Message From President Monica - April 2010

April is Rotary Magazine Month

A time to celebrate the global network of Rotary's official magazines!

Dear Rotarians,

The Rotarian magazine began as one of Rotary's oldest traditions in January 1911, as a 12-page tabloid called The National Rotarian. The first issue contained an essay written by Rotary Founder, Paul Harris, called "Rational Rotarianism."

He stated, "The primary purpose of the National Rotarian is to, provide a means for the exchange of ideas between Rotarians throughout the world...These messages are not written merely to fill space; nevertheless we look forward to the day when they will be literally crowded out by surging mobs of virile Rotarian ideas struggling to be heard," (January 1912)

The newsletter also included club news and advertisements and approximately 2,000 copies were published that year. Soon after, the magazine was published monthly.

Later in 1912, the name of the magazine was changed to The Rotarian by a vote at the Rotary International Convention.

The RI Board of Directors designated the month of April as "Magazine Month."  The Rotarian is edited at RI headquarters in Evanston, Illinois and has a circulation of about 500,000. Through this broad network of information, The Rotary World Magazine Press consists of 32 magazines from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe that inform, inspire, and entertain in 25 languages. In addition to The Rotarian , Rotary's English-language flagship publication, offers magazines such as Vida Rotaria (Argentina), Rotary in Bulgaria, and The Rotary-no-Tomo (Japan). The total circulation of the Rotary World Magazine Press is 1.25 million!

The RI Bylaws require all club members to subscribe to The Rotarian or a Rotary regional magazine. Rotary leaders, assistant district governors, and club presidents are encouraged to support our magazine editors by submitting story ideas, promoting readership, encouraging timely subscription payments, and assisting with other communication efforts.

April Challenge: Share a copy of The Rotarian magazine or a specific story with a colleague, friend or family member!

Check out the latest issue of The Rotarian online at

http://www.rotary.org/en/mediaandnews/therotarian .

The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands,  

                                                Monica Ramgeet

                                                Charter President, Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town