Fellowships – The hidden gems of Rotary

PICTURED: Madhumita ‘Madu’ Bishnu (right) with International Travel and Hosting members from Malaysia, Taiwan and the US at the 2024 RI Convention in Singapore.

Embrace the power of promotion to spread the word about the many benefits Rotary fellowships provide.

By Madu Bishnu
Rotary E-Club of Melbourne, Vic

Rotary International designates June as ‘Fellowship Month’, providing a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Rotary fellowships, form new fellowships or invite a Rotarian who is knowledgeable about our fellowships to give a presentation at clubs, district events or in Rotary Community Groups.

Rotary fellowships were established with the philosophy that Rotarians should not only engage in community work but should also have fun with fellow members who share common interests and hobbies, to expand their knowledge and make lifelong friends.

Every year during the Rotary International Convention, Rotarians gather at the House of Friendship and visit the various fellowships’ stalls to learn more about them, to meet new members and to catch up with old friends. Many fellowships also take the opportunity to host dinner or breakfast events to get members further involved and enjoy the camaraderie of Rotary.

During Convention breakout sessions, I have moderated on the topic ‘Rotary Fellowships – Hidden Gems’. Rotarians come in large numbers to learn more about our fellowships in general and to understand the difference between club and district fellowship versus RI fellowships.

Following the breakout sessions, many Rotarians go back to the House of Friendship to join new fellowships. However, there are still many Rotarians who have not yet heard about RI fellowships. It is our job to introduce our fellowships and action groups to as many Rotarians as possible.

During the breakout sessions, I encourage attendees to spread the word about fellowships through presentations at their Rotary club and beyond.

PICTURED: Madu with ITHF President Elect Ligia Corredor from the US, Administrator Sivaprasad S Pillai from India and Taiwanese ITHF members at the ITHF Presidential dinner in Singapore.

In Zone 8, there are less Rotarians who are part of a fellowship than those who are not. Promotion through presentations at every club in Zone 8 is necessary to invite Rotarians to join at least one fellowship or action group. Those who do will never regret their decision.

The International Travel and Hosting Fellowship (ITHF) is a wonderful example of the power of promotion. Pre-COVID, ITHF had 1,100 members from 52 countries, but during and post-COVID we lost many members due to old age, death of a partner or leaving Rotary. However, with regular presentations at district events and at club level, we have built our membership back up to 932 members from 50 countries.

Another suggestion to come out of the Convention breakout sessions is that each district governor appoint a fellowship chair to promote our fellowships and action groups and encourage more Rotarians to join.

To further boost membership, the Rotary International Board recently made the decision that non-Rotarians should be invited to join a Rotary fellowship. By 2027, all fellowships and action groups will need to ensure that non-Rotarians have been invited to join at least one fellowship. It is interesting to note that many non-Rotarians who join a fellowship have subsequently joined a Rotary club.

Fellowships offer the best part of Rotary, beyond serving our communities, and are truly the ‘Hidden Gems’ of Rotary.

PICTURED: Madu pinning Marsha María Gavrilyeva – a new ITHF member from Russia – at the House of Friendship during the Singapore Convention.

For a full list of current Rotary fellowships, details on how to form a new one and contact details of fellowship chairs, visit rotary.org/en/our-programs/more-fellowships