Mexico, July 2021: After severe rainstorms created major mudslides outside Guadalajara, a small group of volunteers rushed to get clothing, food, soap and other health supplies to those who had been forced out of their homes.
Tunisia, November 2021: A group of volunteers created a body-positive fashion show in which a dozen young women and girls with amputations, medical conditions, burns and other disabilities traversed the red carpet in custom-made garments.
Cambodia, 2021: Young people from Cambodia, Japan and Taiwan worked together to build new classrooms for a school in Siem Reap Province.
British Columbia: After the discovery of children’s remains in Kamloops, a group of volunteers erected and filled a mini-library in their neighbourhood with books by, and about, Indigenous peoples.
Apart from volunteering, what do all these volunteers have in common? They were all ROTARIANS. These stories are just a few of the thousands of voluntary acts by Rotarians that occur every day in countries all over the world.
Rotary has over 1.4 million members in 35,000 clubs in approximately 190 countries and is arguably the largest volunteer organization in the world. Sadly, much of the world knows little of the impact of Rotary volunteering. I have been a proud member of the Rotary Club of Toronto for 37 years. While some volunteering activities are small, some can be all-consuming. They range from:
• making phone calls to other members to show concern about their health
• organizing community fundraising events
• planting trees and creating local and national parks
• participating on boards and committees
• reading to blind people
• delivering food to older people
• running a speaking competition
• hosting an international student on a student exchange
• building schools in the developing world
• creating movements, such as H.I.P. (HONOURING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES)
The biggest Rotary project is “Polio Plus” an initiative with the goal of eradicating polio which has raised in excess of $1 billion, with thousands of Rotary members participating in immunization drives. Polio infections have been reduced from over 350,000/year in 1988 to about 30/year today.
Rotary’s 4-Way Test
Developed in 1932, Rotary asks “In All We Think and Do” -
1) Is it the Truth?
2) Is it Fair for All Concerned?
3) Will it build Good Will and Better Friendships?
4) Will it be Beneficial for All Concerned?
Seven Avenues of Service
1. disease prevention
2. water and sanitation
3. maternal and health care
4. basic education and literacy
5. community economic development
6. environment
7. peace building
Some people argue Rotary is involved in too many things, but the diversity provides an opportunity for almost everyone to pursue a cause in which they are interested.
Rotary has been nominated for at least one Nobel Peace Prize and was one of the founding members of the U.N. With this global focus, one big plus of Rotary is worldwide networking. Virtually every community of size has a Rotary Club. A Rotarian can drop into a meeting everywhere in the world and connect with key people, including faraway places as India, Tanzania, Cambodia, Malawi, South Africa, Burkina, Faso, The Dominican Republic, Mexico and Haiti.
Rotary used to be viewed as “an old white man’s organization.” Not anymore. Today, as it continues to grow, 25% of our members are women. Our incoming International President is a Woman – a Canadian, Jennifer Jones. Rotary is becoming increasingly diverse. Over 60% of our clubs’ new members in the past two years are first or second-generation Canadians from Non-European or North American countries. Rotary also has a sub-group called Rotaract aimed at those under 30 who want to change the world. But don’t worry about your age! There are many in their 80s who have joined.
Rotary is a collection of people from every walk of life wanting to make the world a better place. Check out Rotary International https://www.rotary.org/en and look for Rotary in your community. You will not be disappointed!
Chris Snyder is the founding and current Chair of HIP (Honouring Indigenous Peoples), a Rotary initiative. He is also the author of “Creating Opportunities: A Volunteer’s Memoir.”
