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Rotary District 6900
Conference Theme 2011-2012 |
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 An Introduction to Rotary International Rotary 101 Rotary was founded by Paul P. Harris, a lawyer in Chicago, Illinois on February 23, 1905. Paul Harris began a quest to be among honorable men who were of a like mind. Back then in Chicago and elsewhere in the United States, integrity and honor were two character traits lacking. On that historically Rotary day, Paul met with three friends Sylvester Shiele a coal dealer, Gustavus Loehr a mining engineer, and Hiram Shorey a merchant tailor. Legend has it, they met for dinner with camaraderie as a goal. The first Rotary club President was Sylvester Shiele and the first President of Rotary International was our founder Paul Harris. Initially, Paul Harris’s idea was to promote fellowship among business acquaintances, but soon the purpose had evolved into a higher calling, that of service to others. The club met in rotation at the offices of each member and the name ROTARY was adopted. The membership of that first club was diverse and diversity continues to be one of the dominant characteristics and strengths of the organization. From its founding Rotary expanded nationally. With 16 clubs chartered coast to coast the first national convention was held in 1910. At that time the organization was known as the National Association of Rotary Clubs. In 1911 Rotary became international, establishing clubs in Canada, England and Ireland and was known as the International Association of Rotary Clubs. Rotary was the forerunner of other great service organizations such as Kiwanis International founded in 1915. The first International Association of Rotary Clubs Convention was held in Atlanta Georgia in 1917 and in 1922 the name was shortened to the present Rotary International. There are now over 1.2 million men and women united in the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self”, Rotary’s official motto. Rotary is organized into Zones, Districts and Clubs. There is consistency in the leadership structure of the organization. Rotary International and its philanthropic arm, The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International provides oversight of the Zones, Districts and Clubs worldwide. There are separate Boards of Directors for Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. The Manual of Procedure helps clubs and district leaders understand Rotary and Rotary policies and procedures most relevant to their service. The manual is published every three years. The most current edition is 2010. Detailed information on the organization may be found online at www.rotary.org. There are 34 Rotary Zones, further divided into 530 plus Rotary Districts worldwide. The Rotary Club of Stone Mountain is in District 6900, one of three districts in Georgia. The other two are Districts 6910, and 6920. District 6900 is one of the 14 districts of Zone 34. Responsibility for the Zone is a Director and the District is a Governor. The boundary of our district is from Polk and Paulding County north of the Atlanta area south to the Florida line and from I-75 West to the Alabama line. It also encompasses the eastern metropolitan Atlanta counties of Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb, Fayette, Clayton and Henry County. There are 69 Rotary clubs in our district with a membership of approximately 4500. The Rotary club of Stone Mountain is similar to other Rotary clubs yet clearly distinctive. Rotary clubs operate under the Standard Club Constitution and recommended Rotary Club By-laws. Our Rotary club has a president, president elect, president-nominee, immediate past president, secretary, treasurer, sergeant at arms and eight directors – Administration, Service Projects, Membership, Foundation, Public Relations, New Generations and three Directors at Large. The club is organized to impact the five avenues of service. The five avenues of service are Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, International Service and New Generations Service. Revised July 1, 2011 |
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