Rotary International is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders. Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. There are 35,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. As signified by the motto Service Above Self, Rotary's main objective is service - in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world.

Rotary International (RI) is administered from offices in Evanston, Illinois, close to Chicago, where Rotary was founded. Rotary clubs pay annual dues to support RI's programs.

An elected Board of Directors representing all regions of the world oversees administration, helped by a secretariat with a staff of more than 500. Every three years, a Council on Legislation, with a representative from each Rotary district, meets to consider resolutions to modify or change, the constitution and by-laws governing Rotary. At the International Convention, delegates present reports and discuss resolutions.

The Rotary world is divided into districts, each with a District Governor serving for one year. Our Club is in District 3360 which comprises a total of 69 clubs. Each Rotary club is autonomous, having its own constitution and by-laws within the framework of Rotary.

You can read more about Rotary International at www.rotary.org.

The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise. This ideal of service is fostered through the development of acquaintance as the opportunity for service; the promotion of high ethical standards in business and professions; through service in one's personal, business and community life; and the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace.

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. It provides humanitarian grants that improve the quality of life throughout the world; sponsors educational awards to university students and teachers; and sponsors international exchanges of business and professional people. These programs are all directed towards furthering understanding and friendly relations among the world's people.

A Rotary club has two main functions: to promote fellowship among its members; and to provide service to the community and to the world.

When you become a Rotarian with the Chiang Mai International Rotary Club, you will be expected to attend club meetings regularly, only missing a meeting when it is unavoidable.

Because the club meets twice a month, members get to know one another very well, learn about other businesses and professions, and form strong and close relationships. Also, it helps to get jobs done when members can be counted on to be there. If it is necessary for you to miss a meeting, you will be encouraged to "make up" at another club. (See "What is a make-up".)

The Chiang Mai International Rotary Club functions through committees, each under the umbrella of a Director and a Chair. Everyone is expected to take a share of committee work, and be available to assist in fundraising and service projects.

Rotarians are also expected to carry the ideals of Rotary outside the club into their own fields of endeavour. You can do this by wearing your Rotary pin proudly, by displaying The Four-Way Test in your place of business and by exemplifying its principles in your everyday business dealings.

When you accept the privileges and responsibilities of being a Rotarian, you can help the club grow by encouraging colleagues and acquaintances to come to a meeting, and perhaps become Rotarians themselves.

Every Rotary club has its own character, but there are some common elements that make Rotarians feel at home at any club worldwide.

The Chiang Mai International Rotary Club meetings last for about 2 hours, including a short break in-between. Members and guests start to gather about 30 minutes before the meeting for dinner, social talk and fellowship.

There is a guest speaker and time to conduct some club business - giving reports, making plans and solving problems. Members often bring guests, such as spouses, prospective members or just people who are interested in the guest speaker.

There may be Rotarians visiting from other clubs in the area, or even from around the world. Sometimes there are Interactors or Rotaractors attending our meetings.

The meeting is usually chaired and run by the President whose job it is to maintain an orderly, dignified and effective meeting.

Members and guests can pay "happy baht" for the privilege of giving good news, or bragging about achievements. It is a "fun-raising" time.

No minimum age to join our Rotary Club. You may be invited to join at any age if you have the time and financial resources to meet all Rotary club membership requirements. If you’re interested in joining Rotary, come out and join us for a meeting before you consider joining. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month. Please contact us for an invitation.

Every Rotarian pays annual dues to Rotary International and to their Rotary Club. At Chiang Mai International Rotary Club, these fees are combined into one overall package and may be paid in full annually or in convenient, semi-annual installments. Please contact us about our current rate.

A portion of your membership dues help fund club and district expenses, as well as Rotary International operations worldwide. In addition, every Rotarian of the Chiang Mai International Rotary Club (CMIRC) automatically supports Rotary International's PolioPlus Program and its Annual Fund at no extra cost.

Rotary has been working to end polio for more than 30 years. The PolioPlus Program provides polio vaccines, mobilizes community resources, and supports operational costs related to international efforts to immunize children, detect and track cases, and eradicate polio worldwide.

The Annual Fund helps Rotary clubs create positive change in communities at home and around the world. Your contributions help strengthen peace efforts, provide clean water and sanitation, support education, grow local economies, save mothers and children, and fight disease.

One of the obligations of Rotary membership is regular attendance at meetings. When attendance is not possible, Rotarians are encouraged to "make-up" at another club or to complete an electronic "make-up". The club secretary will give a make-up card to any visiting Rotarian and this is brought back to the home club.

As there are over 33,000 Rotary clubs in the world, including Antarctica, it is usually possible to find one wherever you are. The club secretary has a directory listing these clubs with their meeting day and location. This information is also available on the Rotary Web Site at www.rotary.org under "Where clubs meet." One of the side-benefits of making up is the pleasure of visiting other clubs, meeting local people, and seeing what other clubs do, how they raise money and how they run their meetings. Alternatively, you can complete an electronic make-up by visiting www.rotaryeclubone.org .

"As a Rotarian, I am constantly offered opportunities to serve locally, nationally and internationally. It is a unique experience."

"It is very rewarding to see the excitement on the face of a student chosen for International Youth Exchange, to hear the gratitude of seniors, to know that together we are making a difference in our own community and around the world."

"As I am self-employed and work alone much of the time, my Rotary club gives me a professional group I can interact with. I have learned so much about my community through Rotary."

"Being a Rotarian makes me a true world-citizen."

"When I travel, I am an ambassador of my club, my district and my country and am welcomed as a brother wherever I go. I can be at home with friends anywhere worldwide at a Rotary club meeting."

"If Rotary ran the world there would be no war and no poverty."