Rotary Club Addis Ababa New Member Kit Rotary club of Addis Ababa Club trainer

13 Pages·2017·0.43 MB·English

New Member Orientation Kit November 2016

Welcome to
Rotary Club Addis Ababa

New Member Kit

Rotary club of Addis Ababa
Club trainer

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New Member Orientation Kit November 2016

Why join Rotary?

 May be you have seen a need in your own community and wondered how to help
 May be you want to use your professional skills to help others – or even learn new skills
 May be you are seeking connections with other service minded professionals in your
community or abroad.

Around the world and around the corner there are 1.2 million men and women of Rotary who

 Get involved with their communities
 Connect with other professionals
 Share their time and experience with young people
 Support global causes, such as eradicating polio
 Use their skills to help others

So you can join hands!

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New Member Orientation Kit November 2016

What do we need to know about Rotary?
History of Rotary International
The world’s first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, was formed on 23 February 1905 by
Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to capture in a professional club the same friendly spirit
he had felt in the towns of his youth. The Rotary name derives from the early practice of
rotating meetings between member’s offices.
Rotary’s popularity spread, and within a decade, clubs were chartered from San Francisco to
New York to Winnipeg, Canada. By 1921 Rotary clubs had been formed on six continents. The
organization adopted the name Rotary International a year later.
As Rotary grew, its mission expanded beyond serving club members’ professional and social
interests. Rotarians began pooling their reserves and contributing their talents to help serve
communities in need. The organizations dedication to this ideal is best expressed in its motto:
Service above self.
Definition of Rotary
Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide who provide
humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill
and peace in the world
Mission
The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and
advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business,
professional, and community leaders.
Rotary basics
Rotary International, the world’s first service organization, is made up of over 33,000 clubs in
more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Its members form a global network of
business, professional, and community leaders, who volunteer their time and talents to serve
their communities and the world.
Rotary’s motto, Service above Self, exemplifies the humanitarian spirit of the organization’s
more than 1.2 million members. Strong fellowship among Rotarians and meaningful community
and international service projects characterize Rotary worldwide.

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New Member Orientation Kit November 2016

Diversity and Rotary
Rotary International recognizes the value of diversity within individual clubs. Rotary encourages
clubs to assess those in their communities who are eligible for membership, under existing
membership guidelines, and to endeavour to include the appropriate range of individuals in
their clubs. A club that reflects that community with regard to professional and business
classification, gender, age, religion, and ethnicity is a club with the key to its future.
Standard Rotary Club Constitution
Rotary International is the most territorial organization in the World. And all the Rotary clubs of
the world operate in almost identical style following the standard Rotary Club Constitution. One
of the conditions to receive a charter to become a Rotary club is to accept the Standard Club
Constitution, originally adopted in 1922. The Standard Club Constitution outlines administrative
techniques for clubs to follow in holding their weekly meetings, procedures for membership
and classifications, conditions of attendance and payment of dues, and other policies relating to
public issues and political positions.
The Organization of Rotary
Rotary is essentially a grassroots organization, with most of its service efforts being carried out
at 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 530 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 within the district
RI board: The 19-member board of Directors, which includes the RI president and president-
elect, meets quarterly to establish policies. Traditionally the president, who is elected annually,
develops a theme and service 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 740 member staff working to serve Rotarians worldwide.

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New Member Orientation Kit November 2016

