The Object of Rotary

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

  • The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
  • High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
  • The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business and community life.
  • The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Rotary International and RIBI

Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI), with its own governing body and constitution, is a territorial unit of Rotary International, the association of Rotary clubs worldwide. It administers 29 Rotary districts in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Rotary ideal of fellowship and international understanding is exemplified by the fact that a single Rotary district covers the whole of Ireland. This district, with its single organisation is a working model of the Rotary spirit in action.

Rotaract and Interact

Rotary International has created for young people two organisations dedicated to service and international understanding. Though closely associated with Rotary, their clubs are independent and self-governing. Interact, a combination of the words “International and Action”, is for young people between 14 and 18. Rotaract, a contraction of “Rotary in Action” is for men and women between 18 and 29.

These clubs serve the community as do their sponsoring Rotary clubs. Their service through fellowship covers a range of local, national and international service projects carried out with the energy and enthusiasm of youth.

The Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation, Rotary’s corporate charity, is dedicated to the furtherance of international understanding, goodwill and peace. The fund provides grants and educational scholarships for young people from all parts of the world, but not Rotarians or their close relatives, to visit and study in other countries. The Foundation also administers the 3-H fund which seeks to alleviate the problems of the disadvantaged through out the world under the headings of Health, Hunger and Humanity. Projects under this programme are usually beyond the capability of a single club or group of clubs to support.

The Foundation’s most ambitious project so far has been PolioPlus, a campaign to help the World Health Organisation and UNICEF immunise the world’s children against polio, measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and tuberculosis. Polioplus raised $240 million of which Rotarians in Great Britain and Ireland contributed £8 million.