2008: Rotary officially launches its effort to match a US$100 million challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help eradicate polio. In 2009, Rotary receives another grant of $255 million from the Gates Foundation and launches Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge to match a portion of the grants and further support efforts to End Polio Now.

2007: The Rotary Foundation celebrates the millionth Paul Harris Fellow by recognizing 34 individuals – one from each Rotary zone. The donors receive plaques and certificates honoring their contributions

2006: Only four countries remain polio-endemic: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Polio cases worldwide have dropped by 99 percent since 1985.

2005: Rotary celebrates its 100th anniversary at the centennial convention in Chicago. Clubs commemorate the centennial by launching hundreds of community service projects and contributing thousands of volunteer hours.

2004: RI hosts its largest convention to date in Osaka, Japan. A record 45,381 paid registrants from 113 countries and geographical areas attend, surpassing the attendance record set by the Tokyo convention in 1978. The inaugural class of 66 Rotary World Peace Fellows graduates.

2003: The Rotary Club of Kabul, Kabul, Afghanistan is chartered. Jonathan Majiyagbe, of Kano, Nigeria, becomes Rotary International's first president from Africa. Five Rotary Centennial bells begin their journey to Rotary clubs around the globe in honor of the organization's 100th anniversary in 2005. The bells embark in June from the RI Convention in Brisbane, Australia.

2002: Europe is declared polio-free at the RI Convention in Barcelona, Spain. By the end of the year, only seven countries remain polio-endemic. Rotary announces a new US$80 million campaign to support polio eradication. Rotarians respond by raising over $129 million.

1999: Rotary establishes the Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution to help prepare future leaders and diplomats. The program offers coursework in international relations, public administration, sustainable development, peace studies, and conflict resolution at several partner universities throughout the world.

:1995 The first women begin their terms of service as district governors. The eight women are Mimi Altman, District 6440 (Illinois, USA); Gilda Chirafisi, District 7230 (Bermuda; New York, USA); Janet W. Holland, District 5790 (Texas, USA); Reba F. Lovrien, District 5520 (New Mexico; Texas, USA); Virginia B. Nordby, District 6380 (Ontario, Canada; Michigan, USA); Donna J. Rapp, District 6310 (Michigan, USA); Anne Robertson, District 6710 (Kentucky, USA); and Olive P. Scott, District 7190 (New York, USA).

1989: Rotary returns to Hungary and Poland. The Rotary Club of Budapest, originally admitted to Rotary in 1925 and terminated in 1942, is readmitted on 25 January. The Rotary Club of Warszawa, originally admitted in 1931and terminated in 1940, is readmitted on 30 June. Many European Rotary clubs disbanded during World War II because of wartime restrictions on travel and communication. Once clubs could no longer fulfill Rotary's meeting and communication requirements, Rotary International was forced to terminate them.

1988 :Rotarians raise US$247 million through a PolioPlus fundraising campaign. Their generosity inspires the World Health Assembly, convened annually by the World Health Organization , to adopt a resolution to eradicate polio by 2000. The resolution paves the way for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative , the largest internationally coordinated public health program to date. Rotary International is among the first to commit funds to the initiative. 

1987: Women join Rotary. On 4 May, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that Rotary International may not exclude women from membership based on gender. Hundreds of women across the United States are admitted to Rotary. The club that started the legal battle, the Rotary Club of Duarte, California, is reinstated after its termination in 1978 for admitting women. [In 1989, the Council on Legislation votes to eliminate the requirement that club membership be limited to males, permitting clubs worldwide to admit women.]

1985: Rotary launches PolioPlus to fund the operational, social mobilization, and training efforts required to eradicate polio. It is unveiled at the annual RI Convention, where Dr. Albert Sabin, who discovered the oral polio vaccine, urges Rotarians to maintain their commitment to immunization around the world. Sabin warns that without action, there could be an additional eight million cases of residual paralytic polio worldwide by 2005.

