This is why I am a Rotarian

Posted: 17th January 2012

As we celebrate Rotary Awareness Month during the month of January, let me ask you a question: “Why are you a Rotarian?”

As I think about that question myself, I would answer it with one simple answer. “I am a Rotarian because Rotary has changed my life and the lives of people throughout the world!”

We are part of the world’s first, and one of the largest, non-profit service organizations, founded on February 23, 1905 in Chicago, Illinois. I would love to see each and every club host a community event, a hands-on project or hold a fundraiser on February 23.

We are part of a distinguished group comprised of 1.2 million professional and business leaders in over 32,000 Rotary Clubs in 200 countries and geographic areas. Our Rotary motto “Service Above Self” inspires each of us to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards and promote goodwill and peace in the world. We fund club projects and sponsor volunteers with community expertise to provide medical supplies, health care, clean water, food production, job training and education to millions in need, particularly in developing countries.

In 1985, we became part of an ambitious program we call PolioPlus to spearhead efforts with the World Health Organization, US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF to immunize the children of the world against polio. Because of our efforts, polio cases have dropped by 99 percent since 1988 and the world stands on the threshold of eradication of the disease.

We’ve provided more than 47,000 students from 110 countries the opportunity to study abroad as Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars as part of the world’s largest privately-funded source of international scholarships. We continue to promote international understanding through these scholarships, exchange programs and humanitarian grants.

Our Group Study Exchange program has helped more than 57,000 young professionals explore their career fields in other countries; and over 7,000 secondary-school students each year experience life in another country through Rotary’s Youth Exchange Program.

Rotary gives us extraordinary opportunities to change the lives of so many and at the same time, change our life as well. This is why I am a Rotarian.

by PDG D. Michael Hart (edited version)