Learn more about the activities that Rotary Fellowships
are undertaking around the world, as well as tips on how
to start or join one. Hear from a number of current Rotary
Fellowship members about their firsthand examples in
undertaking service activities in areas related to their
work and personal interests.
2. • Peter Ibbotson-Travel and Hosting Fellowship
• Sergio Santi-Yachting Fellowship
• Michael Graves-Flying Fellowship
• Mark Burchill-Rotary Means Business
Panel Introduction
3. Rotary Fellowships
• What is a Rotary Fellowship?
• Examples of Fellowships
• Why join a Fellowship?
• How to get involved?
– Individual
– Club
– Propose a new Rotary Fellowship
• Process
• Rules
• Resources
International Chess Fellowship of Rotarians
Marathon Fellowship of Rotarians
7. Examples of Rotary Fellowships
As of April 2014
there were 67
Rotary Fellowships
officially registered
with Rotary
International.
Fellowship Cycling to Serve
14. IYFR FLEETS IN THE WORLD http://www.iyfr.net/new/members/
15. IYFR GENERAL RULES in 14 Languages
IYFR Procedures & Regulations En
IYFR Flags Uniforms & Boating Practice
Approved and current since July 2013
http://www.iyfr.net/t1/members/documents/index.php
OUR RULES
29. WE HAVE FUN …. TRUE. BUT NOT ONLY THAT!!!
IYFR GRANTS 2010 - 1 – 2 - 2013 for 100.000 plus €
Added more than 160.000 € out of our pockets for:
• Special boats for disabled
• Blind people regattas
• Fishing boats in Africa
• Hosting disabled on board
• Nautical students training on board
• Antique boats reconstruction
• Generator, desalinator and sails for Nave ITALIA
• Abandoned Crews assistance
• Rottaract
• Lifejackets for Africa
• Relief Operation in the Philippines (61.000 $)
• Etc.
31. Examples of Rotary Fellowships
Fellowship of Rotarian Photographers
Rotarian Fellowship of Quilters and Fiber Artists
International Fellowship of Rotarian Photographers International Fellowship of Rotarian Scuba Divers
International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians
33. Examples of Rotary Fellowships
Rotarian Wine Appreciation Fellowship
International Caravanning Fellowship of Rotarians
Fellowship of Railroading Rotarians
35. ITHF
• ITHF has more than 1000 members in 80
countries
• To enable Rotarians to meet other Rotarians by
staying with them for a few days in their homes,
either by hosting or being hosted.
• Membership provides access to a Directory
containing other Rotarians who wish to meet you,
show you their country and introduce you to their
Rotary friends and Clubs.
• There is no obligation or commitment to
reciprocate
36. • The ITHF provides all the benefits of a Rotary Friendship Exchange without
the constraints and restrictions.
• You can travel where you like, when you like and can determine the pace of
your journey
• You do not have to wait for District to organise an exchange.
• You do not have to apply to be included in the exchange team.
• You do not need the approval of your Rotary Club.
• There is no obligation for a reciprocal exchange.
• You simply look in the Directory in the places you wish to visit, select some
members whom you would like to meet. E-mail them with the dates of your
intended visit and await their response.
• They then decide if they are able to host you, if the dates are convenient etc.,
and will respond to you.
• If, for any reason, they cannot host you at that time, they will let you know
and you can make other arrangements.
• Sometimes they will suggest moving the dates by a few days or offer an
alternative.
• There is no obligation to host but most will do their upmost to
accommodate you.
