Rotary Fellowships Newsletter
September 2005

Dear Rotary Fellowships Chairs:

2005-06 is shaping up to be a year of exciting changes for fellowships. As part of the new Global Networking Groups entity, you and your fellow members have an opportunity this year to reevaluate your goals, refine your groups’ focus under one of two new categories of official recognition, and enhance your groups’ visibility through improved information sharing and communications practices. Throughout the course of the year, we will provide you with regular newsletter updates such as this to help keep you informed of important news and developments in the program.

Review of Program Changes

At its June meeting, the RI Board agreed that due to the differences between the activities of service-oriented fellowships and recreational and vocational fellowships, these groups should be placed in two separate categories with distinct policies. Henceforth, fellowships with a recreational and vocational focus will remain under the current designation of "Rotary Fellowships," while those with a service focus will now be referred to as "Rotarian Action Groups." Both Rotary Fellowships and Rotarian Action Groups exist under an entity called "Global Networking Groups." These organizational changes have taken effect as of 1 July 2005; however, existing fellowships have been given until 1 July 2006 to verify their classification and meet the appropriate requirements for recognition. New proposed groups will be able to apply for recognition directly in the appropriate category. A new Global Networking Groups application document is available for this purpose, but currently active groups will not need to reapply for recognition.

New Policy Requirements for Global Networking Groups

We would again remind you to familiarize yourselves with the revised Rotary Code of Policies excerpts for Rotary Fellowships and Rotarian Action Groups. In the interest of clarification, a mandatory communications checklist is included on the new Global Networking Groups application, and is reproduced below for your information.

All Global Networking Groups are expected to assume the following time-sensitive responsibilities:

  • Respond to communications from the general secretary in a timely manner.
  • Publish a newsletter (which may be distributed electronically) for members of the group in good standing at least once during each Rotary year, and to file a copy of this and other important communications with the general secretary.
  • Hold an annual forum by way of a newsletter, annual meeting, or other activity appropriate to the group, through which members in good standing can interact.
  • Respond to inquiries from members, potential members, and the general secretary.
  • Submit to the general secretary proposed articles of incorporation in advance of such action. Articles of incorporation must include a statement to the effect that the group is not an activity or agency of RI.
  • Notify the general secretary of plans to approach other organizations for funds in excess of $25,000 or other cooperative relationships in advance of such action.
  • Obtain the approval of the appropriate district governor or governors in advance of any effort to request the cooperation of districts, clubs or Rotarians outside of the group’s own membership for any purpose whatsoever.
  • Submit an annual report of activities, including cost of membership dues and a financial statement showing revenues and expenditures during the past Rotary year, and a statement of funds on hand at the time of the report, to its members with a copy to the general secretary by 1 October of each year.
  • Rotarian Action Groups must also include a summary of service projects completed with their annual report. For Rotarian Action Groups with annual budgets or single service projects with costs of more than US $100,000 or equivalent, the annual financial statement and report they provide must be independently reviewed by a qualified accountant.

Recent Fellowships Announcements

    • 44 Fellowships set up exhibition booths in the House of Friendship at the Chicago Convention. Many Rotarians filled out coupon interest forms, which have subsequently been forwarded to the appropriate fellowship groups.
    • The Automobile and Motor Sport Fellowship of Rotarians was recognized by the RI Board, bringing the total number of Rotary Fellowships to 94. To recap, 10 new groups joined Rotary Fellowships in 2004-05:

International Fellowship of Digital Technology Rotarians
International Tennis Fellowship of Rotarians

Automobile and Motor Sport Fellowship of Rotarians
International Fellowship of Rotarian Convention Goers
International Fellowship of Rotarian Dental Volunteers
Doll Lovers Fellowship
Fellowship of Rotarians for the Prevention of Drug Abuse
Football World Fellowship of Rotarians
World Fellowship of Rotarian Gourmets
Fellowship of Literacy Providers

Upcoming Additions to the RI Web site

Be sure to check the Rotary Fellowships section of the RI Web site regularly for updates. Access Rotary Fellowships by following the "RI Programs" link at the top of the home page (www.rotary.org). Coming soon, you will find an "Upcoming Events" page in the Fellowships section. This space can be used to promote your group’s upcoming activities. To post an event, please send an e-mail message to rotaryfellowships@rotaryintl.org with the event title, dates, location, and contact person information. By the end of the month, we also expect to have a new section added to the Web site called "Featured Global Networking Groups." The first featured group will be Rotarians for Fighting AIDS (RFFA). RFFA is one of the first Rotary Fellowships to begin making the transition to become a Rotarian Action Group. Be sure to check the new Web feature for information on RFFA’s ambitious Orphan Rescue Project. To learn more, please also visit RFFA’s Web site at: www.rffa.org.

Request for News, Stories and Photographs of Fellowship Activities

In addition to your newsletters, we are always interested in updates on your groups’ activities. If you have news of a special event or activity that you would like to share for possible inclusion in a Rotary publication, please send a detailed description via e-mail to the Rotary Fellowships inbox. Interesting stories and photos covering successful activities are always welcome. We will also use your submissions in periodic updates to program handbooks, Rotary Web pages, and as featured updates in e-newsletters such as this one.

Contact us at:

Attn: Global Networking Groups Rotary International
One Rotary Center
1560 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201-3698
USA

e-mail to: rotaryfellowships@rotaryintl.org