Aiming at increasing the Rotary/Rotaract awareness of our members, we hope the following Q/A information be useful to everyone :)

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have a specific inquiry or comment...

Q. What is Rotaract??

A. Rotaract is an international organization of service clubs for men and women aged 18-30 that fosters leadership and responsible citizenship, encourages high ethical standards in business and promotes international understanding and peace.

Rotaract clubs are part of a global effort to bring peace and international understanding to the world. This effort starts at the community level but knows no limits in its outreach.

Rotaractors have access to the many resources of Rotary International (RI) and The Rotary Foundation. Rotary International provides the administrative support that helps Rotaract clubs thrive.


Q. What are the goals of Rotaract??

A. Rotaract has the following goals:

1- To develop professional and leadership skills.
2- To emphasize respect for the rights of others, based on recognition of the worth of each individual.
3- To recognize the dignity and value of all useful occupations as opportunities to serve.
4- To recognize, practice, and promote ethical standards as leadership qualities and vocational responsibilities.
5- To develop knowledge and understanding of the needs, problems, and opportunities in the community and worldwide.
6- To provide opportunities for personal and group activities to serve the community and promote international understanding and goodwill toward all people.


Q. What does the word "Rotaract" mean??
A. Rotaract Clubs take their name from a combination of the words "Rotary" and "action".


Q. How does Rotaract fit into the Rotary family?

A. Each Rotaract club is sponsored by a local Rotary club. This sponsorship is a result of Rotary’s belief that young people, or New Generations, should take an active interest in community life and have the opportunity for professional development.


Q. Why do Rotary clubs sponsor Rotaract clubs?

A. Organizing a Rotaract club is one of the most rewarding community activities a Rotary club can undertake. The Rotaract program gives Rotarians the opportunity to mentor dynamic young men and women who want to provide service in their local and global communities. Rotarians also will serve as resources for Rotaractors who will become tomorrow's parents, business professionals, and community leaders.

In turn, a Rotaract club can bring new energy to a Rotary club, inspire fresh ideas for service, increase support to projects, and spread knowledge of Rotary to other sectors of the community. Rotaractors, with the experience they gain through this Rotary program, make exceptional future Rotarians.


Q. What is the minimum number of members required to establish a Rotaract Club?

A. According to the standard Rotaract bylaw, it is recommended, but not mandated, that there be a minimum of 15 charter members when chartering a new club.

The membership of any Rotaract club shall consist of young men and women of good character and leadership potential, between the ages of 18 and 30. On June 30th of the Rotaract year in which the member becomes 30 years old, his/her Rotaract membership will end..


Q. Is there a difference between community-based and university-based Rotaract clubs?

A. Although both approaches to Rotaract club organization have proven successful in various parts of the world, there are some key differences.

Typically, community-based clubs are open to all members of the community who are between the ages of 18-30. They can be "young professionals" or a combination of students and professionals.

University-based clubs are sponsored in conjunction with a local college or university. The Rotary club should work within the school's regulations regarding student organizations and extra-curricular activities. The club may need a faculty adviser, but a Rotarian liaison also is important. If there is a Rotarian on the faculty, staff, or board of a local college, that person often makes a good adviser.


Q. Was Rotaract the first Rotary Youth Organization??

A. Actually no!!

Interact did start before Rotaract! Rotary's first Interact club was organized in Melbourne, Florida, in 1962 to become the pioneer for about 7,000 Interact clubs in more than 90 countries today!!
After the great success of Interact Clubs, Rotary International created Rotaract in 1968.


Q. Can two Rotary clubs sponsor one Rotaract club?

A. Yes, a Rotaract club can be organized and sponsored jointly by more than one Rotary club under the following conditions:

- The district governor approves the joint sponsorship in writing;
- The circumstances must be such that the organization of separate Rotaract clubs, each sponsored by a single Rotary club, would create an artificial division of what is essentially a single body of young adults in the community or university;
- A joint Rotaract committee is formed with members of each sponsoring Rotary club; and
- Each member of the Rotaract club agrees to adhere to the constitution and bylaws of the club.


Q. When & where were the first Service Clubs Established??

A. The first Rotary Club (Rotary Club of Chicago) was established on February 23rd, 1905 in Chicago, USA.

The Interact Program was adopted by Rotary International on 28 October 1962. On 5 November 1962, within eight days of the official adoption of the Interact program, the first Interact club was chartered at Melbourne High School, Fla., USA.

The first Rotaract Club was chartered by the Charlotte North Rotary Club, in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, on 13 March 1968.


Q. What are the Four Avenues of Rotarian Service?

A. Based on the Object of Rotary, the Four Avenues of Service are Rotary's philosophical cornerstone and the foundation on which club activity is based:

1) Club Service: Focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club.
2) Vocational Service: Encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards.
3) Community Service: Covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community.
4) International Service: Encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary's humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace.


