Press Release from RIBI

RADICAL CHANGE FOR ROTARY TO MEET 21ST CENTURY CHALLENGE

Rotary announced today radical changes in the development of new clubs, as well as changes in the rules governing existing clubs, to meet the challenge faced by volunteer organisations in the new millennium. The new Rotary year which starts on 1st July sees the launch of a global initiative to set up 190 new clubs, 22 of these in Great Britain and Ireland.

The new experimental clubs will form their own constitution which will have the potential to transform the way that clubs are run. They will have very limited guidelines and will be able to operate to meet the specific local needs of business men and women. In addition all existing clubs will be open to both male and female members from July 1st.

This pilot will be the basis for modernising the organisation to make it attractive to those who will give a second century of Rotary service. Maintaining and increasing the membership of Rotary is viewed as a priority if Rotary is to carry out its many humanitarian efforts. Demand for their service is increasing at a time when manyl service organisations in Great Britain and Ireland are seeing a decline in membership. These pro-active measures should help the continued growth of Rotary internationally whose membership in the current year has grown to 1.2.million members with nearly 60,000 members in 1800 clubs in Great Britain and Ireland.

President David Liddiatt comments ' These are the most exciting changes since Paul Harris first conceived the principle of Rotary in 1905. Rotary today is operating in a very different world. Demands on business people are such that they can not easily give their time. We have to take the lead and these new arrangements for the experimental clubs will greatly assist attracting new members who need a much more flexible approach if they are to be involved in their local communities. In the past decade we have seen significant change in business which has been reflected in our membership with the introduction of business women ten years ago. Women are playing a key role in Rotary as witnessed by the election of the first female District Governor, Marilyn Potts, in Newcastle.'

In 2001/2002 the emphasis on Rotary service in Great Britain and Ireland will include two new activities: TB Alert and Team Rotary. A partnership with TB Alert will focus on raising awareness of the threat of TB. A major fund raising project is planned to raise £1 million around the Team Rotary entry in the World Classic Car Rally with all proceeds going to Motability and Rotary charities.

Further Details
Issued on behalf of Robin Freeman Secretary Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland Telephone 01789 765411 www.rotary-ribi.org

For further details about this press release, please contact Judith Diment, HBL Media on: 01628 418133 or 07860162313

Editors Notes

1. Rotary is an organisation of businesses and professional persons united world-wide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. Their motto is: Service above Self.

2. For general information on Rotary in your area, contact the local Rotary Club President. Details from Robin Freeman: 01789 765411

3. For more information on the Team Rotary entry in the World Classic Car Rally see www.teamrotary.co.uk

4. Motability is a national UK charity, which helps disabled people and their families to become mobile, by enabling them to use their Government funded disability allowances, to lease or buy a car, powered wheelchair, or scooter.

5. TB Alert TB Alert was founded in 1998 as the first TB-specific charity in the UK since the 60s, when the disease was thought – wrongly, it now transpires – to pose no further threat, and other organisations associated with it disbanded. Its role is to increase awareness and to raise funds to support work at home and abroad in combating the disease. Rotary sees its own part in supporting this work as entirely in line with its philosophy of helping causes that have a major impact on the community.

New Clubs

Proposed Club Name

Braintree Rivers, Essex
Brickhills, Bucks
Central Lancashire, Burnley
Eastbourne AM
Loughborough Charnwood
Mid Thames Phoenix, Maidenhead
Newcastle Upon Tyne North
Oxford Spires
Pendle View, Lancashire
Plymouth, Devon
Solihull, West Midlands

Existing Clubs, operating under new rules

Bridgwater, Somerset
Brookmans Park, Hertfordshire
Chorley, Lancashire
Grimsby Havelok, Lincs
Kenton and Harrow Sunrise, North London
Lancaster Leyne, Lancs
Luneadale, Lancs
Rowley Regis, West Midlands
Whitehaven Castle, Cumbria
Worksop, Dukeries
Yeovil, Somerset