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ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

Rotary International is an organisation of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary International’s motto is “Service above Self”.

A SHORT MESSAGE FROM OUR WORLD PRESIDENT

Rotary International President 2009-2010 John Kenny delivers his message for the year:

I'm honored to be representing you for the next 12 months. You are the future of Rotary and a hope for a better world. Truly, as my theme says, The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands. I'm looking forward to seeing many projects and meeting many Rotarians as I make my visits during my presidential year.

Rotary was founded on a clear idea that if people of good character, intelligence, and morals joined together, they could achieve a great deal more than they could alone. I have seen this every time I visit a Rotary club or an amazing project.

Even as president-elect, Rotarians welcomed me into their clubs and shared with me the work they were doing to make the world a better place. As an example, I was moved when I was in Pune, India, when a girl who is visually impaired read me her Interact club's charter in Braille -- the first, I believe, ever presented to an Interact club. Also in India, I admired the work of Rotarians in helping to eradicate polio during a National Immunization Day.

And, as did thousands of Rotarians, I especially enjoyed going to the RI Convention in June in Birmingham, England. I met so many enthusiastic and dedicated Rotarians, Rotaractors , Rotary World Peace Fellows , and other members from the family of Rotary. I was impressed by the range of projects in the House of Friendship as well as the wide variety of breakout sessions, which covered topics from fundraising ideas to membership retention. And with speakers such as Mia Farrow and Jane Goodall, the plenary sessions were not to be missed. If you were not able to attend the 2009 convention, see the coverage of it at www.rotary.org . Also, consider registering for the next convention in Montréal, Québec, Canada, when we will celebrate 100 years of Rotary in that country.

At a Rotary convention, you experience Rotary's strength. By meeting people from clubs around the world, you'll see how our clubs work together. Yes, they work through their own districts, in cooperation with other clubs and districts, and with the support of our Rotary Foundation, but at the end of the day, everything that we accomplish is done through the strength of our clubs.

As I visit Rotary clubs worldwide, read my upcoming travelogues to learn about some of the Rotarians and projects I'll have the honor to visit as your RI president. Also, browse through my president's pages to read my biography, sign my guest book, learn about my resource groups and committees, and read messages from me.

WHAT IS ROTARY INTERNATIONAL’S OBJECTIVE?

The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

  • The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service
  • High ethical standards in business and professions the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations and the dignifying by each Rotarian of their occupation as an opportunity to serve society
  • The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to their personal, business, and community life
  • The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Click Here to visit Rotary International Headquarters in the USA
Click Here to visit Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland Headquarters
Click Here to visit Rotary District 1130 Headquarters, Greater London

 

Copyright 2010 The Rotary Club of Northwick Park. All Registered Trademarks are acknowledged
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John Kenny, a graduate of Glasgow University, is a past dean of his local law faculty, a judge, and a notary.

He is past president of the Forth Valley Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Scottish Junior Chambers of Commerce and past general legal counsel of Jaycees International. In addition, Queen Elizabeth II appointed him the deputy lieutenant of his district. 

John is an elder of the Church of Scotland, where he has served as session clerk and Presbytery elder. Active in Boy Scouting, he received the organization’s Medal of Merit for helping to form new Scout groups in Eastern Europe. 

A Rotarian since 1970, John is a member of the Rotary Club of Grangemouth. He has served Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) as committee member and chair, vice president, and president. He has served Rotary International as district governor, task force member, committee member, vice chair, RI Board Executive Committee chair, director, and Rotary Foundation trustee. He also has been a representative, member at large, and parliamentarian for the Council on Legislation on several occasions. 

John is a Rotary Foundation Major Donor and Bequest Society member. He is a recipient of the Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award.

John and his wife, June, have been married since 1965.