01.01.2020                                                                                              

The purpose of this guide is to give Rotarians and friends of Rotary who are interested in partnering with RCOA an overview of the essential elements that contribute to the development and implementation of community service projects.

Please contact Mac Whyte, Service Projects Chair for additional information if desired. macrotario@gmail.com 

History of Rotary

Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.

Over time, Rotary’s reach and vision gradually extended to humanitarian service. Members have a long track record of addressing challenges in their communities and around the world.

“Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.”

Paul Harris

Rotary founder

Rotary is a membership by invitation orgranization. Today there are approximately 1.2 members in 35,000 clubs world wide.

The Object of Rotary

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;

FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

The 5 Avenues of Service

For years, Rotary’s commitment to Service Above Self has been channeled through the Avenues of Service, which form the foundation of club activity.

Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club. Learn about effective club service in Membership  and Training .

Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards. Observed each October, Vocational Service Month  spotlights Rotary club projects related to this avenue, offering opportunity for clubs and districts to use their professional skills in service projects.

Community Service covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community.

International Service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace. Rotarians can support International Service by sponsoring a project in another country, seeking international project partners to support projects in their own communities, or by personally volunteering at an international project site. The Rotary Showcase is a searchable database that gives a snapshot of Rotary projects worldwide.  https://map.rotary.org/en/project/pages/project_showcase.aspx

New Generations Service recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities as RYLA , Rotaract  and Interact , service projects, and creating international understanding with Rotary Youth Exchange .

Rotary Causes

Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our 35,000+ clubs work together to:

The primary cause of the Rotary Club of Ajijic is Education.

How Rotary is organized

Rotary is made up of three parts: our clubs, Rotary International, and The Rotary Foundation.

While Rotary clubs are grounded in the same values, no two are the same, because each community has its own unique needs. At club meetings in communities across the globe, our members come together to strengthen their connections to friends and neighbors and their commitment to improving lives.  A Rotary Club ranges in size from 20 to several hundred.

Districts are comprised of clubs from a specific geographical area.  Districts provide administrative support, training, networking events and serve as funding source for club projects.

Zones are mainly an administrative entity that provides support for multiple districts within a larger geographical area.

Rotary International supports Rotary clubs worldwide by coordinating global programs and initiatives.

The Rotary Foundation helps fund our humanitarian activities, from local service projects to global initiatives.

You can learn more at the Rotary International website:  https://www.rotary.org/en

Developing and Implementing Community Service Projects-The Essential Elements

Networking, Accountability, Sustainability, Passion (NASP)

COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT is at the heart of a successful project.

Assessing the strengths, weaknesses, needs, and assets of the community you plan to help is an essential first step in designing an effective and sustainable project.

RCOA uses the same form, process and procedures that are established for global grants by the Rotary Foundation.  This form will help you report the results of your community assessment, and it’s required for developing your project, regardless of the level of funding and implementation.  

Click for the online form:  https://tinyurl.com/uvvlzdu

How a Community Service Project is Developed & Implemented

The Rotary Club of Ajijic administrative procedures states the process for submitting community service projects to the RCOA Board for approval.   Link to the document:  https://tinyurl.com/yym4wlhg

Current RCOA Projects:     This is a listing of current RCOA projects with links to detailed documents that reflect the process that was followed as outlined in the administrative procedures.  Click to access: https://tinyurl.com/y2fgugxz

Author:  Mac Whyte. 01.01.2020