Rotary is an international membership organization made up of people who share a passion for and commitment to enhancing communities and improving lives across the world.

Rotary clubs exist in almost every country. Our members change lives locally and connect with other clubs to work on international projects that address today’s most pressing challenges. Being a member is an opportunity to take action and make a difference, and it brings personal rewards and lifelong friendships in the process.

Rotary International is a global service organization whose purpose is to bring together men and women from all backgrounds and lifestyles who share a passion for and commitment to enhancing communities and improving lives across the world through humanitarian service and the advancement of goodwill and peace.

Rotary is a non-political and non-religious organization open to all people regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, or political preference. There are over 35,000 member clubs worldwide, and more than 1.2 million men and women as members of those clubs, known as Rotarians.

Rotarians believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues through local and international projects. Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. Since 1905, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects that make a real difference in the communities that need these.

Being a member provides the opportunity to take action and make a difference to those needing a hand up, but the flexibility of Rotary membership to fit in with individual lifestyles and busy lives also brings personal rewards, and lifelong friendships in the process.

Rotary Club Of Msasa Vision

Our vision is a vibrant club with strong, effective and committed members, with focused and increased humanitarian service, and enhanced Rotary public image and awareness

Rotary Club Of Msasa Mission

To provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders

Rotary was founded on principles that remain at the heart of the organization today. These principles reflect our core values — integrity, diversity, service, leadership, and fellowship, or friendship. Our core values emerge as themes in our guiding principles.

AVENUES OF SERVICE

We channel our commitment to service through five Avenues of Service, which are the foundation of club activity.

  • Club Service focuses on making clubs strong. A thriving club is anchored by strong relationships and an active membership development plan.
  • Vocational Service calls on all Rotarians to work with integrity and contribute their expertise to the problems and needs of society.
  • Community Service encourages every Rotarian to find ways to improve the quality of life of people in their communities and to serve the public interest.
  • International Service exemplifies our global reach in promoting peace and understanding. We support this avenue by sponsoring or volunteering on international projects, using local member expertise to build long-term partnerships for sustainable projects, seeking service partners abroad, and more.
  • Youth Service recognizes the importance of empowering youth and young adults through leadership development programs such as Rotaract, Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and Rotary Youth Exchange.

Rotary Club Of Msasa Core Values

Rotary International has several core values that help the organization and mould our culture. The club has adopted those values, and added a Zimbabwean flare by including the value of “hunhu”/”ubuntu” which means high etiquette in all we do. These values stand as the guidepost for our actions and priorities. They serve as a fundamental component of the strategic plan and determine most of the direction and good intent for all our members.

The now six core values include; Service, Fellowship, Diversity, Integrity, Leadership, as well as “Hunhu/Ubuntu”

We strive to reflect on these core values and use them to guide our daily life. Fairness and respect are grounded in The Four-Way Test and we must conscientiously steward the resources entrusted to us. The six core values, along with the Four-Way Test, inspire us towards the ideal of service above self and developing integrity in all our interactions.

Areas Of Focus

The causes we target to maximize our impact are called our areas of focus. Our most successful and sustainable projects and activities fall within these areas. Through global grants and other resources, we help clubs focus their service efforts in the following areas:

  • Promoting peace
  • Fighting disease
  • Providing clean water
  • Saving mothers and children
  • Supporting education
  • Growing local economies

Projects that focus on these causes are eligible for global grant funding from The Rotary Foundation.

The Four-Way Test

Early Rotary members emphasized the importance of acting responsibly and ethically and using our professions as an opportunity to serve. Honoring our commitments, however bold, is an ideal characteristic of a Rotarian. In 1932, The Four-Way Test was developed by Herbert Taylor, a Rotary Club of Chicago member and 1954-55 RI president, to guide his attempt to save a faltering aluminium company. Rotary later adopted it, and it underscores Rotary’s value of integrity. The Four-Way Test has long served as an ethical guide for members to live by in their personal and professional relationships.

Of The Things We Think, Say Or Do:

Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

We’ve been making history and bringing our world closer together for over 100 years. The first Rotary club was started in Chicago, Illinois, USA, in 1905 by an attorney named Paul Harris.

Harris wanted to bring together a group of professionals with different backgrounds and skills as a way to exchange ideas and form meaningful acquaintances. In August 1910, the 16 Rotary clubs then in the United States formed the National Association of Rotary Clubs, now Rotary International. In 1912, Rotary expanded to a few more countries, and by July 1925, Rotary clubs existed on six continents. Today, there are more than 35,000 clubs, in almost every country in the world.

