ABC's of Rotary, Part III

Posted by Mel Stewart 
 
As an international organization, Rotary offers each member unique opportunities and responsibilities. Although each Rotarian has first responsibility to uphold the obligations of citizenship of his or her own country, membership in Rotary enables Rotarians to take a somewhat different view of international affairs.

International Responsibilities of Rotarian

In the early 1950s, a Rotary philosophy was adopted to describe how a Rotarian may think on a global basis. Here is what it said:

 

"A world-minded Rotarian:

  • looks beyond national patriotism and considers himself - as sharing responsibility for the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace;

  • resists any tendency to act in terms of national or racial superiority;

  • seeks and develops common grounds for agreement with peoples of other lands;

  • defends the rule of law and order to preserve the liberty of the individual so that he may enjoy freedom of thought, speech, and assembly, and freedom from persecution, aggression, want, and fear;

  • supports action directed toward improving standards of living for all peoples, realizing that poverty anywhere endangers prosperity everywhere;

  • upholds the principles of justice for mankind;

  • strives always to promote peace between nations and prepares to make personal sacrifices for that ideal;

  • urges and practices a spirit of understanding of others' beliefs as a step toward international goodwill, recognizing that there are certain basic moral and spiritual standards which will ensure a richer, fuller life."

 

That is quite an assignment for any Rotarian to practice in thoughts and actions!

'When this philosophy was developed, Rotary was still an all-male organization. The description of a world-minded Rotarian today would obviously include all women members as well

 

Standard Rotary Club Constitution

Rotary International exists in 163 countries and cuts across dozens of languages, political and social structures, customs, religions, and traditions. How is it that all of the more than 31,000 Rotary clubs of the world operate in almost identical style? The primary answer is the Standard Rotary Club Constitution.

 

One of the conditions to receive a charter to become a Rotary club is to accept the Standard Rotary Club Constitution, originally adopted in 1922. This document outlines administrative techniques for clubs to follow in holding weekly meetings, procedures for membership and classifications, conditions of attendance, payment of dues, and other policies relating to public issues and political positions.

 

When the Standard Rotary Club Constitution was accepted, it was agreed that all existing clubs could continue to follow their current constitution. Although most of those early clubs have subsequently endorsed the standard constitution, a few pre-1922 clubs still conduct their club affairs according to their former constitu­tional provisions.

 

The Sponsor of a New Member

The bylaws of Rotary clearly outline the procedure for proposing someone for Rotary club membership. The "proposer" or sponsor is the key person in the growth and advancement of Rotary. Without a sponsor, an individual will never have the opportunity to become a Rotarian. Individuals must be asked to join Rotary; thus, it is every member's responsibility to identify and invite prospective members.

 

The task of the sponsor should not end merely by submitting a name to the club secretary or membership committee. Rotary has not established formal responsibilities for sponsors; however, these procedures are recommended in many clubs.

 

The sponsor should:

  • Invite a prospective member to several meetings prior to proposing the individual for  membership
  • Accompany the prospective new member to one or more orientation/informational meetings
  • Introduce the new member to other club members each week for the first month
  • Encourage the new member to become involved in any club service projects underway
  • Invite the new member to attend meetings of the Interact or Rotaract clubs sponsored by the club
  • Provide opportunities for the new member to get involved in international program efforts, such as Group Study Exchange or Youth Exchange
  • Invite the new member to accompany the sponsor to neighboring clubs for the first make-up meeting to learn the process and observe the spirit of friendship
  • Ask the new member and spouse to accompany the sponsor to the club's social activities, dinners, or other special occasions
  • Urge the new member and spouse to attend the district conference with the sponsor
  • Serve as a special friend to assure that the new member becomes an active Rotarian

When a new member becomes involved and connected, both Rotary and the new member become stronger.