Rotary’s Wheel Emblem
A wheel has been the symbol of Rotary since our earliest days. A first design was made by
Chicago Rotarian Montague Bear, an engraver who drew a simple wagon wheel, with a few
lines to show dust and motion. The wheel was said to illustrate “Civilization and Movement”.
Most of the early clubs had some form of wagon wheel on their publications and letterheads.
Finally, in 1922, it was decided
that all Rotary clubs should
adopt a single design as the
exclusive emblem of
Rotarians. Thus, in 1923, the
present gear wheel with 24
cogs and six spokes was
adopted by the “Rotary
International Association”.
A group of engineers advised that the gearwheel was mechanically unsound and would not
work without a “keyway” in the center of the gear to attach it to a power shaft. So, in 1923, the
keyway was added and the design which we now know was formally adopted as the official
emblem of RI.
Invocations at Club Meetings
In many Rotary clubs it is customary to open weekly meetings with an appropriate invocation or
blessing. Usually such invocations are offered without reference to specific religious
denominations or faiths. Rotary policy recognizes that throughout the world Rotarians
represent many religious beliefs, ideas, and creeds. The religious beliefs of each member are
fully respected, and nothing in Rotary is invented to prevent each individual from being faithful
to such convictions.
At international assemblies and conventions it is traditional for a silent invocation to be given.
Usually all Rotary International board and committee meetings begin with a few moments of
silent meditation. In this period of silence, Rotary demonstrates respect for the beliefs of all
members, who represent all the religions of the world,
Since each Rotary club is autonomous, the practice of presenting a prayer or invocation at club
meetings is left entirely to the traditions and customs of the individual club, with the
understanding that these meeting rituals always be conducted in a manner which will respect
the religious convictions and faiths of all members.
In Rotary Club Addis Ababa we start with a toast to Ethiopia and end by toasting Rotary
International.
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New Member Orientation Kit November 2016

Rotary International (RI) programmes
Programmes and service opportunities are designed to help Rotarians meet needs in their own
communities and reach out to assist people in need worldwide.
 Interact: Rotary clubs organize and sponsor this service organization for youth aged 12-18
 Rotaract: Rotary clubs organize and sponsor this leadership, professional development,
and service organization for young adults aged 18 -30
 Rotary Community Corps (RCC): Rotary clubs organize and sponsor these groups of non-
Rotarians who work to improve their communities
 Rotary Friendship exchange: Rotarian teams or individuals, who may be accompanied by
their families, make reciprocal visits to other countries, staying in each other’s homes and
learning about different cultures first hand.
 Rotary volunteers: Rotarians and other skilled professionals are provided opportunities to
offer their services and experiences to local and international humanitarian projects.
 Rotary Youth Exchange: Clubs and districts send and host students ages 15-19 who travel
abroad for cultural exchanges of one week to a full year.
 Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) Clubs and districts sponsor seminars to encourage
and recognize leadership abilities of youth and young adults aged 14-30
 World Community Service (WCS): Rotary clubs and districts from two different countries
form partnerships to implement community service projects. ProjectLink is a searchable
database of club and district community service projects in need of volunteers, funding,
donated goods, featuring descriptions of projects seeking international partners and
examples of successful completed projects. More information can be found at :
 http://www.rotary.org/en/ServiceAndFellowship/makeConnections/ProjectLink/Pages/rid
efault.aspx

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New Member Orientation Kit November 2016

Rotary’s Guiding Principles
The Four-Way Test
Followed by Rotarians worldwide in their business and professional lives, the Four-Way Test
was created by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor in 1932. It has since been translated into more than
100 languages and is used by organisations and individuals throughout the world.
Of the things we think, say or do we asl ourselves
1) Is it the TRUTH
2) Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3) Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? .
Object of Rotary
First formulated in 1910 and adapted through the years as Rotary expanded, the Object of
Rotary provides a succinct definition of the organization’s purpose as well as the club member’s
responsibilities.
The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of a worthy
enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster
First: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service
Second: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of
all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each other Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity
to serve society
Third: The application of the ideal of service inn each Rotarian’s personal, business, and
community life;
Fourth: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world
fellowship of business and professional persons united in the idea of service.
Avenues of Service
Based on the Object of Rotary, the Avenues of Service are Rotary’s philosophical cornerstone
and the foundation on which club activity is based:
 Club service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning
of the club
 Vocational service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to
practice high ethical standards.
 Community service covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life
in its community
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New Member Orientation Kit November 2016