1979: The Rotary Foundation funds the first Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grant: a project to immunize six million Philippine children against polio. RI President James L. Bomar signs an agreement with the Philippine government to begin immunization and administers the first drops of vaccine to a Philippine child. The grant sets the stage for Rotary's decades-long commitment to the eradication of polio.

1907: The Rotary Club of Chicago performs one of its first acts of community service. The club calls a meeting of civic organizations to establish a committee for installing city comfort stations, or public toilets, to improve sanitation. "In common with my fellow members, I had learned to place emphasis on the giving rather than the getting," Paul Harris later writes in his book This Rotarian Age.

1908: The second Rotary club, the Rotary Club of San Francisco, receives its charter on 12 November. Founding members Homer Wood, Chester H. Woolsey, and Roy R. Rogers attend the charter banquet. Club members elect Wood president, and he becomes known as the father of Rotary on the Pacific Coast.

1910: The National Association of Rotary Clubs of America holds its first convention in Chicago at the Congress Hotel, 15-17 August. Sixty registrants attend. Rotarians elect founder Paul Harris president of the association. Rotary comprises 16 clubs with over 1,000 members throughout the United States.

1911: Rotary launches The National Rotarian (later The Rotarian ) with Chesley Perry as editor. The first issue appears in January. The 12-page periodical includes an essay written by Paul Harris about the purpose of Rotary clubs, announcements of newly chartered clubs, and other club news items.

1912: The first official Rotary club outside the United States is chartered. The Rotary Club of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, receives its charter on 13 April, two years after its first meeting. The Rotary Club of London is the first European club to be chartered. Rotary changes its name to the International Association of Rotary Clubs to reflect its new membership.

1914: Rotary clubs in Great Britain and Ireland form the British Association of Rotary Clubs. R.W. Pentland is their first president. At the international convention, Rotary recognizes the British association of 1,128 members as a legitimate extension.

1916: The Rotary Club of Havana, Cuba, is the first Rotary club in a non-English-speaking country. The club is established on 29 April with 22 members. The club participates in city planning and, in 1917, helps establish traffic laws.

1917: RI President Arch C. Klumph proposes an endowment fund "for the purpose of doing good in the world." The fund receives its first contribution, $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri, USA. The fund is the precursor to The Rotary Foundation, a not-for-profit philanthropic corporation that supports Rotary International.

1918: U.S. Rotarian Ancil Brown creates the Allied Rotary Club of France in Paris. The club's first meeting is on 23 August at the Hotel Continental. As the club's first president, Brown invites U.S. Rotarians who are in Paris for the war effort to attend. The Rotary Club of Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay, becomes the first Rotary club south of the equator.

1919: The first International Assembly is held in March in Chicago. On 1 June, the Rotary Club of Manila, Philippines, becomes the first Asian club admitted to Rotary. On 17 July, the Rotary Club of Shanghai becomes China's first club.

1921: The 1,000th Rotary club is chartered in January in York, England. The Rotary clubs of Melbourne, Victoria, and Sydney, New South Wales, are the first Australian clubs admitted to Rotary. The Rotary Club of Johannesburg, South Africa, is the first Rotary club in Africa.

1922: Rotary International becomes the official name of Rotary. The name is approved as part of the new constitution and bylaws adopted at the international convention

1924: The Board of Directors votes to adopt the modern Rotary emblem, a new version of the gearwheel first adopted in 1918. The redesigned logo has a more realistic gearwheel with a keyway.

1928: Canadian Rotarian James W. Davidson embarks on a mission to organize clubs in Asia and the Middle East. During the three-year odyssey. Davidson charters 23 clubs in 12 countries, as far west as Turkey and as far east as Thailand.

1929: The Rotary Foundation gives its first gift of US$500 to the National Society for Crippled Children, later Easter Seals, founded in 1921 by Rotarian Edgar F. Allen, of the Rotary Club of Elyria, Ohio, USA. Paul Harris served as chair of the organization.