Advantages of ITHF Membership
37. • ITHF VISIT TO NEPAL
• Peter, Rosemary & IYHF Host Sita in Pokhara
A Visit to Nepal
39. ROSEMARY WITH OUR ITHF HOSTS
ANAND, REVATI and HEMANT
A Typical ITHF Visit in India
40. Blind Student at Engineering College sponsored by the Rotary
Club of Ambarnath, India
Visited on ITHF trip to India 2013
You are often taken to see Rotary Projects in the Areas you Visit
41. VISIT TO A VILLAGE DAM PROJECT WITH TWO
MEMBERS OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF AMBARNATH
A visit to a Dam Project funded by Rotary
42. ITHF PRESIDENT VISITS A SCHOOL BUILT AND RUN BY
THE ROTARY CLUB OF AMBARNATH
A School built and funded by a local Rotary Club
44. Our Hosts took us to a Royal Wedding in Jodhpur
Guests at the Wedding
45. ITHF President Elect Medicare Hsu with President Peter
Ibbotson in Portugal
ITHF Tours
46. ITHF Members enjoy lunch break at a Port Wine vineyard in the
Douro Valley, Portugal, during an ITHF Tour
ITHF Tours are arranged Pre or Post Convention
47. Relaxing after another hard day on an ITHF Tour of Portugal
We try to pace our tours to suit the majority of participants
48. ITHF Members from 10 countries on a tour of Portugal hold an
impromptu concert on the last night . Each country did its own
thing but here the Brits are assisted by the Aussies
The Concert
49. Lady members from USA and Russia enjoying fellowship in
Portugal
Ladies can travel without partners on ITHF Tours
50. ITHF Members in the gardens of their hotel in Portugal
Portugal
51. A typical ITHF breakfast meeting at RI Convention
A Typical ITHF Breakfast at an RI Convention
52. British ITHF members get together for a weekend of
fellowship
Area Vice Presidents can organize “Get Togethers” for Members
55. Benefits of Rotary Fellowships
• Opportunities for Rotarians to make lasting friendships
outside of one’s own club, district and country
• Contribute to the advancement of world
understanding and peace
• Serve as an incentive for attracting new members
and for retaining existing members
International Travel and Hosting Fellowship
BREW: Beers Rotarians Enjoy Worldwide
Cricket Fellowship
57. Individual
• Contact a group that interests you directly using contact
information found online at www.rotary.org/fellowships
• Contact your district Rotary Fellowships chairperson for
further guidance.
• Create your profile on Rotary.org and
connect with other Rotarians and
Rotaractors.
• Start or join an online group or simply
correspond with other Rotarians and
Rotaractors
58. Promoting Fellowships
• Publicize local fellowship-sponsored events on your club or district website
• Invite local Fellowship officers to speak to your weekly club meeting
about their activities and related service work.
• Connect with Rotarians and Rotaractors around the globe by creating a
public or private group on Rotary.org.
• Publicize local fellowship-sponsored events on your club or district
website
• Seek out Rotarians who are outstanding in their professions or are
enthusiastic about a hobby and encourage them to join fellowships or
develop new ones.
60. Starting A Fellowship-Process
If a group for your interests does not currently exist, contact
RI Staff for information on how to start a new group.
• Completed application form with a clear explanation of the
group’s purpose and activities…
• Copy of the group’s proposed bylaws or constitution
• List of proposed officers and their responsibilities
• Roster of potential members, representing at least three
countries
You will need a…
62. “Rotarians Supporting the Success of Fellow Rotarians”
Our Journey from Local Group to Rotary Fellowship
Presented by Mark Burchill, Chair Rotary Means Business Fellowship
63. Mission Statement
Rotary Means Business encourages
Rotarians to support the success of their
fellow Rotarians by doing business with them,
and by referring others to them.
64. “Rotarians Supporting the Success of Fellow Rotarians”
Our Journey from Local Group to Rotary Fellowship
Presented by Mark Burchill, Chair Rotary Means Business Fellowship
71. Resources
• For general program information, visit
www.rotary.org/fellowships, where you can access the
following downloadable resources:
Rotary Fellowships Handbook (729)
Rotary Fellowships E-Flier
Rotary Fellowships Officer Directory
Rotary Fellowships Application Form
International Fellowship of Rotarian Photographers
Notas do Editor
Rotary Fellowships began informally in 1928 when Rotarians with a shared interest in the international language Esperanto joined together. In 1947, a group of Rotarian boating enthusiasts began flying the Rotary flag from their crafts, calling themselves the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians — which now holds the distinction of being the oldest continuing fellowship. The scope of fellowships has changed significantly over the years, but their purpose remains the same: to unite Rotarians in friendship and provide opportunities to enjoy favorite recreational activities, hobbies, sports, vocation, and most recently Rotary history and culture.
