Explore how you can deepen engagement and build membership through Rotarian Action Groups (RAGs) and Rotary Fellowships. Our panel will discuss how RAGs and fellowships support projects, build networks, and provide leadership opportunities. We will also demonstrate how you can use My Rotary and social media to network with Rotarians worldwide who have similar interests and vocations.

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The Power of Fellowships and Rotarian Action Groups
Wednesday, 5 June 2019

2. Robert Hall
Chair, Global Networking Groups Committee
Past RI Director
Moderator

3. Action Groups and Fellowships support Rotary’s
strategic objectives by:
• Deepening engagement and building membership.
• Supporting projects and providing connection opportunities.
• Leveraging expertise and networks that enhance impact of
Rotary-led projects.
• Showing the many faces of Rotary and increase its appeal.
Value Proposition

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Who are they?
Internationally organized groups of
Rotarians, Rotarians’ family members,
Rotaractors, and other program
participants and alumni who have
expertise or passion in a specific
service area.
What do they do?
Help clubs and districts plan and
implement large-scale projects in a
particular area of service
Rotarian Action Groups (RAGs)

5. STATS
Supported
1500
projects last
year
Members
in 140
Countries
25,000
RAG
members
Annual
Dues
$25
on average
20
of them
supported global
grants last year
25
Active Action
Groups

6. A PAGE FOR BIG BOLDBULLET ITEMSRAGs per Area of Focus
Disease Prevention & Treatment
• Addiction Prevention
• Alzheimer’s/Dementia
• Blindness Prevention
• Blood Donation
• Diabetes
• Family Health/AIDS
• Health Education and Wellness
• Hearing
• Hepatitis
• Malaria
• Mental Health
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Polio Survivors
Water & Sanitation
• Water and Sanitation
Maternal & Child Health
• Clubfoot
• Population and Development
Basic Education & Literacy
• Literacy
Peace & Conflict Resolution
• Domestic Violence Prevention
• Peace
Economic & Community
Development
•Disaster Assistance
•Endangered Species
•Microfinance
RAGs aligned with more
than one area
•Environmental Sustainability
•Food Plant Solutions
•Slavery Prevention

7. A PAGE FOR BIG BOLDBULLET ITEMSRAGs Enhance Rotary’s Impact and Public Image
Rotarian Action Groups
Expertise + Partners + Funds + Other resources
High impact + Large scale + Sustainable projects
Great publicity for Rotary clubs(s)

8. A PAGE FOR BIG BOLDBULLET ITEMSRotarian Action Groups - Value proposition
Bring technical expertise, partners, and funds to Rotary projects.
Support global grants and community service.
Enhance Rotary’s impact and public image.
Give members and alumni opportunities to engage in service
activities outside of their clubs, districts, and countries.
Provide networking opportunities with likeminded individuals from
around the world.

9. Rotary clubs,
Rotaract clubs,
and Districts can
also join Action
Groups

10. Rotary Fellowships
What are Rotary Fellowships?
Groups of Rotarians, their family members as well as participants and
alumni of all Rotary programs who connect to explore shared interests in:
● Recreational activities
● Hobbies
● Sports
● Vocations
● Rotary History & Culture International Fellowship of Railroading Rotarians

11. Examples of Rotary Fellowships
80+Rotary Fellowships are now
officially recognized by
Rotary International
International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians
International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians

12. Benefits of Rotary Fellowships
● Enrich the Rotary experience beyond a club or
district
● Encourage engagement with other Rotarians,
Rotaractors, program participants, and alumni
from a variety of cultures and regions
● Unite people with a common interest from all
over the world
● Further vocational development through
acquaintance with others of the same profession International Skiing Fellowship of Rotarians

13. Sheila Hurst
Co-Chair, Health Education and
Wellness Rotarian Action Group
HEWRAG
Carolyn Jones
Past Trustee and Former Chair of
RAG for Peace
Karen Kendrick-Hands
Founding Chair of Environmental
Sustainability Rotarian Action Group
ESRAG
Action Group
Representatives

14. Co-Chair, Health
Education and Wellness
Rotarian Action Group
HEWRAG
Sheila Hurst
Health Education and
Wellness Rotarian
Action Group

15. Past Trustee
Former Chair of RAG for
Peace
Carolyn Jones
Rotarian Action Group
for Peace

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27. A PAGE FOR BIG BOLDBULLET ITEMSESRAG
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ROTARIAN ACTION GROUP
Karen Kendrick-Hands,
J.D.
 Co-founder, Communications Director and Past
Chair of the Environmental Sustainability
Rotarian Action Group (ESRAG)
 First-ever Observer Delegate sent by Rotary
International to the UNFCCC Climate Talks,
attending COP24 in Katowice, Poland: December
2018