1930: Rotary celebrates its 25th anniversary with the Silver Jubilee Convention in Chicago, 23-27 June. All but three of the past RI presidents attend. Rotarians take trips to the University of Chicago, sail on Lake Michigan, and golf at more than 30 golf clubs. Rotarians' wives enjoy tea at the Edgewater Beach Hotel. All attend the Venetian Carnival, held off Navy Pier.

1940: World War II tests Rotary's hope for peace. Rotarians establish the Rotary Relief Fund to help war victims. They also draft a resolution calling for "respect for human rights," setting the stage for Rotary's prominent role in promoting world peace.

1943: Rotary International officially adopts The Four-Way Test, one of the world's most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics. Herbert J. Taylor, a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago who would later become the 1954-55 RI president, drafts the 24-word test in 1932 to help an aluminum company on the verge of bankruptcy after the Great Depression.

1945: A group of 49 Rotarians help draft the United Nations Charter. Rotary International is granted adviser status at the UN Charter Conference. Rotarians provide translation and dispute-resolution services to attendees. Rotary's early involvement with the UN sets the stage for future partnerships with UN agencies.

RI President-elect Sakuji Tanaka unveiled the 2012-13 RI theme, Peace Through Service, during the opening plenary session of the 2012 International Assembly, a training event for incoming Rotary district governors. Rotary Images/Alyce Henson

• Watch a video excerpt of the theme speech
• Send a theme e-card
• Get Rotary graphics
• Download the theme speech (PDF)
• Learn more about Rotary Peace Centers
• Order RI Theme materials

I take this opportunity to wish every members and friends the season's greetings and Happy Holiday to all. Have a Happy and Joyous Christmas and a very good New Year 2012.

In a fast changing world geared towards economic progress and success, there are many needy families and individuals who may be left behind to fend for themselves. With this in mind, the Foundation of Rotary Clubs (Singapore) Limited has continually revamped itself to stay relevant and to proactively pursue programmes and services to help these families. I am pleased to say that despite the challenging times,

Rotarians continue to provide strong support and uphold their mission and vision of “Impacting every Family and Individual in need through our ideal of service above self”. In pursuit of this ideal, the Foundation of Rotary Clubs (Singapore) Limited set up the Rotary Family Service Centre (RFSC) in 1997. We have further increased efficiency by streamlining our operations recently. The Foundation of Rotary clubs will be led by its Director of Operations. The Rotary Family Service Centre (RFSC), which is an integral division of the Foundation of Rotary Clubs, will be led by the Executive Director. Our Chief Financial Officer will keep a watchful eye on finances and governance.

RFSC is staffed with a team of trained and experienced social workers who offer support to families and individuals through a range of social programmes and services. Some of these services include, the giving of hardship allowance and School Pocket Money Fund with support from the Lee Foundation and National Council of Social Service respectively.

Presently, we are faced with the challenges of an aging population. As one of the fastest aging populations in Asia, we will by 2030, have one in six Singaporeans to be over 65. As such, the Foundation has taken various initiatives to get a head start to better understand and address some of these challenges. To prepare ourselves for this journey, we have formed a working management committee with NTUC Eldercare Services to gain a better understanding of the resources required.

By launching the NTUC - Rotary Silver Circle in Marsiling, Rotarians have taken yet another step towards helping our senior citizens lead a healthy and more fulfilling life in their twilight years.

Furthermore, we have initiated many activities with various grassroot organisations to expand our outreach and embark on new partnership programmes. All these projects are described in more detail in this brochure.

With the ever growing desire to provide services for the needy, there is a continual need to build up the Foundation’s reserves. We aim to achieve this through the generous donations from the Rotary clubs in Singapore and also through fund raising activities such as the Rotary Charity Golf fellowship that we hold annually.

I would like to thank all Rotarians, Rotary Clubs, organizations and volunteers who have provided us with their continuous and unwavering support and valuable contributions to our various programmes and services.

I look forward to a challenging, exciting and fulfilling year ahead serving the community through the Foundation of Rotary Club (Singapore) Limited.

