Rotary works to improve the quality of life for all people.

Rotary is an international service organization of 1.2 million business and professional men and women who, as volunteers, address needs of their home and international communities.

Rotary exists to do good in the world. Rotary initiates local and international service projects to promote world understanding and peace and improve the life conditions for people of all ages and cultures. An example is PolioPlus through which Rotary is working to eradicate polio by the year 2005.

Rotary's strength lies in the volunteer service of its membership, an international network of business and professional leaders implementing a wide range of programs to meet human needs.

Rotarians are men and women of integrity who represent a cross-section of business and professional backgrounds. As volunteers of all ages, they work to meet community and international concerns.

Rotary's strength is that it is both international and local. For example, today's critical problems, such as health and sanitation, hunger, and environmental deterioration, must be addressed at local levels. With more than 29,000 clubs serving communities in 162 countries, Rotary is ideally suited to addressing such problems.

Through PolioPlus, Rotary leads private sector participation in the global effort to eradicate polio. The value of the half-billion-dollar program by 2005 is multiplied by the thousands of volunteers working in more than 100 countries to support childhood immunization.

Rotary's volunteer and financial assistance in vaccination efforts means polio will disappear in nation after nation, and region after region. Polio eradication will not occur until the disease disappears from all nations and all regions.

Rotary's community-based leadership in target countries was a deciding factor in the World Health Assembly's goal of polio eradication. Rotary International is the key private partner in the global fight to eradicate polio.

There are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians working in some 29,000 Rotary clubs in 160 countries and 35 geographical regions worldwide.

First admitted in 1987, women are the fastest-growing segment of Rotary's membership. There are nearly 2,000 women club presidents and women are rapidly assuming regional leadership roles.

Rotarians initiate community projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as violence, drug abuse, youth, AIDS, hunger, the environment, and illiteracy. Rotary clubs are autonomous and determine service projects based on local needs.

Rotarians work with and for youth to address challenges facing young people today.

Through participation in Rotary-sponsored Interact clubs (for secondary school students), Rotaract clubs (for young adults), and Rotary Youth Leadership awards, young people worldwide learn leadership skills and the importance of community service.

Rotary Youth Exchange gives high school students the opportunity to broaden their world view and build international friendships.

Rotarians have a history of building safe communities and working for peace. In the world's cities, where urban violence has become rampant, Rotary has the community-based network to help prevent unrest. Rotary-sponsored violence prevention projects and conferences address the root causes of violence such as drug abuse, poverty, lack of role models, and gangs.

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International provides an opportunity for Rotarians to work for international understanding and peace. Through their Foundation, Rotarians sponsor international educational and humanitarian programs.

PolioPlus is Rotary's commitment to eradicating polio by the year 2005. Through the efforts of Rotary and its partners in the fight against polio, more than one billion children worldwide have been immunized since 1985. In 1996, 154 nations reported no cases of polio, up from 85 when PolioPlus began. By the year 2005 Rotarian contributions will reach a half billion US dollars to eradicate the crippling disease. Of equal significance is the huge volunteer army mobilized by Rotary International for social mobilization, vaccine transport and immunization activities.

Rotary's international network helps link people in need with Rotarians in other countries that can provide resources. The Foundation's humanitarian programs provide health care and supplies, clean water, food, job training, and education -- particularly in the developing world.

The Rotary Foundation's educational programs include Ambassadorial Scholarships, the world's largest privately-funded source of international scholarships. Nearly 1,300 scholarships are awarded annually for study in another land. Grants are also awarded for university teachers to serve in developing countries and for exchanges of professionals.