What's Rotary?

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

Founded in 1905, Rotary International was the world's first service club organization. We have more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.

Rotary club membership represents a cross-section of the community's business and professional men and women. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are apolitical, non-religious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.
 
The main objective of Toronto East Rotarians is service - in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. We develop community service projects that address many of today's most critical issues - children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, literacy, and violence. We also support programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students and other professionals, and vocational and career development. 
 
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Although each Rotary club develops autonomous service programs, all Rotarians worldwide are united in a campaign for the global eradication of polio. PolioPlus, the most ambitious program in Rotary's history, is the volunteer arm of the global partnership dedicated to eradicating polio. Since 1985, Rotary has led the private sector in the global effort to rid the world of this crippling disease. Today, PolioPlus and its role in the initiative is recognized worldwide as a model of public-private cooperation in pursuit of a humanitarian goal.  In 1985 there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 endemic countries.  Today that number has decreased to less than 1,000 cases in 4 endemic countries.
 
Find out more about Rotary by visiting the Rotary International web site.

History of Toronto East Rotary


Charter Date: April 28, 1965
 
The Toronto East Rotary Club received its Charter on April 25, 1965. Then District Governor Tibor Gregor made the presentation to our Charter President William (Bill) Phelan and Toronto East was welcomed as the fiftieth club in District 707. We were granted rights to the territory lying within the corporate limits of the City of Toronto, from the center of the Don River to Victoria Park Ave, north from Lakeshore Blvd. to the East York border.
 We were sponsored by the Toronto Rotary Club and our initial roster consisted of 26 members. Many clubs were chartered after April 1965, resulting in the formation of a new district and the renaming of our current area as District 7070.
 
The governing body of our club is our Board of Directors, a group that is elected each year. The club conducts business according to our club bylaws and has always engaged in projects selected by the membership. Our guiding principle is "Service Above Self", assisting the less fortunate in our communities, both local and abroad. 
 
 The Rotary Foundation
 
The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. The Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world.
 
Our Paul Harris Fellows
 
Upon the death of Paul Harris in 1947, the R.I. Board of Directors established a Graduate Fellowship plan as a memorial and they issued a call to comply with a mandate of the 1938 Convention to raise $2,000,000 for The Rotary Foundation. The response from individual Rotarians was immediate.
 
Today, those who carry on this tradition of honouring the memory of our founder by contributing US$1,000, or for whom US$1,000 is donated in their honour or memory, are designated Paul Harris Fellows. Members of our club make personal contributions to our Rotary Foundation as one of the ways we can assist those in need.  We also honour individuals for outstanding service to the community, by making such contribution on their behalf.  For a complete list of Toronto East Paul Harris Fellows click here.