What is Rotary?

Rotary International, the world’s first service club, is made up of 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.  Its members form a global network of business, professional and community leaders who volunteer their time and talents to serve communities both at home and overseas.

Rotary members are enthusiastic, fun-loving and active volunteers.  These are dedicated people, men and women from business and professions, who share a common interest in helping others.  Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self, exemplifies the humanitarian spirit of its 1.2 million members.

The club is the cornerstone of Rotary where the most meaningful work is carried out.  All clubs are responsible for sustaining or increasing their membership base, participating in service projects that benefit their own community and those in other countries, and supporting The Rotary Foundation, Rotary’s own charity.

Rotary is essentially a grassroots organisation with most of its service efforts being carried out at the club level.  Rotarians are members of Rotary clubs, which belong to the global association Rotary International (RI).  Each club elects its own officers and enjoys considerable autonomy within the framework of Rotary’s constitution and bylaws.

Ask Rotarians what they get out of Rotary, and each will give a different answer. Some enjoy the social aspect, others appreciate business networking opportunities and all love the chance to give something back to the community. But one thing remains constant, every Rotarian has fun.  There is a broad range of activities for members, including fundraising, project development, liaising with the community and working with schools, as well as hands-on work in developing countries.  Clubs usually meet weekly for breakfast, lunch or dinner in a friendly, social atmosphere and meetings often include a talk on a subject of general interest by a Rotarian or an outside speaker.

The Rotary club of Thurso is one of 1,840 clubs within Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI).  It has been in existence since 1963 and currently has 35 members.  We enjoy our club fellowship activities (the weekly meeting, Christmas Dinner, Burns Supper, Guest Night, inter club social activities); our Community Service activities (the Beach clean programme, financial and other support to local groups and projects – Mall Walk, Thurso river footbridge, Millbank play area, community fund draw); our Vocational Service activities (interaction with local schools – Rotary Youth Leadership Award, Practice Interviews, Speechmaking, Primary School Quiz, and the recently formed Interact club at Thurso High School); and our International Service activities (supporting the world’s disaster areas through Rotary projects such as Shelterbox and WaterAid, financial commitment to Rotary Foundation which targets global polio eradication).