Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International
ABOUT ROTARY
We are 1.2 million neighbors, friends, and community leaders who come together to create positive, lasting change in our communities and around the world.
Our differing occupations, cultures, and countries give us a unique perspective. Our shared passion for service helps us accomplish the remarkable.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?
Our distinct point of view and approach gives us unique advantages:
- We see differently: Our multidisciplinary perspective helps us see challenges in unique ways.
- We think differently: We apply leadership and expertise to social issues—and find unique solutions.
- We act responsibly: Our passion and perseverance create lasting change.
- We make a difference at home and around the world: Our members can be found in your community and across the globe.
HOW DO WE WORK?
Our impact starts with our members—people who work tirelessly with their clubs to solve some of our communities' toughest challenges. Their efforts are supported by Rotary International, our member association, and The Rotary Foundation, which turns generous donations into grants that fund the work of our members and partners around the world. Rotary is led by our members—responsible leaders who help to carry forward our organization's mission and values in their elected roles.
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
We've been making history and bringing our world closer together for over 100 years. Since forming in 1905, we've taken on some of the world's toughest challenges and helped a wide range of international and service organizations—from the UN to Easter Seals—get started.
HOW DO WE USE OUR FUNDS?
Responsible leadership means more than just doing good work—it means making the most out of every donation we receive.
Rotary International World Presidents
Rotary International President Gary C K Huang & Theme 2014-2015
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GARY C.K. HUANG
PRESIDENT 2014-15
ROTARY CLUB OF TAIPEI, TAIWAN
Gary C.K. Huang is an adviser for Wah Lee Industrial Corp. and Bank of Panhsin, and is director of Federal Corporation and Sunty Development Co. Ltd. He previously was president of Malayan Overseas Insurance Co. and chair of Taiwan Sogo Shinkong Security Co. Ltd.
A Rotarian since 1976, Huang has served RI as vice-president, director, Foundation trustee, International Assembly group discussion leader, regional session leader, task force member and coordinator, committee member and chair, and district governor. He also was chair of the 2014 International Assembly Committee; adviser for the Permanent Fund Committee for Taiwan, Macau, and Hong Kong; and PolioPlus advocacy adviser for Taiwan.
He has been instrumental in membership development throughout Asia. As a Rotary Foundation trustee, Huang set the goal of recruiting 100 new Major Donors in Taiwan to celebrate Rotary's centennial; the result was the addition of 106 Major Donors in 2005 and 103 in 2006, who contributed more than $2 million to the Foundation's Annual Fund.
Huang wrote about his experiences in business and Rotary in his book, "Finding Solutions, Not Excuses." He received the Civic Service Award of the Federation of Non-Profit Associations and the Outstanding Community Service Award from Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior. In 2001, when the Rotary International Convention was held in San Antonio, Texas, USA, he was named the city's honorary mayor.
Huang is a recipient of the Rotary International Service Above Self Award and Presidential Citation and The Rotary Foundation's Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award.
Rotary International President Ron Burton & Theme 2013-2014
RI President-elect Ron Burton will ask Rotarians to Engage Rotary, Change Lives in 2013-14.
Read RI Preseident-elect Ron Burtons speech here
Ron D. Burton, a member of the Rotary Club of Norman, Oklahoma, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in 2013-14. Burton retired as president of the University of Oklahoma Foundation Inc. in 2007.
He is a member of the American Bar Association, as well as the bar associations of Cleveland County and the state of Oklahoma. He is admitted to practice in Oklahoma and before the U.S. Supreme Court.
"This is an exciting time to be a Rotarian," Burton says. "I believe we are well poised to capitalize on our strengths as we embrace the [RI] Strategic Plan and the Future Vision Plan. My vision is to have every Rotarian appreciate what it means to be a Rotarian. With these two tools, we can make that happen."
A Rotarian since 1979, Burton is vice chair of the Future Vision Committee and a member of the Polio Eradication Advocacy Task Force for the United States. He has served RI as director; Rotary Foundation trustee and trustee vice chair; International Assembly moderator, assistant moderator, and group discussion leader; and district governor.
RI Theme 2013-2014 ENGAGE ROTARY - CHANGE LIVES
Rotary International President Sakuji Tanaka and Theme 2012-13
Peace through Service is the Rotary International Theme from Rotary International President Sakuji Tanaka.
To read more about Sakuji Tanaka's theme click on the photo.
Sakuji Tanaka is the former chair of the Daika Company and former president of the National Household Papers Distribution Association of Japan. He also has been vice president of the Yashio City Chamber of Commerce.
A member of the Rotary Club of Yashio since its charter in 1975, Tanaka has served RI as a director, Rotary Foundation trustee, chair of the 2009 Birmingham Convention Committee, member of the Polio Eradication Advocacy Task Force and Future Vision Committee, and regional Rotary Foundation coordinator, district governor, and training leader. Working with his district, he helped to construct a school building in Bangladesh.
Tanaka has received the RI Service Above Self Award and the Foundation's Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award. He and his wife, Kyoko, are Paul Harris Fellows, Benefactors of the Permanent Fund, Major Donors, and members of the Arch C. Klumph Society. In addition, Tanaka has established an endowed Rotary Peace Fellowship.
He and Kyoko have been married since 1963 and have three children and seven grandchildren.
Tanaka, a member of Rotary since 1975, and the international organization's third president from Japan, said he would like to see Rotary "continue its vital work as the force to improve communities around world."
Rotary's 34,000 clubs initiate projects that address critical issues such as hunger, poverty, disease and illiteracy. During his one-year term as president, which began 1 July 2012, Tanaka will lead a global network of 1.2 million business and professional leaders from more than 200 countries and geographical regions who, through volunteer service, help meet the needs of communities worldwide.
As president, Tanaka oversees Rotary's top priority of eradicating polio, a crippling and potentially fatal disease that still threatens children in Africa and Asia. Since 1985, Rotary clubs worldwide have contributed more than US$1.2 billion and countless volunteer hours toward ending polio. Great progress has been made, and the incidence of paralytic polio infection has plunged worldwide from 350,000 cases in 1988 to fewer than 700 in 2011.
In addition to eradicating polio, Rotary members have long embraced the call for peace by addressing the underlying causes of conflict and violence through thousands of community-based service projects around the world. Since 2002, Rotary's Peace Centers program offers graduate degrees in peace and conflict resolution at campus-based centers worldwide. A professional development certificate is offered at Rotary's Peace Center in Bangkok, Thailand.