Rotary is a worldwide organisation which was founded in Chicago, USA in 1905. Club membership is by invitation and is made up of suitably qualified business people.

Clubs exist to offer fellowship between business people and to serve the local community. Its motto is ‘Service above self’.

Rotary Foundation is the world's largest educational charity and provides the opportunity for Rotary to offer scholarships to non-Rotarians for study overseas.

Polio Plus is a Rotary funded campaign, run in association with the World Health Authority, which has virtually wiped polio off the face of the earth through an immunisation programme.

Individual clubs are autonomous in operation, but are all structured along the same lines. Each club has a president, secretary and treasurer. Every member is assigned to one of the club's committees, and in general these are:

• club service - this deals with the day to day running of the club; finding speakers for the weekly meetings, arranging sporting and social events, attracting new members, setting subscription levels etc.
• community service - organises events to help and entertain the less fortunate in the community and advises on charitable donations.
• foundation - this is Rotary's educational charity and it provides scholarship and educational opportunities for the benefit of the community.
• fundraising - as the name suggests, fundraising raises funds for charitable purposes.
• international - exists to promote better international understanding. This may be through contact with Rotary Clubs around the world, or it could be the provision of an emergency box for use after an earthquake or other natural disaster.

• vocational - this committee arranges speakers and events which help Rotarians improve their professionalism.