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The Council on Legislation, Rotary's "parliament," meets every three years to deliberate and act upon all proposed enactments and resolutions submitted by clubs, district conferences, the General Council and Conference of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, and the RI Board. The Council itself also makes proposals.

The Council on Legislation is an important part of Rotary's governance process. While the Board of Directors sets policies for Rotary International, the Council is where Rotary clubs have their say in the governance of the association. Every three years, each district sends a representative to the Council, which reviews proposed legislation. Every club and district is entitled to submit legislation to the Council, and some of Rotary’s most important work has resulted from Council action. Women were admitted into Rotary because of the action of the 1989 Council on Legislation, and PolioPlus was born as the result of the 1986 Council.

The Council comprises more than 500 representatives from every part of the Rotary world. Voting members include one elected representative of the clubs of each Rotary district. Some nonvoting members include the chair and vice chair of the Council, the RI president, members of the RI Board, and past RI presidents.

Next COL 2013:

The next Council on Legislation will be in April 2013 in Chicago. Council representatives will be selected during the 2010-11 Rotary year.

The deadline to submit legislation to the 2013 Council on Legislation is 31 December 2011.

What’s new for the 2013 Council?

The 2010 Council made a number of changes to the legislative process for the 2013 Council, including the requirement that all proposed legislation must be submitted with a statement of purpose and effect as well as a limit to the number of times a Rotarian can serve as a voting member of the Council. Further information on these changes can be found below and in What’s New for the 2013 Council .

April, May or June 2013 Council on Legislation (date to be determined).

For more information about the 2013 Council on Legislation, please visit the Council portion of rotary.org or contact Council Services at 847-866-3302 or councilservices@rotary.org.

Rotary Peace Fellows are leaders promoting national and international cooperation, peace, and the successful resolution of conflict throughout their lives, in their careers, and through service activities. Fellows can earn either a master’s degree in international relations, public administration, sustainable development, peace studies, conflict resolution, or a related field, or a professional development certificate in peace and conflict resolution.

The Rotary Foundation partners with the following universities to offer fellowships leading to degrees or certificates in areas of study related to conflict prevention and resolution:

• Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand (professional development center)
• Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
• International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan
• Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
• University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
• Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

The Rotary Peace Center at Chulalongkorn University was established in 2004 to provide a three month, professional development certificate program twice annually to individuals currently working in related fields. Sessions run from January-April and June-August each year with a maximum of 25 Rotary Peace Fellows in each session.

The University of Queensland's Rotary Program for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution is part of a new global program to advance research, teaching, practical training and knowledge on issues of international relations, conflict resolution and peace-building. It offers a tailored Masters Degree, aimed at potential world and community leaders, designed to have a practical effect on addressing international and regional conflicts.

The Rotary Peace Fellows Programme was started in 2002. Each year, up to 60 Rotary Peace Fellowships are offered on a competitive basis at the Rotary Centers, which operate in partnership with six leading Universities. The Department of Peace Studies of Bradford University was named as one of these Centers when the programme was established in 2002. The other centers are the University of North Carolina and Duke University USA; the University of Queensland Australia: the International Christian University, Tokyo Japan; and the Universidad del Salvador Buenos Aires Argentina.

International Christian University (ICU) was founded in 1949 as a unique experiment in international and Christian education during the unsettled period after the end of the Second World War. For more than 50 years, the University has prospered as a beacon of openness, constructive change, and enthusiastic multiculturalism. Today, ICU is a recognized leader in international education and is known in Japan for its emphasis on academic excellence.As such, starting in September, 2002, ICU was designated as one of seven Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution throughout the world. Each year ICU accommodates up to ten Rotary Peace Fellows who pursue a two-year master’s level degree in peace studies and conflict resolution.

“Being everything to everyone has left the Foundation struggling to realize its mission. The new structure allows us to build on our strengths and realize more sustainable outcomes.”