Q. Where do we find young people to join Rotaract?

A. Young adults aged 18-30 are everywhere. First consider finding potential Rotaractors at local community colleges, universities and technical training schools. Sons, daughters, or other family members of Rotarians, employees and interns of Rotarians, former Interactors, Youth Exchange participants, Ambassadorial Scholars, Group Study Exchange alumni, and RYLA participants also are perfect candidates. Lastly, consider the young people you know from local places of worship, community centers, and fitness clubs.


Q. What does "RYLA" stand for??

A. RYLA: Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.

RYLA is a program sponsored by Rotarians at the local level in which young people between the ages of 14 and 30 are selected to attend a leadership training program.

The 3- to 10-day workshops focus on leadership and professional development topics of interest to their specific age group. The seminars are organized and run by Rotarians.

RYLA is the fastest growing program of Rotary services, & it's described as the most remarkable investment that assures Rotary future.


Q. How did RYLA programs start??

A. In 1959 the Australian Government invited the local Rotarians to help in preparing a festival called Gundoo (Fun together) help to celebrate the Queensland upcoming centenary.

Princess Alexandra, the cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, was invited to attend it. She was in her early 20's. So, all the activities were prepared for this age. More than 300 young men & women attended this festival & it was a big success.

Rotarians then created a similar annual youth program & in 1961 the Governor of district 260 approved the project. On May 2nd the RYLA was born.

Australian districts 258 & 260 developed the official framework of RYLA. In 1971 convention in Sydney, the RYLA was approved as a Rotary International program.

In 1998, the RI president appointed an international RYLA committee to improve & expand this Rotary program. In the same year, RYLA was established in more than half of the Rotary districts worldwide.


Q. What is the Four Way test??

A. From the earliest days of the organization, Rotarians were concerned with promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives.

One of the world's most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is The 4-Way Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor (who later served as RI president) when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy.

This 24-word code of ethics for employees to follow in their business and professional lives became the guide for sales, production, advertising, and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company is credited to this simple philosophy.

Adopted by Rotary in 1943, the 4-Way Test has been translated into more than a hundred languages and published in thousands of ways.

It asks the following four questions:

"Of the things we think, say or do:

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"


Q. What is an MDIO?

A. An MDIO, or Multidistrict Information Organization, is a group of Rotaract districts that function as a regional administrative center. Coordinated by Rotaractors and approved by the RI Board, MDIOs disseminate information or facilitate communication between Rotaract clubs in the participating districts. Over the last 10 years, Rotaract MDIOs have been a driving force in enhancing communication and promoting Rotaract awareness and growth in many regions of the world.


Q. What are Rotary's humanitarian grants?

A. The Humanitarian Grants Program of The Rotary Foundation provides grants to Rotary clubs and districts to implement humanitarian projects. There are several grant types that address different service needs and funding options.

- District Simplified Grants: A tool for Rotary districts to support short-term, humanitarian projects that benefit the community.

- Individual Grants: Subsidize travel of individual or small groups for qualified international humanitarian service in Rotary countries for periods up to 60 days.

- Matching Grants: Support international service projects involving Rotary clubs or districts in two or more countries.

- Health, Hunger, and Humanity Grants (3-H): Awarded to fund long-term, self-help, and grassroots development projects which are too large for one club or district to implement on their own.

- Blane Community Immunization Grants: Help clubs and districts in the United States address disease immunizations in their local community.


Q. How did Youth Exchange Programs start??

A. The first documented exchanges date back to 1927, when the Rotary Club of Nice, France, initiated exchanges with European students.

Exchanges between clubs in California, USA, and Latin American countries began in 1939, and exchange activities spread to the eastern United States in 1958.

In 1972, the RI Board of Directors agreed to recommend Youth Exchange to clubs worldwide as a worthwhile international activity that promotes global peace and understanding.


Q. What are the types of Rotary Youth Exchanges??

A. There are two principal types of exchanges:

- Long-term exchanges usually last for an academic year. During your stay, you will live with more than one host family — typically three different families for three months each — and attend high school.

- Short-term exchanges vary from a few weeks to three months. You will not attend school on a short-term exchange, but you will most likely live with a host family. Rotary, however, offers a variety of short-term exchanges, including:

• Homestays: On a homestay, you will live with another family abroad. This type of program can be arranged for individual students or groups of students.

• Tours: through one or more foreign countries. These tours may involve groups of young people from a single country or several countries.

• International youth Camps: bring students together from several countries to provide leadership training and address international concerns. Or, camps may simply be the means whereby students from different cultures get to know each other.

• New Generations Exchanges: Open to people ages 18-25, this option is ideal for recent high school graduates and college and graduate students. Usually lasting three to six weeks, these exchanges may be for individuals or groups, and can involve homestays, tours, or camps.