Many fellowships also use their special interests to serve others. For example, the Fellowship of Canoeing Rotarians has organized cleanups of polluted rivers; members of the International Computer Users Fellowship of Rotarians has conducted training sessions for Rotarians and others in their community; and members of the International Fellowship of Rotarian Scuba Divers join local Rotary clubs to undertake service projects on each of their diving trips.Currently, there are more than 60 official Rotary Fellowships registered with RI. One really good example of Rotary Fellowships organized around both a recreational activity and community service is the Fellowship Cycling to Serve. Through cycling activities, this Fellowship works to promote international understanding and peace.
Here we see just a small sampling of Rotary Fellowships:
Skiing Fellowship
Antique Automobiles Fellowship
Yachting Fellowship
Good day, I am Sergio Santi Rotary Club Chiavari Tigullio District 2032 Italy. I joined IYFR in 2007 founding the Italy NW Fleet with a small group of 22 enthusiastic Rotarian/Rotaractors and their Partners. I entered in the International Bridge in Birmingham during that AGM in 2009 and am actually and until San Paolo AGM, the IYFR International Commodore. I am a retired Italian Navy Officer and a Naval Aviator.
We, Rotary Mariners, believe that boating with fellow Rotarians & Friends is a delightful way to share ideas, improve our seamanship, provide support for Rotary service activities, make lasting friendships & practice the ideals of Rotary.
We are organized in 3 Areas and our Fellow Mariners come from 35 Countries. They speak 21 different languages. English is the official one.
Imagine each Fleet as a huge Yacht Club that may embrace several Rotary Districts. There are some peculiar situations: the Seattle Mariners f.i. come all from the same RC, Seattle 4. We have a great respect for local/national traditions.
The Fleet Bridge lead the Fleet and the Bridges’ leader is called «Commodore» as in any Yacht Club in the world. Fleets are grouped in REGIONS f.i. GB&I , New Zealand, The Philippines, East Mediterranean etc. A Region Commodore and his Staff are in charge of each Region. He is responsible to make the communications coming from the IB understandable by all of his Region Fleets and viceversa: requests, communications from his Fleets understandable by the International Bridge and by the other Region Commodores
Is the senior and the most “populated” Area. Here the language is the main problem but having grouped the Fleets per Country and being these lead by an English speaking Region Commodore, we manage to have sufficiently understandable relationship among us all.
This year we have chartered a new Fleet in England, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Israel and about to charter some others in Croatia, Malta. Possibly one in Rumania and one in the Czech Republic. The Crimea Fleet, as anybody can imagine, has been particularly taken care of; the situation is very critical at this time. Were it not for this major problem, the last one has been a fantastic year for all the Area. Regattas, meetings, events of any kind from most of the Fleets.
The
Here we have a great enrollment potential both in the North, Central and in the South but the enormous distances create problems in aggregation to a specific Fleet. We had here, in the North between Canada and the US, some 93 IMs that were pratically isolated and not following the general course. Now with the chartering in February of the World E Fleet (only one for the entire Globe), the English speaking fellow Mariners have a virtual Fleet in which they can operate and be followed.
The South is going ahead beautifully and a new Squadron, the first step to a Fleet, has been created in Chile in April. We are confident that in the future also this Area will reach her potential consinstence.
AREA 3 was struck last November by a terrible typhoon – JOLANDA - who claimed more than 7000 casualties. Destructions were enormous. IYFR immediately started a relief operation in strict coordination with the Philippines Districts Governors and IVC Jun Avecilla, providing food and first aid materials in the very first days after the tragedy and 60 fully equipped fishing boats for the Cebu Fishermen. 61.000 USD were transferred on the Phils account.
This is very active Area and the Fleets organize any sort of events
Here you can see where we are. We have a Directory that we call General Roster where all the Fellow Mariners are reported, with their addresses, telephone numbers, the boat, where the boat is etc.
We like to enjoy and have fun but, at the same time, we like to play by the book. Here are our Rules.
