Rotary Fellowships are groups which bring together members from different countries and cultures to enjoy a shared interest. In addition to fostering lifelong friendships, Rotary Fellowships keep members active in Rotary, sustaining their interest and further inspiring commitment.  Some Fellowships attract new members to Rotary.

The nearly one hundred Rotary Fellowships encompass a variety of vocations and avocations; ranging from sports and hobbies to professional interests - all of which serve as a way to extend international fellowship, friendship, and service. In addition to offering members an opportunity to share their passion for a particular interest with like-minded Rotarians, many individual fellowship groups enable members to use their hobbies or skills to serve others.

For example, the Fellowship of Canoeing Rotarians has organised cleanups of polluted rivers, and members of the International Computer Users Fellowship of Rotarians conduct training sessions for Rotarians and other people in their community on how to use electronic media. Members of the International Fellowship of Rotarians with Repaired Hearts, or the “Zipper Club” as they call themselves, have provided life saving surgeries to disadvantaged children with severe heart defects. Active fellowships in New Zealand include Cricket, caravanning and Flying.

Rotary Fellowships began informally in 1928 when Rotarians with a shared interest in Esperanto joined together. In 1947 a group of Rotarian boating enthusiasts began flying the Rotary flag from their crafts, calling themselves the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians; this fellowship now boasts the longest continuous existence. The scope of Rotary Fellowships has changed much over the years, but today their common purpose is still to unite Rotarians in friendship and provide venues for enjoying their favourite recreational or professional activities.

Rotary, like any other large organisation, has a well developed management structure. It has grown, as Rotary has grown, over the last 103 years. It may have its faults; but it works, and you get out of it often what you put into it.

Now if you are an ordinary Rotarian who believes in our common goal how do you contribute and get involved? You serve your club well and take your turn in your club’s management. You become President. Then what? You proceed to help your district and may even end up being a District Governor. But what if your time and inclination is not in that direction.

How do you get involved in the wider world of Rotary?  I found the answer to this by joining one of the many Rotary Fellowships. I enjoy cricket and since 1997 I have been involved in the International Fellowship of Cricket Loving Rotarians: IFCR. As a result I have participated in many aspects of what this fellowship offers at all levels and been able to visit and play cricket and make lifelong friends in Australia, New Zealand, England, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa. I have been able to see how Rotary works in those countries. Our NZ members of the Fellowship have also been involved in hosting IFCR members from these countries when they have visited New Zealand. 

As a result of all this I have seen the great need to continue the humanitarian work which Rotary is so good at, and I have been able to contribute my small part to that work. And equally as important, through the best part of IFCR which is the home hosting we have enjoyed so much, I have learned about different cultures and how much we all desire a peaceful world for our coexistence.

The International Fellowship of Cricket Loving Rotarians is all about

•         Fellowship

Local

Inter District

International

•         Goodwill

•         Travel

•         International Exchange

•         Home Hosting

•        Projects

Local

Community

International

•         Cricket

Playing

Umpiring

Scoring

Team Physio

Watching through a love of the game

Enjoying being part of it all as a spouse or partner

Supporting

Travelling with the group

Cricket is the only team fellowship in Rotary, and some other HCR members have also enjoyed participating in NZIFCR. You can look at what it is all about at http://www.rotarycricket.org/

Why not join a fellowship yourself?  There is one on the list for you. If not, it is very easy to start one that matches your interests. You can find them all - from accountants, through bridge, football, flying, golf, yachting, to yoga at Rotary Fellowships

John Dean