Rotary International has 1.4 million members from all over the world.
Our members are neighbors, friends, and community leaders who come together to create positive, lasting change in our communities and around the world. Our differing occupations, cultures, and countries give us a unique perspective. Our shared passion for service helps us accomplish the remarkable.
Our impact starts with our members—people who work tirelessly with their clubs to solve some of our communities’ toughest challenges. Their efforts are supported by Rotary International, our member association, and The Rotary Foundation, which turns generous donations into grants that fund the work of our members and partners around the world. Rotary is led by our members—responsible leaders who help to carry forward our organization’s mission and values in their elected roles.
Rotary District 6900 includes 67 Rotary Clubs from most of Atlanta and the western part of the state of Georgia.
PDG William M. Mulkey, Rotary District 6900 Historian
District 6900 is one of three districts in the State of Georgia and one of fourteen in Rotary Zone 34. As of July 1, 2013 we have 4,275 members in 69 clubs.
Over the years we have been in District 5 (Alabama, Florida & Georgia 1915-1916), District 8 (1918-1919), District 39 (Florida & Georgia 1922-1923), District 69 (Georgia only 1928-1929), District 165 (1937-1938), District 240 (two districts in Georgia 1949-1950), and District 690 (1957-1958), and in 1991-1992 a "0" was added to change us from District 690 to District 6900.
It was ten years after the Rotary movement was founded by Paul P. Harris in 1905 that Rotary had grown to such an extent that it was felt advisable to create geographical divisions and elect or appoint capable men to the office of what is now known as District Governors. And so, in 1915, Frank P. Glass, who was residing in Birmingham, Alabama at the time, became Rotary Governor of a geographical division of Rotary which included the States of Alabama, Florida and GEORGIA. This division was known as Division No. 5. The Georgia clubs in existence when Frank Glass became Governor were Atlanta, Savannah, Macon, Augusta and Rome. The Atlanta club was chartered by RI in 1913 and is the oldest club in what is known today as District 6900.
In 1981-1982 a joint committee for the division of the state from two districts to three districts met in Athens, Georgia in July 1981. The proposed new District 691 would have 31 clubs and 2011 members, District 692 would have 38 clubs with 2615 members and District 690 would have 48 clubs, with 3493 members. This plan left Distinct 690 with a disproportionate number of members as it was dominated by the 19 clubs in the Atlanta metro area. It was a feeling of the committee that the new District 691 with 31 clubs would be in the fastest growth area with rapid growth in the Forsyth and Gwinnett County areas. This prediction has proven to be true. Since redistricting in 1983, the three districts have grown from 117 clubs to 206 clubs, and membership from 8,119 to more than 10,661 in 2013.
Rotary International is an association of Rotary clubs worldwide. It’s made up of more than 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. The members of these autonomous clubs are called Rotarians, and they form a global network of 1.2 million business and professional leaders, all volunteering their time and talents to serve their communities and the world. Individual Rotary clubs, in turn, belong to the global association called Rotary International.
To get started with Rotary, begin by reaching out to a club in your area, though individuals must be sponsored or proposed for membership into a club.
Prospective members must:
Members are expected to attend weekly club meetings. They must pay annual dues to their clubs, and they’re expected to participate in local or international Rotary club activities or projects. Clubs encourage members to aspire to club leadership or committee roles.
An attendance record of 50 percent is required to remain an active Rotarian. Any missed meeting must be made up within 14 days before or after the regular meeting. To accommodate busy schedules, there are various opportunities to make up missed meetings.
Membership dues vary by club. If you’re interested in joining a particular club, attend a weekly meeting and ask this question.
There is no minimum age to join Rotary. You may be invited to join at any age after you become established in a career and have the time and financial resources to meet all Rotary club membership requirements. If you’re interested in joining a Rotary club, ask members about the time and financial commitments necessary to fulfill membership requirements, and consider whether you can make those commitments.
No. Rotarians have achieved a level of career experience that enables them to bring a specialization to their club, and students haven’t yet reached a level in their professional and personal lives that allows them to fulfill all aspects of Rotary club membership. But undergraduate and graduate students, as well as young adults, may become members of Rotaract clubs.
Yes. Interact is a Rotary-sponsored service club for those ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs give young people an opportunity to participate in fun, meaningful service projects while developing leadership skills and meeting new friends.
Use this interactive map to locate a club in your area.
Yes! You can offer to assist any Rotary club with its local service projects.
Rotary has more than 33,000 Rotary clubs worldwide. There are more than 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide! Contact us and become a member today!