What is Rotary?

Rotary is a global community service organization; there are 1.2 million Rotarians in 34,000 clubs doing good all over the world. This network of clubs makes up Rotary International (RI).  Rotary is a grass-roots organization on the local level, each Club searches ways to improve its local community and in turn seeks to improve the world in which we live by participating in regional, national and international Rotary sponsored programs.  Each Rotary program, was conceived by a local Rotarian whom convinced his/her Club that their project idea was a worthy one – and as many of these projects grew, they have expanded across the globe to assist as many persons as possible.  Rotary is a great example as to how one person’s idea can grow into a movement to help millions around the world.

 

Each Rotary Club directs its own actions.  Club members elect their own leaders each year, and the Club president works with the president-elect, officers, board members, and committee chairs to manage the Club. Rotary Clubs pay dues to Rotary International, and in return RI provides resources, training, and programs to help Clubs run effectively.

 

As a global service organization, Rotary has created Rotary Districts in geographic areas; each Rotary District is led by a District Governor.  Fair Lawn Rotary is part of Rotary District 7490 serving Bergen, Hudson and Passaic Counties.  Districts help clubs connect to each other and access Rotary resources. There are around 530 districts, and these are organized into 34 zones. Each zone has about the same number of Rotarians.

 

Rotary Clubs sponsor other service clubs and groups that broaden Rotary’s reach:

The President of Rotary International is elected by Rotarians and leads an elected Board of Directors. The president serves for one year, and directors serve for two years.

The General Secretary manages staff at Rotary’s headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, USA, and additional offices around the world.