– Robert S. Scott, 2007-08 Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

The Foundation's new mission, along with its new motto – Doing Good in the World – were approved by the Foundation Trustees and the RI Board and endorsed by the Council on Legislation.

The Future Vision Plan is designed to

• Simplify Foundation programs and processes consistent with the mission
• Focus Rotarian service efforts where they will have the greatest impact by addressing priority world needs that are relevant to Rotarians
• Offer program options to help achieve both global and local goals
• Increase the sense of ownership at the district and club levels by transferring more decisions to the districts
• Gain greater understanding of The Rotary Foundation’s work and enhance Rotary’s public image

Pilot overview

The Rotary Foundation Future Vision Pilot is a three-year test of the new grant structure offered in the Foundation's Future Vision Plan. One hundred districts are participating in the pilot. Pilot districts will have a unique opportunity to help refine the new grant structure by providing input and receiving specialized Foundation support and service.

Grant structure

Pilot districts will work with Rotary Foundation District Grants and Rotary Foundation Global Grants for three years of the pilot. Download the terms and conditions for these grants. For more information, view the " Choosing a grant " interactive training module.

Rotary Foundation District Grants
District grants are block grants made to districts for up to 50 percent of their District Designated Fund (DDF). District grants offer the flexibility to respond quickly to immediate needs or to plan projects with clubs locally or in other countries.

Rotary Foundation Global Grants
Global grants support large international projects with sustainable, high-impact outcomes in the six areas of focus that correspond to the Foundation's mission.

Areas of focus

1. Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
2. Disease prevention and treatment
3. Water and sanitation
4. Maternal and child health
5. Basic education and literacy
6. Economic and community development

Read more about the areas of focus.

We are into the fifth month in the Rotary Calendar and November is ‘Rotary Foundation Month’. Rotary Foundation was initiated in 1917, turbulent times, then. But, in the mind of Arch Klumph, it was a small step that he took that turned out to be a giant step for humanity in the World since.

This is what Rotary Foundation stands for today:

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

The Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world.

……………………………………..

Take a look at this brief:

Housing of Rotary Foundation:

The Ridge Avenue building met the needs of the Rotary Secretariat until the 1980s when the addition of new programs, the growth of The Rotary Foundation, and the new Polio Plus activities made the headquarters building extremely crowded and when a modern 18-story office building became available in downtown Evanston in 1987, it appeared to meet all of Rotary's space and expansion. The building was purchased by Rotary International, which leases approximately two-thirds of the space to commercial tenants, until needed by future Rotary growth.        

First of the First and more:

1. Rotary established the "Endowment Fund" in 1917, which became the forerunner of The Rotary Foundation.

2. Rotary first established the Paul Harris Fellows recognition in 1957 for contributors of US$1,000 to The Rotary Foundation.

3. Rotary Volunteers: The Rotary Volunteers program is open to Rotarians, Rotaractors, Foundation Alumni - even non-Rotarians can participate. The Rotary Volunteers program operates under the umbrella of Vocational Service at the club and district level. The Rotary Foundation occasionally provides funds to cover air transportation and modest living expenses for Rotary Volunteers.

4. 1964-65 was the first year The Rotary Foundation received total contributions of a million dollars in a single year. Today more than US$65 million is given annually. Contributions since 1917 total more than US$950 million….etc

Website: http://www.rotary.org/en/Contribute/Pages/ridefault.aspx

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I am much encouraged by our club’s attendance at the last District Seminar on Rotary Foundation on 22 October 2011. RC E-Club of 3310 was represented by seven members, out of a total of 82 participants. That is quite impressive. There are 22 Rotary clubs in Singapore.  I could not join in the activities at the Seminar owing to a bad bout of flu. But I am sure all who attended have had a fun learning experience.

By now our members would have heard the latest happenings in The Rotary Foundation. Going forward we shall participate in the Rotary Foundation programs, designed specifically to alleviate the living conditions of the under privileged. The Rotary Foundation uses our donation for good causes with the aim to help promote the welfare of the community by undertaking various humanitarian projects. Only part of the interests earned are used for administration of Rotary International.