Note that the essential ones (5 pages only) come in 14 different languages so that every Fellow Mariner car read and comply. The others are in English only.
See here the front page of the IYFR GENERAL RULES in Hebrew
We like to enjoy and have fun but, and this is what we do
enjoy
Keep enjoying
And sometimes it happens to win!
This was one of our first service to our Flag-Ship, the Brigantine Italia. A desalinator for this very peculiar Ship which embarks disadvantaged young people
All of us know what happened in the Philippines early November 2013. IYFR was there immediately. Funds allocated arrived only one week later.
IYFR sent in less than one week all the money that could have been allocated as IYFR GRANTS for 2013-2014 Service in the 3 Areas. Our Mariners doubled the sum out of their own pockets. All was done in full respect and in accordance with the Philippine District Governor and the Area 3 IYFR Commodore and his Bridge.
A newspaper reported that almost 6000 drowns each year. They do not know what a life jacket is.
We collected all the (un)used life jackets from all our boats, our Yacht Club, friendly Ship Chandlers, Italian Navy Corps which, while not complying any more with the last Italian Rules, were still perfectly able to be a reliable emergency floating device. Gathered them in Chiavari, and sent them to destination in Kenya and Ivory Coast
Not without problems with the local authorities. At the end we made it. If only we succeede to save one life… that will be the best of the recognitions for IYFR!
Join IYFR. You will discover another way to serve.
….and a few more.
Photography Fellowship
Fellowship of Quilters and Fiber Artists
Fellowship of Scuba Divers
International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians
[Notes for Michael Graves]-IFFR
….and even a few more.
International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians
International Caravanning Fellowship of Rotarians
Fellowship of Railroading Rotarians
[Notes for Peter Ibbotson-Travel and Hosting Fellowship]
The International Travel and Hosting Fellowship provide the means for you to meet like minded Rotarians in more than 80 countries around the world. You stay with Rotarians in their homes and share their way of life for a few days. You will usually be invited to visit their Rotary Club, meet their friends and family and share their Rotary interests. They will usually show you the Rotary Projects that they are involved with and will provide a wealth of ideas for you to take back to your Club.
You see their countries as they see them – not as a tourist would. You will be shown things which, as a tourist, you would probably never see. You will share their food and customs and obtain a real insight to the way in which they live.
Even if you, for whatever reason, cannot stay with your hosts – perhaps you are travelling on business and staying in a Hotel, you can still make contact with local members, meet them for a drink or a meal (they will usually invite you to their homes for a meal) or visit their Rotary club. Or you are going on a package tour and accommodation is arranged, you can still meet up with a local member. Remember, these Rotarians are your friends - they are as keen to meet you as you are to meet them. Even a brief meeting with them will enhance your holiday experience. Why not use them to obtain advice about the area before you travel
Rosemary and I with our ITHF host Sita, our Vice President for Nepal at the International Mountain Museum in Pokhara, Nepal
Buddhist monks in Bhaktapur, Kathmandu. We visited three Rotary clubs with Sita in Kathmandu and some of the members took us around the three cultural cities which make up Kathmandu. On the final night of our visit Sita and her family had invited members from her club for a farewell dinner on the roof terrace of her home.
Rosemary with our ITHF hosts, Hemant and Revati Jathar with their friend Anand. While we were with Hemant and Revati we stayed in their town house in Ambarnath, in their hill house, and visited their farm.
A student at an engineering training college for the blind. The college is funded by the local Rotary club and manufactures collapsible white sticks for the blind which are sold to provide further funds
We were taken to visit a village dam project which was funded by the local Rotary Club. In the rainy season there is plenty of water in the local streams. But this quickly dries up when the rain stops, and the villagers are without water for about eight months of the year. By damming the river to create, a reservoir and providing a small pump, the village now has an almost year long supply
I was taken by my host to a school which was built and is run by the local Rotary Club.