Q. What is Interota??

A. The (Interota) is an International Rotaract Conference, organized every three year. The aim of Interota is to group all Rotaractors from around the world to discuss different issues on how to improve and develop together as an international entity.

This triennial meeting offers workshops, discussions, and speakers on topics of interest. It is also an opportunity to network and socialize with fellow Rotaractors from around the world. At the meeting, delegations from various countries present conference proposals for the upcoming Interota, and participants then vote to select the next meeting site.

The first Interota was organized in Johannesburg, South Africa; & the last one (2005) was held 11-18 Sept. in Munich, Germany, D.1840.


Q. What is the Rotaract International Charta??

A. The Rotaract International Charta was adopted & signed September 17th, 2005; during the Interota. It states the following:

We, Rotaractors from all over the world, are an integral part of Rotary International (RI). All Rotaract activities, projects and programs shall be in harmony with the policies of RI.

Article 1: Vision:
We will be recognized worldwide as the largest service organization of young people dedicated to performing social goals.

Article 2: Mission:
We are young men and women from around the world who are enthusiastic to contribute to society by developing social projects. The more awareness we promote, the more donations we will raise. We achieve this on club, district and international level.

We develop our social, professional and leadership skills. This is also a basis for eventually becoming member of Rotary. Close cooperation on club level and lasting fellowships will encourage this transfer.
We aim to recruit every Interact member for Rotaract with intense and regular communications and cooperation.

We achieve these goals by using and continually improving all ways of communications.

Article 3: Values:
"We value friendship and teamwork.
We value tolerance and respect.
We value honesty & trust.
We value care and social responsibility.
We value commitment and dedication."

We are committing ourselves to fulfill these principles of rotaractive actions.


Q. Were women allowed to be accepted as Rotary members since its beginning??

A. The first Rotary club to accept women as members was the Rotary Club of Duarte, California, in 1978, but this was against RI policies. It became allowed, only in 1989!!

In 1914, women have not yet been populated in Rotary Clubs. During the 1914 conference in Houston, Texas, the only female participant was a woman called Ann Brunnier. So, the men decided to call her Rotary's Ann, which later became (Rotary Ann) -->Rotarian!!! A real mind teaser!"


Q. Who was the first president in Rotary?

A. Although Paul Harris is the founder and organizer of Rotary, he wasn't the first president of Rotary!!

It was another founder; Silvester Schiele, a close friend of Paul Harris. It was Paul and Silvester who met for dinner on Thursday evening, the 23rd of February, 1905; & started the Rotary movement.

Silvester Schiele became the first President of the Chicago Rotary Club and remained involved in Rotary throughout his life. He did not take any international office until July 1945, when he was made International Treasurer.

It was also Silvester who suggested that each of the members of the new club should give a talk about their business, thereby starting a tradition for new members which continues to this day.


Q. When was the name "Rotary International" first adopted?

A. Rotary first adopted the name 'Rotary International' in 1922, when the name was changed from 'The International Association of Rotary Clubs'! "


Q. What was the first Slogan adopted by RI??

A. The first slogan ever adopted by Rotary International, was "He Profits Most Who Serves Best"; and it was used in the 1911 Convention in Portland, Oregon.


Q. When & where was the first Rotary Club meeting held?

A. The first Rotary Club meeting was in Chicago, on February 23rd, 1905.


Q. What was the largest amount of contributions that RI received?

A. In 1964, Rotary International received total contributions of one million dollars in a single year. That was the largest contribution ever received till that date.
Today, more than $50 Million are given annually. Total donations received since 1917 till today sum to about $700 Million.


Q. When was the first time that RI Convention was held outside the USA?

A. The first Rotary International convention held outside the U.S.A. was in 1921, in Edinburgh, Scotland.


Q. What was the first NGO to have a chair in the UN?

A. In 1960, Rotary International received an honorary chair in the United Nations Council, making it the only NGO in history to have a chair in the United Nations.


Q. When was the first issue of “The Rotarian” magazine ??

A. The official Rotary International magazine (The Rotarian) was first launched in April, 1911.
Today, there are 28 different official regional magazines printed in 22 different languages.


Q. What were the First Rotary Clubs...

... Chartered outside the USA?
A. The Rotary Club of Manitoba, Canada, in 1909.

... Chartered in a non-English-speaking country?
A. The Rotary Club of Havana - Cuba, in 1916.

... Chartered outside the American continent?
A. The Rotary Club of Dublin, Ireland, in 1911.

... Chartered in Africa?
A. The Rotary Club of Johannesburg, South Africa in 1921.


Q. Did you know that...

A. In 1931 the Rotary Logo was printed on a commemorative national stamp in Austria, during the Vienna Convention.