Biakero Fun Facts set 1

Rotary Fun Facts

1. The first Rotary club in Asia was chartered in Manila, Philippines, in 1919.
2. In many Rotary Clubs throughout the world, wives of male members are affectionately called “Rotary Anns
3. Before becoming Pope Francis, then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio accepted an honorary membership in the Rotary Club of Buenos Aires.
4. From the earliest days of Rotary, members have referred to each other on a first-name basis. Since personal acquaintanceship and friendship are the cornerstones of Rotary, it was natural that clubs adopted the practice of setting aside formal titles in conversations among members.
5. Most Rotary clubs ring a bell to call a meeting to order or to adjourn a meeting. Both bells and gavels have a long association with Robert’s Rules of Order, the definitive manual of parliamentary procedure in North America.
6. Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao is a member of Rotary Club of Manila 101, Philippines

What is Rotary?

Rotary is a global network of local community volunteers. Rotarians are people just like you and me who lead in their professions and communities by providing humanitarian service, encouraging ethical business practices and sponsoring peace efforts. Rotary clubs are nonreligious, nonpolitical and open to every race, culture and creed. Members represent a diverse mix of local business and professional leaders. 

What Rotarians do: Rotary clubs and their members participate in a broad range of intercultural and educational activities designed to improve the human condition. Projects include providing healthcare and medical supplies, clean water, food, job training, youth development and education to millions of people in need ¨C particularly in developing countries. In addition, Rotary funds the work of local club volunteers who travel to parts of the world where their technical expertise is most needed to alleviate hardship and solve problems. 

Polio Eradication: In 1985, Rotary launched PolioPlus, an ambitious program to immunize the world¡¯s children against polio. Rotary¡¯s grassroots leadership, volunteer support and initial funding for vaccines provided the catalyst for the World Health Assembly¡¯s resolution in 1988 to eradicate polio worldwide. Spearheading partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are the World Health Organization, Rotary International, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF. As a result of these efforts, polio cases have dropped by 99% since 1988 and the world stands on the threshold of eradicating the disease. Rotary members have given more than half a billion U.S. dollars and countless hands-on volunteer hours toward this critical effort.

History: 

Paul Harris formed the world’s first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, on February 23, 1905. Rotary’s motto is "Service Above Self" and, as it celebrates its 111^th  anniversary, the club and its 1.2 million members around the globe(200 countries) continue to focus on furthering truth, fairness, cooperation among all cultures and world peace. A 1942 Rotary conference held in London planted the seeds for the development of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and some 50 Rotary members served as delegates and consultants at the founding of the United Nations. Today Rotary holds the highest consultative status with the United Nations of any non-governmental organization. In this capacity, Rotary has a strong voice within the UN system and access to its people and resources worldwide. 

How to Become a Rotarian: 

Belonging to a Rotary club offers anyone an enjoyable and organized way to make a significant contribution to their community. Rotary members meet weekly to plan club, community and international service activities. By putting their skills to use locally and globally, members also enhance their professional network, career development and cross-cultural understanding.

ROTARY MOTTOES

The first motto of Rotary International, "He Profits Most Who Serves Best," was approved at the second Rotary Convention, held in Port- land, Oregon, in August 1911. The phrase was first stated by a Chicago Rotarian, Art Sheldon, who made a speech in 1910, which included the remark, "He profits most who serves his fellows best." At about the same time, Ben Collins, president of the Rotary Club of Minneapolis, Minnesota, commented that the proper way to organize a Rotary club was through the principle his club had adopted--"Service, Not Self." These two slogans, slightly modified, were formally approved to be the official mottoes of Rotary at the 1950 Convention in Detroit--"He Profits Most Who Serves Best" and "Service Above Self." The 1989 Council on Legislation established "Service Above Self" as the principal motto of Rotary, since it best explains the philosophy of unselfish volunteer service.

THE 4-WAY TEST

One of the most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics in the world is the Rotary "4-Way Test." It was created by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor in 1932 when he was asked to take charge of the Chicago- based Club Aluminum Company, which was facing bankruptcy. Taylor looked for a way to save the struggling company mired in depression-caused financial difficulties. He drew up a 24-word code of ethics for all employees to follow in their business and professional lives. The 4-Way Test became the guide for sales, production, advertising and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company was credited to this simple philosophy. Herb Taylor became president of Rotary International during 1954-55. The 4-Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into more than 100 languages and published in thousands of ways. The message should be known and followed by all Rotarians. "Of the things we think, say or do

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

“Honorary" is one of the four types of membership a person may have in a Rotary club. This type of membership is the highest distinction a Rotary club can confer and is exercised only in exceptional cases to recognize an individual for unusual service and contributions to Rotary and society. An honorary member is elected for one year only, and continuing membership must be renewed annually. Honorary members cannot propose new members to the club, do not hold office and are exempt from attendance requirements and club dues. Many distinguished heads of state, explorers, authors, musicians, astronauts and other public personalities have been honorary members of Rotary clubs.

ROTARY PEACE PROGRAMS

A special program of The Rotary Foundation was originally labeled the "Rotary Peace Forum." The concept of a center or educational program to promote greater understanding and peace in the world was originally dis-cussed in 1982 by the New Horizons Committee and the World Understanding and Peace Committee. In 1984 it was further explored by a New Programs Committee of The Rotary Foundation. The essence of the Rotary Peace Program is to utilize the non- governmental but worldwide resources of Rotary to develop educational programs around the issues that cause conflict among nations in the world as well as those influences and activities which promote peace, development and goodwill. The program includes seminars, publications, conferences and speakers services as a means to initiate a global dialogue to find new approaches to peace and world understanding. Specific Rotary Peace Programs are established annually by the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation. A committee of distinguished Rotary leaders create the programs and provide annual guidelines for responsible new pathways to peace.