Our host on this occasion was a Maharaja and we were invited as guests to a relatives wedding in Jodpur. Royal weddings last for about three days and have around 3000 guests. Here we see the bridegroom arriving on an elephant. During our month in India, Rosemary and I were invited to, and attended, five weddings in various cities all over India. At lesser weddings there are still around 1000 guests but the bridegroom arrived on a white horse
Other Royal guests at the wedding
Here I am with ITHF President Elect Medicare Hsu in Portugal. I hand over to Medicare at our AGM at this Convention.
ITHF members enjoying a lunch break at a Port wine vineyard in the Douro Valley, Portugal, before spending a hard afternoon wine tasting. 90 ITHF members representing 10 countries took part in last year’s tour of Portugal. Tours are organised, Pre or Post every RI Convention, to provide an opportunity to meet up with other members as a group
Relaxing at a hotel after another hard day on an ITHF tour.
An impromptu concert where members from each country entertain the other tour members on the last night of the tour. Each country does it’s own thing providing entertainment unique to that country. Here the Brits, who were outnumbered, are assisted by the Aussies singing “Land of Hope and Glory”. We later gave them a bit of assistance with “Waltzing Matilda”
Ladies from USA and Russia enjoying fellowship on the tour
ITHF members relax and enjoy the gardens of another beautiful hotel in Portugal
A typical ITHF breakfast meeting at an RI Convention. Usually 100 to 200 members attend depending upon the location of the Convention. Travel is expensive these days.
British ITHF members enjoy a weekend get together at a hotel in UK. We try to hold these each year to promote fellowship, to reunite with old friends, and to meet new friends who have joined the fellowship recently.
There are number of benefits to Rotary Fellowships. They offer:
Opportunities for Rotarians to make lasting friendships outside of one’s own club, district and country
Contribute to the advancement of world understanding and peace
Serve as an incentive for attracting new members and for retaining existing members
Further vocational development through acquaintance with others of the same profession.
Make new friends around the world
Explore new opportunities for service
Using your MyRotary account you now have access to an array of new social tools that will enable you to converse and collaborate with other Rotarians and Rotaractors. You can use these tools to find, start or further your goals for Rotary Fellowships…You can search Rotary’s Discussion Groups where you can exchange ideas with other Rotarians and Rotaractors who share your interest. If you find that a group already exists, reach out to them. But if not, consider starting a new one!
Rotary International looks to District Governors and District Rotary Fellowships chairs to facilitate communication and promotion of Rotary Fellowships, but that doesn’t prohibit you from helping to promote them as well. Whether it is between two Fellowships, Rotary clubs within the district, or even the broader public, there are numerous ways to help out. Promoting Fellowships is a responsibility that we can all share as a way both to grow and promote Rotary.
Rotary International has established specific policies for forming a Rotary Fellowship. RI rigorously evaluates each prospective group before deciding whether to formally recognize it. However, each fellowship operates independently of RI, with its own rules, dues requirements, and administrative structure. Membership is open to all Rotarians, Rotaractors, and their spouses. Here we show just a few of the requirements in the application process. We encourage Rotarians interested in starting a Rotary Fellowship to work closely with their District Chair and RI staff members.
Outside of the resources listed here, you should look into contacting: Rotary Fellowship Officers-Officers of existing fellowships can provide a wealth of advice to organizers of new groups. Many fellowships have been in operation for decades, and their leaders are knowledgeable about the best ways to promote fellowships and resolve problems. Consult the Rotary Fellowships Officer Directory for contact information.District Rotary Fellowships chairs are appointed by district governors to facilitate communication between fellowships and the Rotary clubs within the district, and to promote participation in fellowshipsRotary Fellowships Committee-Rotary Fellowships Committee provides guidance and advice to the Board on all aspects of the Rotary Fellowships program, assists prospective fellowships with the application process, and makes recommendations to the Board concerning recognition of prospective fellowships. Consult the Official Directory or contact Rotary Service staff for committee contact information.
Rotary Service Connections-Staff handle general inquiries about the Rotary Fellowships program and refer interested Rotarians to specific fellowships. In addition, staff members regularly contact fellowship officers with news about the program; offer advice on issues such as promotion, recruitment, and event planning; and help publicize Rotary Fellowships activities around the world