28. ESRAG: Getting Started
• 2014 Exploratory trip to RICON Sydney
• Recognized by RI October, 2015 with
600 potential members from 55
countries
• 2017-18 Supported 1.2 Million Tree
Challenge – over 5 million trees planted
• 2018-19 created ESRAG/UNEP World
Environment Day Handbook
2015 Pre-Application Inaugural meeting at RICON Sao Paulo
“[P]rojects will promote environmental
sustainability, awareness of climate change, and
actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to
mitigate climate disruption” Application for Recognition August, 2015

29. ESRAG connects members with shared passions
Protecting and Promoting Pollinators
Rotarians for Bees:
A catalyst for building a sustainable bee population in
Australia by improving communications to address the
challenges from disease, pesticides and climate disruption -
Australia
Operation Pollination: Multi- District Project along the North
American Midwest Monarch Migratory Pathway to encourage
pollinator gardens and pesticide free zones in partnership with
National Parks and Fish and Wildlife Service -USA

30. Quotes from new members to ESRAG
ESRAG connects members worldwide
Inspiring Innovation & Sharing Expertise
the world.
D 6600 Water Quality Monitoring Project supplements
government data about agriculture run-off which fertilizes
toxic algae blooms in Lake Erie & Maumee River – USA &
Canada
The Mississippi Runs Through Us – developing projects
partners with Mississippi River Rotary Clubs & their
Municipalities, e.g. EXERGY in La Crosse WI - USA

31. Climate Solutions Coalition – Julia collected nearly
600 contacts among Rotary Youth Exchange
Students, RYLAs, Rotaractors and Interactors from
over 35 countries.
ESRAG is helping Julia and her coalition of next
generation Rotarians to help solve the Climate Crisis.
ESRAG connects
Members of the Rotary Family
Julia Caussil, RYE from France to USA was inspired to form a
Climate Solutions Coalition within ESRAG by Greta Thunberg,
(left at UNFCCC’s COP24). Greta’s father was a Rotary
Exchange Student.

32. President Barry Rassin and RI Director Nominee Peter Kyle (2020-2022) invited
ESRAG to work with UN Environment
We created a handbook to inspire
Rotary clubs to help celebrate
UN World Environment Day,
June 5 every year
ESRAG helps to enhance
Rotary’s service impact and public image

33. April 2019 Rotarian Magazine: Friendly Persuasion
Profiled Citizens’ Climate Lobby, founded by former Rotarian
Marshall Saunders.
CCL’s Community hosts the Rotary and other Service Club
Action Team, which was founded by and is co-led by ESRAG
members.
CCL values the opportunity to speak to local Rotary Clubs as
a gathering of humanitarian-minded community leaders about
climate solutions. CCL leadership encourages its members to
accept invitations to join their local Rotary clubs.
Why climate change is
Rotary’s business
ESRAG increases Rotary’s appeal
to people from different backgrounds

34. Jubitz Family Foundation Capacity Building Grant –
automates administrative and recordkeeping tasks within ESRAG
Project Impact Reporting collects project information in
consistent format and details to see a project’s impact –
measuring sustainability requires a baseline and updates.
The project engages Rotaractors and Rotarians to collect
information from Rotary clubs, which will continue to build
connections and highlight ESRAG as a resource.
Supporting RI’s Strategic Plan:
Improve our ability to achieve and measure impact

35. Challenges or Opportunities
• Unfunded expectations – RI Board refers Club requests for Board level
environmental action to ESRAG
• No Specific Areas of Focus to qualify for Global Grants – difficult to fund solar, tree
planting and other environmental sustainability projects
• Disconnect between high Next Generation interest in the environment and climate
action with RI leadership response
• Balance between Project and Policy Advocacy

36. Next Steps and Aspirations
• Continue with Jubitz Family Foundation capacity building grant, especially
strengthening connection with Rotaractors.
• Elevate Environmental Sustainability in honor of the 50th anniversaries of Earth Day
and UN World Environment Day in 2020.
• Expand ESRAG’s Regional Chapters to better serve its members.
• Redouble our efforts to encourage principles of Environmental Sustainability
throughout all Rotary projects, programs and operations.

37. Fatos Axhemi, Member
Rotary Means Business Fellowship
Conrad Heede, Chair
Rotarian Wine Appreciation
Fellowship
Raquel D’Garay-Juncal, Member
Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship
Fellowship
Representatives

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• Visit www.rotary.org/actiongroups
• Visit www.rotary.org/fellowships
• Connect directly with a group to join a group of interest.
• Invite a local RAG or Fellowship member to speak to your club
about the group’s activities.
• Promote RAGs and Fellowships at your district and regional
events.
How to get Involved with RAGs and Fellowships

39. Not only Rotarians but
family members of
Rotarians, Rotaractors,
and other program
participants and
alumni can join Action
Groups and
Fellowships.

40. Rate this session in the Rotary Events app,
available in your Apple or Android app store.

41. Questions?
ActionGroups@rotary.org
RotaryFellowships@rotary.org

42. Questions?
Presenter, add email for contact (optional)

43. THANK YOU!
Presenter, add email for contact (optional)

44. This presentation and others from throughout
the convention are available through the
convention mobile app and on SlideShare at
www.SlideShare.net/Rotary_International.