 International service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach
around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace
 New Generations service recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and
young adults through leadership development activities, service projects and exchange
programmes
The Rotary Foundation
The Rotary Foundation of RI is a not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to enable Rotarians
to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the
support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
The Rotary Foundation receives contributions and spends in support of humanitarian and
educational programmes implemented by clubs and districts and global polio eradication
activities. Contributions go into one of the three main funds
 Annual Programmes Fund; which provides grants and awards through Foundation
programmes
 Permanent Fund; en endowment from which only a portion of the earnings are spent in
support of Foundation programmmes, ensuring the long-term viability of the
Foundation
 Polio Plus Fund; which supports Rotary’s goal of a polio-free world.
Every dollar contributed to the Foundation funds its humanitarian, educational, and cultural
programmes and programme operations. Clubs and districts apply for and receive Foundation
Grants to carry out many worthy projects worldwide.
Educational programmes
These programmes promote international understanding by bringing together people from
different countries and cultures.
 Ambassadorial Scholarships; an international programme for University level student,
sends about 500 students every year to serve as goodwill ambassadors while abroad
 Rotary World Peace Fellowships; awarded to individuals for study in Master’s Degree
and professional certificate programmes at one of the Rotary Centers for International
Studies in peace and conflict resolution.
 Group Study Exchange; a short-term cultural and vocational exchange programme
between districts in different countries for non-Rotarian professionals aged 25-40

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Humanitarian Grants Programme
Humanitarian grants enable Rotarians to increase their support of international service projects
that provide water wells, medical care, literacy classes, and other essentials to people in need.
Rotarian participation is the key to the success of these projects.
 District grants
District grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in your
community and communities abroad. Each district chooses which activities it will
fund with these grants
 Global Grants
Global grants support large international activities with sustainable, measurable
outcomes in Rotary’s areas of focus. By working together to respond to real
community needs, clubs and districts strengthen their global partnerships. Read “A
Guide to Global Grants” for detailed information on planning your project, applying
for a grant to fund it, carrying it out, and reporting on your progress and outcome
Polio Plus
Eradicating polio is Rotary’s top priority. The Polio Plus programme provides
funding for mass immunization campaigns as well as support for social
mobilization, surveillance, and laboratories to help carry out the final stages
of global polio eradication. Rotarians have raised funds that will amount to
more than 1.2 billion dollar in support by the time the world is certified polio
free and have provided hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours. Rotary is a spearheading
partner with the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, and U.S. centers for Disease Control and
Prevention in this initiative. As a result of their efforts, over two billion children under the age
of five have received the polio vaccine, five million people who might otherwise be paralyzed,
are walking today. 500,000 new cases of polio are prevented each year and the number of polio
cases has declined by 99 percent worldwide.

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New Member Orientation Kit November 2016

Benefits and Responsibilities of Club Membership
The club is the cornerstone of Rotary, where the most meaningful work is carried out. All
effective Rotary clubs are responsible for four key elements:
 Sustaining or increasing their membership base
 Participating in service projects that benefit their own community and those in other
countries
 Supporting the Rotary Foundation of RI financially and through programme
participation and
 Developing leaders capable of serving in Rotary beyond the club level
What Rotarians get out of Rotary depends largely on what they put into it. We know output
depends on input. So for the club to be alive and members to enjoy their Rotary experience,
members have responsibilities as a member and as a club officer.
As a member
 Attendance
Attending weekly club meetings allows members to enjoy fellowship, enrich their
professional and personal knowledge, and meet new people. If members miss a meeting
of their own club they are encouraged to expand their Rotary horizons by attending a
meeting of any other Rotary club. Club meeting times vary to accommodate member’s
family and professional commitments. Some clubs meet at lunchtime, while others meet
early morning, after work or in the evening.
 Service
By participating in local and international service projects, club members can volunteer
their time and talents where they are most needed. The avenues of service are:
 Club service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the club’s effective
functioning
 Vocational service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and
to practice high ethical standards
 Community service covers the projects and activities a club undertakes to improve
life in the community
 International service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian
reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace
 New Generations service recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and
young adults through leadership development activities, service projects, and
exchange programmes

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