Rotary Fellowships

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• Rotary Fellowships

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Rotary Fellowships

• Rotary Fellowships is one of Rotary
  Internationals nine structured programs designed
  to help clubs and districts achieve their service
  goals in their own communities and in communities
  abroad, fostering fellowship and goodwill in the
  process.

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What are Rotary Fellowships?

• Rotary Fellowships encompass a variety of
  interests ranging from recreational and
  vocational interests to medical and
  health-related concerns to specific humanitarian
  projects as a means of furthering international
  fellowship, friendship, and service.

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Rotary Fellowship Goals

• Rotary Fellowships
• Advance the Object of Rotary
• Further international fellowship and service
• Provide unique service to the community
• Strengthen membership retention
• Have fun

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Rotary Fellowships History

• Rotary Fellowships informally began in 1928 when
  a group of Rotarians with an interest in
  Esperanto joined together. In 1947 Rotarians
  organized a group of boating enthusiasts.
• These activities gained more attention and
  operated over the years as World Fellowship
  Activities, International Vocational Contact
  Groups, and Rotary Recreational and Vocational
  Fellowships.
• Health and medical-related groups were brought
  into the program in 2001, resulting in the Rotary
  Fellowships program.

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About Rotary Fellowships

• Each fellowship is operated independently of
  Rotary International, with its own rules, dues
  requirements, and administrative structure.
• There are more than 80 fellowship groups ranging
  from AIDS activists, to floral designers, to
  editors and publishers.
• Membership is open to Rotarians, and in some
  instances, to spouses and Rotaractors as well.

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Fellowships Projects

• Although the Heart Surgery Survivors
  Fellowships goal is to distribute information
  about heart procedures, members also assist the
  Gift of Life program, an initiative of Rotary
  clubs that brings disadvantaged children with
  life-threatening heart defects to more developed
  countries for surgeries.

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Fellowships Projects/Activities

• The Bird-Watching Rotarians, with other clubs,
  are helping to finance a bird sanctuary and
  nature study center at a preserve that is a
  magnet for birds. The project aims to educate the
  public, especially school-children, about the
  Indian subcontinents bird species, some of which
  are nearing extinction due to habitat
  destruction.

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Fellowships Projects/Activities

• The Amateur Astronomers Fellowship, with
  other clubs, sponsors an astronomy camp designed
  for Rotarians, teachers, students, and others to
  learn about astronomy.

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Convention Activities

• At the RI Convention, 30-40 fellowships exhibit,
  hold their annual meetings, and most arrange
  activities for its members, such as
• Wine Appreciation arranges wine tasting tours.
• Caravanning and Recreational Vehicles conduct
  regional tours.
• Golfing has daily golf outings.
• Running and Fitness conducts morning runs.
• A general annual meeting for all Rotary
  Fellowships is convened at the convention.

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How to Join

• Contact the fellowship directly
• Contact your district Rotary Fellowships chair.
• If a fellowship for your interests does not
  currently exist, contact Rotary International for
  information on how to start one.

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Resources

• The following resources are available on the RI
  Web site
• Rotary Fellowships section
• Rotary Fellowship Handbook
• Rotary Fellowships staff
• Rotary E-Learning Center