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Rotary Fellowships

When Paul Harris founded Rotary in 1905, he conceived of community leaders with different and varied responsibilities coming together frequently to share their views.  By gathering those of different professions, the individuals, their businesses and the community benefited from the balanced discussions that took place.  His stated concept was to create an intimate professional organization in which professionals could share "mutual cooperation and informal friendship such as all had once known in our villages."  From that humble beginning, Rotary has grown to not only help us become more aware of our community, but of our nation and of the world.  We have also become participants in the process by proclaiming the motto “Service Above Self” and learning to serve the world we used to just observe.

A key component was the fact that each member of Paul Harris’ original group was from a different business, providing well rounded input.  As the group grew, the members learned it was important to also include educators, key members of the government, both political and professional, clergy and those professionally involved in community service.  By doing so, the organization, or club, met the original test of bringing in those who saw the community from a different viewpoint to provide excellent interaction and balanced discussion.

As Rotary continued to grow to over a million members many members began to realize that they shared more than they thought despite their different backgrounds and different approaches.  Although they operated very different businesses Rotarians shared a common believe in the inherent good of their fellow men and women and ran their enterprises in an ethical fashion.  Past Rotary International President (and past club president and PDG) Herbert Taylor realized this commonality of business ethics and in 1932 created the “4 Way Test of the Things We Think, Say and Do”, expressing how the lives of so many in our communities are intertwined as they try to do things well for the betterment of all.  It has, for many, become a concise guide to ethical behavior.

Paul Harris said, “Fellowship is wonderful; it illuminates life’s pathways, spreads good cheer, and is worth high price.”  Once members began to realize the benefits that membership in Rotary provided, they also realized that they had more in common than they thought.  They enjoyed learning, socializing and having fun together but they also began looking for ways to share common interests to strengthen the bonds of fellowship that Rotary creates.  As a result, various Fellowships began, starting with Esperanto in 1928, each with a special theme to bring members together.  For instance, there are fellowships for computer enthusiasts, “Ham” Radio operators, Travel Agents, Accountants, Music lovers, SCUBA divers and Skiers among others.

Most Rotarians are aware of and are in fact members of, the Paul Harris Fellowship by nature of their financial contributions to the Rotary Foundation and other approved activities such as Polio Plus.  There are more than 80 additional Rotary Recreational and Vocational Fellowships today, aka RRVF.  Active groups frequently come together from around the world for wonderful fellowship and camaraderie.  They share a common theme and strive to make something positive happen in the local community where they meet.  You can join a fellowship to deactivate land mines, and help educate about their danger, fight Aids, or join others and their families who have suffered from polio.  There are fellowships for quilters, antique and classic car owners, pilots, historians and many more. 

The oldest continuous fellowship was formed in 1947 for Yachting enthusiasts and they are still sailing, today.  Although fellowships are of all sizes, the largest is prophetically involved in Population Development and has over 4,500 members.

To learn about these fellowships, go to Rotary International’s web site at this location:  www.rotary.org/programs/fellowships and click on the link for “All Fellowships”.  Each fellowship has a link with more information about what they do and how you can join.

For a Rotary Fellowship to receive official recognition, an extensive application must be submitted to Rotary International.  Here are some of the criteria that are common to approved Rotary Fellowships:

• Members are from at least 3 countries

• District Governors in at least 3 districts in 3 countries must approve

• Must have a President and Officers

• It must be financially self sustaining

• Objective must be furtherance of acquaintance and fellowship among Rotarians

• Must publish its roster and share it with the RI Secretariat

• There must be an annual “forum” in person or in writing

• Must be unique in its recreational or vocational focus and activities

RI helps promote fellowships, including a quarterly article in The Rotarian.  There are also booths for fellowships at the International Convention.  Rotary Districts have RRVF Chairs who coordinate between Fellowship members and individual clubs.  The President of an RRVF is also a member of the RI RRVF committee.

Fellowship members also find wonderful opportunities to serve in their areas of interest.  For instance, Yachting Fellowship members treat disabled children to cruises, Flying Rotarians ferry patients to hospitals and transport supplies to disaster areas and Skiing Rotarians fund opportunities for disabled skiing enthusiasts to get expensive specialized skiing equipment.  A fellowship of Peace Officers helps develop parks and gardens as havens of peace while Environmental Fellows work to preserve our planet.  Musical fellows provide musical leadership and entertainment at Rotary meetings on all levels and the missions of various Medical Fellowships are often apparent from the groups’ names.

Rotary provides the opportunity for friendships, enjoyment and service.  Rotary Fellowships further these benefits by offering Rotarians an opportunity join with others who have common interests to use their professions and hobbies in a most beneficial manner.

A close up view of the International Skiing Fellowship of Rotarians shows how fellowships work.  Known by its members as ISFR, this group meets yearly in North America and bi-annually in Italy, with special trips to other countries.  Members in most cases are skiers or family members of a skier.  Recent North American trips have included Whistler, Breckenridge, Heavenly Valley, Jackson Hole, Banff, Sun Valley and Telluride.  The 2005 North American trip will be to Fernie, Alberta, Canada.  Meanwhile, skiing Rotarians in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy stage a similar event including extensive ski racing activities.

In addition to the fun of skiing together and partying together, ISFR members from around the world also participate in the Davis Boyd Memorial Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Fellowship.  This Foundation provides funds for an adaptive ski program in the community where the annual ski gathering takes place.  Adaptive Ski programs provide instructors and equipment for handicapped skiers to enjoy this exciting winter sport.  Money comes from silent and live auctions at the gala dinner and from participant fees for races and clinics.

For more information about the International Skiing Fellowship of Rotarians, go to:  www.isfrski.org

Article by Drew Vactor, Rotary Club of Tucson, Arizona, USA, and Friend of Rotary eClub One.  Even with a heavy international travel schedule, Drew has almost 19 years of perfect attendance in Rotary.  You can read more about him and how he makes up while traveling in another Rotary eClub One article in The President’s Message at:

Maintaining 100% Attendance on the Road

and in a Rotary eClub One interview at:

A 100% Attendance Rotarian at Sea

Some information in this article is from the booklet Rotary Recreational and Vocational Fellowships –- A Handbook

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