Rotary Basics: RI Programs

RI has a lot of programs. And our club participants in many of them. Here’s the run down, with our participation in green. Want more info about getting involved? Just ask.

RI’s programs and service opportunities are designed to help Rotarians meet needs in their own communities and reach out to assist people in need worldwide.

Interact Rotary clubs organize and sponsor this service organization for youth ages 14-18; more than 10,900 clubs in 121 countries.

Rotaract Rotary clubs organize and sponsor this leadership, professional development, and service organization for young adults ages 18-30; more than 7,000 clubs in 162 countries. Eugene-Springfield has an Rotoract club that we actively support.

Rotary Community Corps (RCC) Rotary clubs organize and sponsor these groups of non-Rotarians who work to improve their communities; more than 6,400 RCCs in 76 countries.

Global Networking Groups Rotary Fellowships (groups geared to vocational and recreational interests) and Rotarian Action Groups (groups focused on service activities) compose Global Networking Groups, which are open to all Rotarians, spouses of Rotarians, and Rotaractors; more than 90 groups. Molly England is part of a global golf group and has traveled to Scotland on a golf tour with her Rotary network!

Rotary Friendship Exchange Rotarians and their families make reciprocal visits to other countries, staying in each other’s homes and learning about different cultures firsthand.

Rotary Volunteers Rotarians and other skilled professionals are provided opportunities to offer their services and experience to local and international humanitarian projects.

Rotary Youth Exchange Clubs and districts send and host students ages 15-19 who travel abroad for cultural exchanges of one week to a full year; about 9,000 a year. Even though we’re taking a break in 2008-2009, our club has hosted students recently from Ukraine, Bolivia and Argentina and sent students to Belgium and Sweden.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Clubs and districts sponsor seminars to encourage and recognize leadership abilities of youth and young adults ages 14-30. Every year, we send two high school students from our area to the RYLA camp.

World Community Service (WCS) Rotary clubs and districts from two different countries form partnerships to implement community service projects. The WCS Projects Exchange at www.rotary.org features descriptions of projects seeking an international partner. We are actively involved with WCS and have several international projects we support – most recently an “adopt-a-village” project in Buyuki, Uganda. Larry Rhodes is the director.

Menu of Service Opportunities RI recommends that clubs planning service activities consider nine major needs or concerns: Children at Risk, Disabled Persons, Health Care, International Understanding and Goodwill, Literacy and Numeracy, Population Issues, Poverty and Hunger, Preserve Planet Earth, and Urban Concerns.