Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbours, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 119 years, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.  Rotary will celebrate 120 years of action in 2025.

Did you know?  The name Rotary was selected by the early members because meeting locations rotated among their offices

What we do

Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our 46,000+ clubs work together to:

• Promote peace
• Fight disease
• Provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
• Save mothers and children
• Support education
• Grow local economies
• Protect the environment

Promoting Peace

We promote peace across cultures – train adults and young leaders to prevent and mediate conflict and help refugees who have fled dangerous areas.

Fight Disease

We educate and equip communities to stop the spread of life- threatening disease like polio, HIV/AIDS and malaria.  We improve and expand access to low cost and free healthcare in developing areas

The Rotary Foundation

It is an endowment fund for “doing good in the world”.  I help clubs and districts to work together to perform meaningful, life changing sustainable service.  Our members’ and others contribute to the Foundation to allow us to bring these projects to communities in need – polio eradication, Rotary Grants – supporting humanitarian projects (Rotary Hoedspruit has been the recipient of two Foundation grants)

Support Education

Millions of people over the age of 15 are illiterate so we aim to strengthen communities to support basic education and literacy.

Rotary Club of Hoedspruit

The Rotary Club of Hoedspruit was chartered in 2015

Joining Rotary is by invitation and can enrich your life and improve the lives of people living in our area. Our motto is “Service above Self”.

Did you know?  Rotary’s Motto, Service above Self, reflects our belief in unselfish volunteer service.

A prospective member attends a number of meetings guided by their sponsor and then joins in  orientation /information evenings so they are made fully aware of the Rotary code of practices and at the same time are introduced to the other club members who will explain the various service projects that the club is involved in. The prospective member is also encouraged to include spouses in the club social activities.  The sponsor remains a mentor until the new member becomes an active Rotarian.

It all begins with our every second Thursday club meeting starting at 5.30 pm at Keystone Café where members catch up with friends, hear what is happening in their community and organize club activities and service projects.

As a Rotarian, you can attend a Rotary Club meeting and make acquaintances in practically any town or city in the world.   Each club is unique with its own personality and focus and meets at a regular time and place to discuss club business and hear from guest speakers or visiting Rotarians.

Special Rotary Observances

Rotary International provides the clubs with a calendar of monthly themes for the year to make sure that we focus on some of the identified global needs and each club establishes and monitors their own goals for the year.

Examples:

April           Maternal and Child Health – Some of the many health issues Rotary can be involved in: malaria eradication (distribution of Mosquito nets countrywide and into Mozambique), Blindness Prevention –  Gifting devices for diagnostics, Health Education and Awareness, Literacy, Water and Sanitation (waterless toilets, water tanks)

May           Youth Service

Rotary Hoedspruit in involved in Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) where each year thousands of young people are selected to attend Rotary Sponsored leadership camps or seminars held in the various district (we are district 9400).  These youth exchanges promote international understanding and lifelong friendships while instilling the value of service and leadership at an early age.

June           Rotary Fellowship – (www.rotary.org/fellowships)

Fellowship provides a chance to make lasting friendships with people outside your club.  Members of these groups share an interest, wish to further their vocational development or want to make new friends, explore opportunities for service and enhance their experience in Rotary.  To exist, a fellowship must have active members in at least, five countries. Examples of fellowships: 4 x 4 vehicles, Editors and publishers,  Honorary Consulus, Cycling and Ethics to name a few.

Rotary’s Public Image

A positive public image of Rotary enhances our ability to do good in the world.

We are very proud of our public image.  The world thinks of Rotary as our actions and the services we have performed.

The Rotary’s Master Brand

The Rotary Wheel Emblem is our most recognized and reproduced trademark and is a secondary mark and must appear in the official colours.  The word Rotary is our primary mark and must also appear in the official colours.

The Rotary Four Way Test

One of the most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics in the world is the Four Way Test.   It was originally used to save a  faltering aluminium company and later adopted by Rotary in 1943.

This 24-word code of ethics considers the following questions in respect of the tings we think and say or do:

Is it the truth?

Is if fair to all concerned?

Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

Will it be beneficial to all concerned?