Thanks to Pam York and Deise for your help.  Thanks to

Dictionary Chair Bob Rufolo and staff for planning this

operation.

 

 

 

HOSTING AN OPEN WORLD DELEGATION
The Open World program brings current and future leaders from post-Soviet countries to the United
States. Delegates complete an intensive, short-term program that relates to their professional or civic
work. Observing their professional counterparts in the U.S., they get a firsthand look at the American
system of democracy and free enterprise.
Rotary clubs in the United States can participate in the program, which is managed by the Open World
Leadership Center and funded by Congress. Rotary districts or clubs prepare an eight-day program that’s
designed around an Open World civic theme, such as:
• Accountable governance
• NGO development
• Higher education and innovation
• Social issues, focusing on health care provision and social services including special education
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The program emphasizes professional development, exchange, and cooperation. Key concepts include
transparency, accountability, civic initiative, and volunteerism.
WHAT DOES A HOST ROTARY CLUB DO?
The host club coordinates all on-the-ground logistics and prepares a program schedule:
1. Provides a homestay for six Open World participants and an interpreter for eight days and nights
2. Meets participants at the airport, and provides transportation between scheduled events,
activities, Rotary club meetings, etc.
3. Prepares a substantive program schedule that includes professional meetings for a minimum of
four full working days (32 hours), meals, cultural activities, and opportunities for participants and
hosts to get to know each other and share ideas
4. Submits a final report (host narrative, final agenda, cost share form, articles, etc.) and the
Expense Reimbursement Report/Request Form with corresponding materials to Rotary (both
submitted by a host coordinator)
Delegates and their American hosts and presenters often stay in touch and collaborate after the visit.
WHO ARE THE OPEN WORLD PARTICIPANTS?
The group of participants includes five delegates and one facilitator. Delegates are young professionals
(aged 23-35 and for some delegations 23-30) from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Serbia, Tajikistan, and Ukraine. Delegates are civic leaders in the fields of health, economics,
environment, education, business, local government, law, journalism, NGOs (nongovernmental

For more information go to rotary.org and search "open world"
 

 

Rotary Global Rewards

 

Paul P. Harris, an attorney, wanted to create a professional group with the same friendly spirit he felt in the small towns of his youth. On 23 February 1905, Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram Shorey gathered at Loehr’s office in Room 711 of the Unity Building in downtown Chicago. This was the first Rotary club meeting. They decided to call the new club “Rotary” after the practice of rotating meeting locations.

Within five years clubs had formed across the country, from San Francisco to New York.

In August 1910, Rotarians held their first convention in Chicago. The 16 clubs that existed at that time united to form the National Association of Rotary Clubs.

In 1912, the name changed to International Association of Rotary Clubs to reflect the addition of clubs in other countries. The name Rotary International was adopted in 1922.

By July 1925, Rotary had grown to more than 2,000 clubs and an estimated 108,000 members  on six continents.

Rotary’s reputation attracted presidents, prime ministers, and a host of other luminaries to its ranks — among them author Thomas Mann, diplomat Carlos P. Romulo, and composer Jean Sibelius.

As Rotary grew, members pooled their resources and used their talents to serve their communities. The organization's dedication to this ideal is best expressed in its motto: Service Above Self.

 

In 1932, Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor created The Four-Way Test. The test, which has been translated into more than 100 languages, asks the following questions:

Of the things we think, say or do

Is it the TRUTH?

Is it FAIR to all concerned?

Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?