose honor a gift is made, a contribution of $100, with the stated intention of making additional contributions until $1,000 is reached. At that time, the Sustaining Member becomes a Paul Harris Fellow.

A special recognition pin is given to Paul Harris Fellows who make additional gifts of $1,000 to the Foundation. The distinctive gold pin includes a blue stone to represent each $1,000 contribution — from $2,000 to $6,000. Red stone pins signify gifts of $7,000 to $9,000. Paul Harris Fellow Recognition provides a very important incen­tive for the continuing support needed to underwrite the many programs of The Rotary Foundation that build goodwill and understanding in the world.

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Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award

Two very special awards of recognition occasionally are presented by the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation to Rotarians who render outstanding service to the Foundation. The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service recognizes significant and dedicated service by a Rotarian to promote Foundation programs and thus advance the Foundation’s goal of better understanding and friendly relations among people of the world.

The second award, called The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award, is presented to a Rotarian whose outstanding record of service to The Rotary Foundation is on a much broader basis and spreads beyond the district level and continues over an extended period of time. The Distinguished Service Award acknowledges the efforts of a Rotarian who has already received the Citation of Meritorious Service, for continuing to promote international understanding.

Both of these select awards are presented for exemplary personal service and devotion to the Foundation rather than for financial contributions. No more than 50 Distinguished Service Awards are granted by the Trustees in any one year, and there is only one recipient of a Citation for Meritorious Service in any district each year. A recipient of the Citation for Meritorious Service is not eligible for nomina­tion for a Distinguished Service Award until four full years have elapsed.

It is a very proud distinction for any Rotarian to be selected for one of these high levels of recognition by The Rotary Foundation Trustees.

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Public Relations of Rotary

Historically, Rotarians perpetuated a myth that Rotary should not seek publicity, but rather let our good works speak for themselves. A 1923 policy stating that “publicity should not be the primary goal of a Rotary club in selecting an activity” of community service was frequently interpreted to mean that Rotary clubs should avoid publicity and public relations efforts. Actually, the 1923 statement further observed that “as a means of extending Rotary’s influence, proper publicity should be given to a worthwhile project well carried out.”

A more modern public relations philosophy was adopted in the mid-i 970s that affirms that “good publicity, favorable public relations, and a positive image are desirable and essential goals for Rotary’ if it is to foster understanding, appreciation, and support for its Object and programs and to broaden Rotary’s service to humanity. Today, most Rotarians recognize that active public relations is vital to the success of Rotary.

A service project well carried out is considered one of the finest public relations messages of Rotary. It is essential that Rotary clubs make every effort to inform the public of such projects.

As Rotary clubs and districts consider effective public relations, it is important to remember that when Rotarians think of Rotary, we think of our noble goals and motives. But when the world thinks of Rotary, it can only think of our actions and the service we have performed.

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The RI Web Site

Since the late 1990s, Rotary International has been using the Internet to communicate with its members and to showcase Rotary’s many programs and activities. The official RI Web site at www.rotary.org also allows members to conduct Rotary business online — from ordering publications to making contributions to The Rotary Foundation to registering for the RI Convention and other meetings.

Club officers can enter the site’s Business Portal and make changes to their club’s membership information. Using the Where Clubs Meet function, members can easily identify places to do make ups. The site’s Download Center offers an array of publications and forms, making it more convenient and less expensive for Rotarians to access Rotary materials. Language communities provide essential Rotary information in eight languages and link to official language sites maintained by Rotarians around the world.

The RI Web site offers a vast amount of information — including the latest Rotary news. A visit to www.rotary.org will be enlightening to all Rotarians.

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Use of Rotary Marks

The Rotary International emblem and the word “Rotary” are among the many words and logos used as trademarks and service marks by RI and by Rotarians and Rotary clubs around the world and collectively referred to as the “Rotary marks.” The Rotary marks are registered in more than 40 countries, which enhances the association’s exclusive use of the marks and strengthens RI’s position to prevent misuse by unauthorized individuals and entities. The RI Board of Directors has developed guidelines for the use of the Rotary marks by Rotarians, Rotary clubs and districts, and other Rotary entities, which appear in the Rotary Code of Policies and the Manual of Procedure.

It is the privilege and responsibility of all Rotarians to wear and use the Rotary marks with pride. Following the Board’s guidelines for use of the Rotary marks will help to ensure that they are not misused and that they wll always be preserved for the use and benefit of Rotarians.

When used by themselves, the word “Rotary” and the Rotary emblem normally refer to the entire organization, Rotary International, and its ideals and principles. When using the word “Rotary” or the Rotary emblem in connection with or in the name of an activity, clubs, districts, and other Rotary entities should add their name as a further identifier in close proximity to and in equal prominence with any Rotary marks. This will ensure that full recognition is given to your club or district. Clubs or districts should not use the Rotary marks in connection with activities that are not under their control or in the name of any organization that includes non-Rotarian individuals or groups. When naming a club or district foundation activity, separate the words “Rotary” and “Foundation” with at least one other word — for example, the Rotary Sedona West Foundation or Chicago Rotary Club Foundation.

