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What is Rotary

Rotary International is one of the world’s largest and most influential service organizations, uniting over 1.4 million business and professional leaders across every continent and in more than 200 countries. “Service Above Self” is the guiding principle of every Rotarian — not just lofty words, but a way of life. Rotary’s work is directed at addressing some of humanity’s greatest challenges, including poverty, disease, hunger, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and more.

Rotary Headquarters

Rotary clubs are non-religious and non-political charitable organizations, open to people of all nations regardless of nationality, race, faith, or political beliefs.

What Does Rotary Do?

Rotary is dedicated to building international relationships, improving lives, and creating a better world. Rotary promotes peace, fosters integrity, and advances global understanding, goodwill, and peace through a fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. Rotary encourages and promotes the ideals of service as the foundation of ethical and worthy enterprise, particularly by:

  • Developing opportunities for fellowship and service;
  • Upholding high ethical standards in business and professions. Recognizing the importance of all useful occupations and viewing each Rotarian’s work as an opportunity to serve;
  • Applying the ideal of service in personal, business, and community life;
  • Advancing international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a fellowship of people united in service.

Areas of Focus and Principles

Main Areas of Focus
  • Promoting Peace & Conflict Resolution
  • Disease Prevention & Treatment
  • Clean Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
  • Maternal & Child Health
  • Basic Education & Literacy
  • Community Economic Development
  • Supporting the Environment

Rotary Means Service

Five Avenues of Service:

1. Club Service – Activities that ensure the successful functioning of the club.

2. Vocational Service. The second Avenue of Service is Vocational Service, which focuses on promoting high ethical standards in business and professional life, recognizing the dignity of all honorable occupations, and encouraging the application of the ideal of service in every vocation. Rotarians are called to conduct themselves in both personal and professional life according to Rotary’s principles, and to use their professional skills to support club projects that address the needs and challenges of society.

3. Community Service. The third Avenue of Service is Community Service, which encompasses the various efforts made by club members (sometimes in collaboration with others) to improve the quality of life for people living in the community where the Rotary club is located.

4. International Service. The fourth Avenue of Service is International Service, which involves activities carried out by club members to enhance global understanding, goodwill, and peace by building relationships with people in other countries, learning about their cultures, customs, achievements, aspirations, and challenges through communication and collaboration in all forms of club activities and projects aimed at helping people abroad.

5. Youth Service. The fifth Avenue of Service is Youth Service, which recognizes the positive changes brought about by young people and young adults through the development of leadership skills, participation in local and international service projects, and exchange programs that enrich participants while promoting global peace and cultural understanding.

Rotary’s History

Rotary began with the vision of one man — Paul Harris.
On February 23, 1905, a Chicago attorney founded the Rotary Club of Chicago so that professionals from diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form lifelong friendships. Over time, Rotary’s scope and vision gradually expanded to humanitarian service. Members have since gained extensive experience in addressing challenges in their communities and around the world.

“Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.”

Paul Harris

Harris had great ambitions to transform the local club into a national organization and eventually into an international one. These ambitions were realized as Rotary clubs began to form on the U.S. West Coast, later spreading across the country and into Europe. By the time Paul Harris passed away at the age of 78, Rotary International had grown to more than 200,000 members in 75 countries worldwide.

Rotary Today

Today, Rotary International unites more than 1.2 million members worldwide. Its motto is “Service Above Self.” The organization places strong emphasis on friendship and the implementation of local and international social projects dedicated to serving both local communities and humanity as a whole.

Rotaract

Rotaract is a Rotary International program focused on engaging young people. It brings together individuals aged 18 to 30 and is established and sponsored by Rotary clubs.

Interact

Interact is a Rotary International program designed for school-aged youth. It brings together boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and is established and sponsored by Rotary clubs.

Notable Rotarians

Rotary in Ukraine

Rotary International districts are grouped into Rotary International regions. Ukraine, as part of District 2232, belongs to Region 20, which includes the countries of Central Europe (Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Croatia, and Czechia) as well as Israel, united across nine districts. The largest number of Rotary clubs in our district are located in Poland, Romania, and Ukraine.

Despite the war in Ukraine during 2022–2023, the Ukrainian segment of Rotary District 2232 grew significantly. From February to October 2022, the number of Rotary clubs across all countries in District 2232 increased by 23.5% (from 1,103 in February to 1,365 in October). Ukraine stands as a clear example of this trend: the values of service and the opportunities of Rotary became essential for the Ukrainian nation during the war.