In 1993, J Graham, M Weeden and D McDiarmid started Rotary Club of Msasa. Msasa was then chartered on 10 November 1995 at Mandel Training Centre in Harare.

7th club in Harare and was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Harare West. Msasa was then the youngest club in District 9210. The first club president was Andrew Lorimer and the second was Mike Weeden.

In 1987, the courts in America ruled in favour of Rotary accepting women as members and Msasa was the first club in District 9210 to have lady Rotarians. The club’s first female president was Beverly Jack from 1996 to 1997.

The name Msasa comes from the name of an indigenous tree in Zimbabwe called Msasa. It was chosen because there was a strong belief at the club that the preservation and protection of the environment was as important as the support of human development.

Rotary Club Members

There are more than 1.2 million Rotary club members, or Rotarians, around the world. Your potential to do good in your community as a Rotarian is far greater than it was before you joined. You’ll have the privilege of working with other professionals and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others by bringing together your expertise, skills, and resources.

Rotary Clubs

The club is the most important component of Rotary’s organizational structure. There are over 35,000 Rotary clubs in more than 220 countries and geographical areas.

Rotary clubs are autonomous, so the member experience varies from club to club. However, they all operate somewhat similarly. For example, all clubs have presidents, secretaries, and treasurers and committees that help them run smoothly. Each Rotary club is considered a member of Rotary International. Strong, well-run clubs enhance our members’ experiences and deliver valuable service to our communities.

Club Meetings

Rotary clubs hold regular meetings where their members gather to socialize and to discuss their current projects, other Rotary matters, and professional topics. While most clubs meet in person, some clubs meet primarily online or have a combination of in-person and online meetings. Rotary is both apolitical and nonreligious, and Rotary clubs are encouraged to create an inclusive environment for all club members at their meetings. Meetings can be formal or informal and can include food and drinks, speakers, an open forum for discussion, or group activities. The more you participate in your club’s meetings and activities, the better overall experience you will have as a member.

Districts And Zones

Rotary clubs are grouped into districts. District governors serve an important role in Rotary. They’re nominated by clubs in their districts for their leadership skills, Rotary experience, and dedication to service. They are trained extensively both in their regions and all together at the International Assembly. District governors serve a one-year term, leading a team of assistant governors and district committees to support and strengthen clubs and motivate them to carry out service projects. Governors visit each club in the district during the year, oversee the development of new clubs, and plan the district conference and other special events. Districts are organized into regional zones, each led by a team of regional leaders. Finally, your Rotary club belongs to the global association, Rotary International (RI), led by the RI president and the RI Board of Directors.

Senior Leaders

The RI president is elected to a one-year term, during which she or he presides over the Board of Directors. The RI Board of Directors and The Rotary Foundation Trustees govern our organization and its Foundation. The Board sets policies that aim to help clubs thrive. Clubs elect members of the Board, or directors, every year at the Rotary International Convention. Each director serves for two years and represents one of the Rotary zones. The Board of Trustees manages the business of The Rotary Foundation. The Rotary International president-elect appoints Trustees to four-year terms.

Maxwell Ngangira

Club President

Eugene Chimphondah

Secretary

Vijay Patel

Director Service Projects

Blessing Kamutema

Director Public Relations

Phillipa Chengeta

Director New Generations

Patrick Manyangadze

Director Membership and Fellowship

Name

Name

Director Foundation and Fundraising

Gabriel Chipara

Director Finance

Rose Marck-Katumba

Director Administration

The work of Rotary begins in the community, and every community has its own unique needs and concerns.

While Rotary serves in countless ways, efforts are focused in seven key areas listed here to maximize impact to build international relationships, improve lives, and create a better world to support our peace efforts and end polio forever.

These areas encompass some of the world’s most critical and widespread humanitarian needs, and Rotary has a proven record of success in addressing them. Rotary members planning new service projects are encouraged to consider these areas and the many opportunities for innovative projects within them.

The extensive funding provided by The Rotary Foundation through its grant processes are aligned with these seven key areas.

Most service projects are initiated by individual Rotarians within their clubs and take many forms Ranging from a project of a club in their local community to a projects that involve other clubs, organisations and individuals in working in partnership anywhere in the world to achieve outcomes of a scale beyond that an individual or individual club could ever hope to achieve.  This demonstrates the internationality of Rotary at work … its global reach.