When using the Rotary marks, clubs and districts should not alter, modify, or obstruct them in any way or reproduce them in any way other than their complete form. The Rotary emblem may be reproduced in any one color; if it is to be reproduced in more than one color, it must be done in the official colors of blue and gold. Rotarians are encouraged to purchase merchandise bearing the Rotary marks only from authorized licensees of RI to ensure that the marks are reproduced correctly and that they are not being used by unauthorized vendors. Rotarians are also encouraged to wear the emblem as a lapel button, but the emblem should not be used on business stationery, business cards, or on the doors or windows of Rotarians’ business premises.

The Rotary emblem should not be used for any commercial purpose. The Rotary marks are the symbols of the Rotary clubs and the service they provide and should be used only to identify clubs and their members, projects, and programs. It is therefore not permissible to use the Rotary marks in a political campaign or in con­nection with any other name or emblem not recognized by Rotary International. Rotary entities wishing to use the Rotary marks for sponsorship or partnership purposes should contact their Club and District Administration representative at the RI Secretariat for the most current RI Board guidelines. The Rotary marks can be downloaded from the RI Web site at www.rotary.org.

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36 The ABCs of Rotary

Special Rotary Observances - In the annual Rotary calendar several months and weeks are designated to emphasize major programs of Rotary International.

• January is Rotary Awareness Month. This is a time to expand knowledge of Rotary and its activities among our membership and throughout the community.

• February is designated as World Understanding Month. This month was chosen because it includes the birthday of Rotary International, 23 February. During the month, Rotary clubs are urged to present programs that promote international understanding and goodwill, as well as launch World Community Service projects in other parts of the world.

• World Rotaract Week is the week in which 13 March falls. It’s a time when Rotary clubs and districts highlight Rotaract by joining in projects with their Rotaract clubs.

• April is set aside as Magazine Month. Throughout the month, clubs arrange programs and activities that promote the reading and use of The Rotarian magazine and the official regional magazines of Rotary.

• June is Fellowships Month, a time to increase interest and membership in one of the dozens of Rotary Fellowships and celebrate the ideal of service through common hobbies and professions.

• July is Literacy Month, a time for clubs to develop their own literacy projects, as well as raise awareness of Rotarians’ efforts worldwide to eradicate illiteracy.

• August is Membership and Extension Month, a time to focus on Rotary’s continuing need for growth, to seek new members and form new clubs.

• September is New Generations Month, when Rotary clubs of the world give special emphasis to the many Rotary-sponsored programs that serve children and young people.

• October is Vocational Service Month. During this period, clubs highlight the importance of the business and professional life of each Rotarian and emphasize the Rotarian practice of high ethical standards.

• November is Rotary Foundation Month. Clubs and districts call attention to the programs of The Rotary Foundation and frequently cultivate additional financial support for the Foundation by promoting contributions for Paul Harris Fellows and Sustaining Members.

• World Interact Week, the week in which 5 November falls, is a time for sponsoring Rotary clubs to plan joint projects with their Interact clubs.

•  

Each of these special times serves to elevate the awareness among Rotarians of some of the excellent programs of service to be found in the world of Rotary.

Organizing New Clubs and Extending Rotary Steady growth in new clubs is extremely important in extending the worldwide programs and influence of Rotary International. In fact, in recent years, new clubs have been the impetus in supporting membership increases. New Rotary clubs may be established anywhere in the world where the fundamental principles of Rotary may be freely observed and wherever it can reasonably be expected that a successful club can be maintained. For example, many of the new clubs formed since 1990 have been in the emerging democracies in Eastern Europe. The RI Board of Directors must approve the extension of Rotary into countries where clubs have not previously existed.

A club must be organized to serve a specific “locality” in which there are enough business or professional persons of good character engaged in leadership, proprietary, or management positions and where there are opportunities for Rotary service. A minimum of 40 potential classifications is necessary for a proposed new club, and from that list a permanent membership of at least 20 members must be enrolled.

District governors are responsible for approving and monitoring the formation of new clubs. The governor appoints a special representative to guide the organization of a new club, with the first step being to conduct a survey of the locality to determine the potential for a new club. Among the requirements for a new club is the adoption of the Standard Rotary Club Constitution, a minimum of 20 charter members with clearly established classifications, election of officers, payment of a charter fee, weekly meetings of the provisional club, and the adoption of a club name that will distinctly identify it with its locality. A provisional club becomes a Rotary club when its charter is approved by the RI Board of Directors.

It is a great opportunity and special duty of all Rotarians to assist and cooperate in organizing new clubs. New clubs strengthen Rotary’s long-term viability and its commitment to humanitarian service throughout the world.

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Colorful Governors’ Jackets

One of the newest Rotary traditions began in 1984-8 5 when the district governors decided to wear a distinctive yellow sport coat to official Rotary events. In succeed­ing years, the president of Rotary International has selected a colorful jacket for the district governors and other international officers of Rotary. The distinctive yellow jacket of Carlos Canseco was followed by such blazing colors as Paulo Costas’s green coats (1990-91), Clifford Dochterman’s red coats (1992-93), Luis Giay’s brick coats (1996-97), and Glen Kinross’ sea foam green coats (1997-98). President Rajendra Saboo selected wheat-colored tan (199 1-92) and Hugh Archer picked maroon (1989-90). Other traditional navy blue jackets were worn during the years of Charles Keller (1987-88), Bill Huntley (1994-95), Herbert Brown (1995-96), and James Lacy (1998-99). An array of colors and shades has been picked by other presidents. Rotarian leaders annually speculate on the jacket color to be worn by the incoming world Rotary president.