Weekly Program for July 29 - The Organization of Rotary

[Janie]

The Organization of Rotary

Rotary is essentially a grassroots organization, with most of its service efforts being carried out at the club level. The district and international structure is designed to support the clubs and help them provide more service in their local communities and abroad.

Clubs Rotarians are members of Rotary clubs, which belong to the global association Rotary International (RI). Each club elects its own officers and enjoys considerable autonomy within the framework of Rotary’s constitution and bylaws.

Districts Clubs are grouped into 534 RI districts, each led by a district governor, who is an officer of RI. The district administration, including assistant governors and various committees, guides and supports the clubs.

RI Board The 19-member RI Board of Directors, which includes the RI president and president-elect, meets quarterly to establish policies. Traditionally, the RI president, who is elected annually, develops a theme and emphases for the year.

The Secretariat Rotary International is headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, USA, with seven international offices in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Japan, Korea, and Switzerland. The office for RI in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI), located in England, serves clubs and districts in that region. The Secretariat’s chief operating officer is the RI general secretary, who heads a 650-member staff working to serve Rotarians worldwide.

 

Taken from RI publication 595en with all copyrights appertaining thereto.

[Kristin K]

Great.  thanks for the program, Janie!  I always like hearing more about Rotary.  I also like knowing the numbers of districts and clubs there are worldwide.  Being a past member of a Group Study Exchange, I wonder how many districts typically participate in GSE (or at least on average over the last 5 years).  Interesting.  Again, thanks! - Kristin