One key event that that comes quickly to my mind is the UN-Rotary Day on 5 November. This is a UNAS-Rotary District 3310 collaboration to celebrate United Nations Day.  Our member Rotarian Rovena who is also a member of District 3310 PR Committee is the co-chairing the organisation of this event with the Secretary-General of UNAS (United Nations Association of Singapore). This event is also a major advocacy exercise to raise awareness of the many humanitarian projects being undertaken and call upon fellow Rotarians and friends to contribute generously towards the accomplishment of our goal to help the less privileged in our midst.

We look forward to full support from members and NGOs (Non-Government Organisations) in Singapore. The funds raised through the UN-Rotary Day will go towards supporting the various Community Projects , including the “Sustainable Borneo” project that Rotarian Rovena is championing to alleviate the plight of the under privileged in Sarawak’s hinterland.  We will also be taking the opportunity to invite the representatives of the Embassy in Thailand to share with those present the plight of people in Thailand who are facing the most disastrous flood that have been experienced ever; and raise funds for the disaster relief efforts.

I would also like to recognise the contribution of 2 PHFs [US$ 2,000.00] by our Charter President and our Assistant Governor Rotarian Chew Ban Seng. This will certainly increase our club’s per capita in the record of Rotary Foundation.

I would also like to call upon all members to participate in the EREY program by logging in to donate on-line through to “Member Access” on the Rotary International website. The donations we give now will return to our District in 2013-14, in time for Future Vision Plan implementation.

I wish one and all the best at home, work and at play. Christmas is around the corner and perhaps we all should make our wish list for ‘Santa’ soon?

Club President Tan May Yan

The tragedy of a terminal illness puts emotional, physical, and financial strains on the family. For many, there are hardly any financial resources or savings left for the extras, let alone time for those 'precious' special moments to say goodbye. The MY WISH Project is a way to make a difference in the lives of terminally ill adult patients in low-income households. This project was officially launched in 2008 with contributions from Rotary, government social service funds, corporate sponsors, charity organizations, and members of the public. With this fund, we have been able to help terminally ill adults by providing some comfort to ease the 'pains' of dying. 'MY WISH" is our wish to provide the terminally ill some comfort and for those they leave behind some final beautiful memories which their family can remember them by.

Now, three years later and the MY WISH Project had grown. To date, we have received a total of 66 applications that have been submitted primarily from hospices such as HCA Hospice, National University Hospital, Singapore Cancer Society and Agape Methodist Hospice. A very high rate of MY WISH beneficiaries are diagnosed with cancer and have less than 8 months to live. These patients are not all old and elderly – many have young children or teenage dependents and the hardship comes in knowing that they, as parents, will not be able to witness their offspring reach adulthood. The MY WISH Project enables families the opportunity to spend time together doing something out of the ordinary that is fun and memorable - a momentary escape from everyday life that many of us take it for granted..

What had been done:

1. A day at the beach for a family, in which the wife and mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Ambulance transport, an oxygen tank, and a couple McDonald’s happy meals were all that was required to make the wish complete.

2. In another wish, a father with heart failure wanted a family portrait to be taken at a photo studio as a remembrance gift for his son.

3. Another father with throat cancer wished for an electric bicycle so that he can continue the family tradition of cycling with his children on weekends.

4. And, in an example of true kindness, a single female who was diagnosed with breast cancer wished for a wheelchair not for herself but one to be given to an elderly woman who was in much greater need than she.

These wishes, if fulfilled ,will make a big difference in the remaining months of a patient’s journey. We hope to sustain this project so that more wishes can be granted. There are three ways in which you can help. First, you can volunteer your time. Second, you can be involved in the planning of a fundraiser. Third, you can take part in our benefactor program or be a corporate partner. Every bit of contribution counts.

A joint community initiative by the Rotary Eclub of 3310 and the Foundation of Rotary Clubs Singapore:

Visit: www.rotarymywish.weebly.com