About Rotary

Rotary International

Rotary is an internationally renowned philanthropic organization of 1.2 million people from all walks of life joining together to serve areas of need through sustainable initiatives.

Rotary directs its efforts in six areas to enhance their local and global impact. Their most successful and sustainable projects and activities tend to fall within the following areas:
• Promoting peace
• Fighting disease
• Providing clean water
• Saving mothers and children
• Supporting education
• Growing local economies

Rotary’s distinct and multidisciplinary points of view give them unique advantages to tackle global issues and find sustainable solutions. They apply leadership and expertise to social issues—and find maintainable solutions. They try to make a difference at home and around the world; members can be found in your community and across the globe. Their mission statement is: To provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. Rotary sponsored organizations include Rotaract (collegiate level) and Interact (high school level). Each organization embodies the motto ‘service above self’ to advance neighboring and international communities alike.

Want to learn more about Rotary International? Check out their website!

Berkeley Rotary

One of the oldest Rotary Clubs in the world, Berkeley Rotary was established in 1916. Berkeley Rotary aims to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance global understanding, goodwill, and peace through the fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. Berkeley Rotary also holds historical ties to the UC campus. The current Chancellor was a past Berkeley Rotary President, and the central gathering place of the campus, Sproul Plaza was named after a past Berkeley Rotarian. UC Berkeley has in turn produced four Rotary International Presidents– twice as many as any other university.

Berkeley Rotary Projects

Berkeley Rotary projects include the construction and maintenance of the Rotary Peace Grove at Tilden National Park, the Berkeley High School District Dictionary Project, construction of the local YMCA, rebuilding the Berkeley Marina’s Shorebird Park, and renovating the Berkeley Public Library. Berkeley Rotary also contributes thousands of dollars each year to several undergraduate scholarships for high school students in the Berkeley area.

One of Berkeley Rotary’s larger international projects has been the construction and development of a library and educational facility in Mexico. Details can be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5UxGWMKoG4&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EULiNAy9MA&feature=youtu.be

Berkeley Rotary and Cal Rotaract

Cal Rotaract prides itself in its strong ties with Berkeley Rotary. Being sponsored by Berkeley Rotary, Cal Rotaract is one of the largest Rotaract clubs in the world. Cal Rotaract often collaborates with Berkeley Rotary in putting on some of their largest projects each year, working together as two generations of humanitarian workers and volunteers within Rotary International. Rotarians act not only as individual guides and mentors to service and personal development, but many also attend Rotaract’s General Meetings, service projects, and the end-of-the-semester banquet. Rotarians are often spotlighted as guest speakers for Rotaract’s General Meetings and participate in the Rotary Mentorship Program facilitated by our Rotaract and Rotary liaisons.

Berkeley Rotarians meet every week on Wednesdays at 12:30-1:30 PM at Hs. Lordships Restaurant by the Berkeley Marina. If you are interested in attending a Berkeley Rotary meeting, please reach out to a current Rotaract officer who can put you on the list and cover the lunch fee.

Want to learn more about Berkeley Rotary and their upcoming events? Check out their website!

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Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship

The Ambassadorial Scholarships program supports the mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by:

  • Increasing awareness of and respect for cultural differences by sending ambassadors of goodwill to study in another country
  • Instilling in scholars the Rotary ideal of Service Above Self through active participation in Rotary service projects
  • Encouraging scholars to dedicate their personal and professional lives to improving the quality of life for the people of their home communities and countries
  • Developing leaders who can address the humanitarian needs of the world community
  • Impacting all areas of the world through a balanced geographical distribution of scholars
  • Encouraging Rotarians worldwide to increase the educational opportunities for scholars from low-income countries
  • Fostering a lifelong association between Rotary and its scholar!

Link for more information:  https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/scholarships