 

Women in Rotary

Until 1989, the Constitution and Bylaws of Rotary International stated that Rotary club membership was for males only. In 1978, the Rotary Club of Duarte, California, USA, invited three women to become members. The RI Board withdrew the charter of that club for violation of the RI constitution. The club brought suit against RI claiming a violation of a state civil rights law that prevents discrimina­tion of any form in business establishments or public accommodations. The appeals court and the California Supreme Court supported the Duarte position that Rotary could not remove the club's charter merely for inducting women into the club. The United States Supreme Court upheld the California court indicating that Rotary clubs do have a "business purpose" and are in some ways public-type organizations. This action in 1987 allowed women to become Rotarians in any jurisdiction having similar "public accommodation" statutes.

 

The RI constitutional change was made at the 1989 Council on Legislation, with a vote to eliminate the "male only" provision for all of Rotary. Since that time, women have become members and leaders of clubs and districts throughout the world.

 

RI World Headquarters

The headquarters of Rotary International always has been in the area of Chicago, Illinois, USA. The first seven Secretariat offices were located in the city's downtown, but in 1954 Rotary built an attractive new building in suburban Evanston. This building met the needs of the Rotary Secretariat until the 1980s, when the addition of new programs, the growth of The Rotary Foundation, and the new PolioPlus activities made the headquarters building extremely crowded and required some staff members to operate in supplementary office space nearby.

 

When a modern 18-story office building became available in downtown Evanston in 1987, it appeared to meet all of Rotary's space and expansion needs for years to come. The glass and steel structure, built in 1977, provides 400,000 square feet (37,160 square meters) of office and usable space. The building was purchased by Rotary International, which leases nearly half of the space to commercial tenants, until needed by future Rotary growth.

 

The building provides a 190-seat auditorium, large parking garage, and 300-seat cafeteria, as well as functional office space for the 500 employees of the World Headquarters. The executive suite on the 18th floor includes conference rooms for meetings of the RI Board of Directors, Rotary Foundation Trustees, and RI and Foundation committees, in addition to the offices of the RI president, president-elect, president-nominee, chairman of The Rotary Foundation Trustees, and general secretary.

One Rotary Center, as it is called, enhances the efficient operations of Rotary International.


 

More Rotary Firsts

  • Rotary established the Endowment Fund in 1917, which became the forerunner of The Rotary Foundation.

  • Rotary first adopted the name "Rotary International" in 1922, when the name was changed from the International Association of Rotary Clubs.

  • Rotary first established Paul Harris Fellow Recognition in 1957 for contributors of US$1,000 to The Rotary Foundation.

  • The Rotary emblem was printed on a commemorative stamp for the first time in 1931 at the time of the Vienna convention.

  • The first Rotary club banner (from the Houston Space Center Rotary club) to orbit the moon was carried by astronaut Frank Borman, a member of that club.

  • The first Rotary Convention held outside the United States was in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1921.

  • The first head of state to address an RI Convention was U.S. President Warren G. Harding in 1923 at St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Room 711 â¿¢ Rotary's Birthplace

The number 711 has a very special significance for Rotary. Room 711 of the old Unity Building, formerly located at 127 North Dearborn Street in downtown Chicago, Illinois, USA, was the birthplace of Rotary. It was in that historic room, which was the office of engineer Gus Loehr, where Paul Harris first met with sever­al friends to discuss his new idea of a club for professionals and businessmen.

 

It took extensive research and dedication by a few Chicago Rotarians to preserve the room and restore it to its 1905 authenticity. For years, Room 711 was preserved as a miniature Rotary museum by Rotarians around the world who voluntarily belonged to and contributed annually to the Paul Harris 711 Club, which provided funds for leasing, maintenance, and preservation. In 1989, when the Unity Building was about to be torn down, members of the 711 Club carefully dismantled the landmark room and placed its contents in storage. There it stayed until 1994, when the re-created Room 711 found a permanent home at the RI World Headquarters in Evanston, where this piece of Rotary's heritage is preserved.