RI President Message

April 2009

The magazine you hold in your hands is one of Rotary’s oldest traditions. In January of 1911, a 12-page newsletter called The National Rotarian was published; it contained an essay by Paul Harris, “Rational Rotarianism,” along with club news and editorials. Of the new publication, Harris wrote: " The primary purpose of The National Rotarian is to provide a means for the exchange of ideas between Rotarians throughout the world, not to give the national officers an opportunity to express their views. 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."

Today, with Rotary’s club membership spanning more than 200 countries and geographical areas, the mandate of its publications is more complex, and more vital, than ever. The English-language flagship magazine, The Rotarian , is edited at RI headquarters in Evanston, Ill., USA, and has a circulation of about 500,000. Around the world, 31 more magazines are published in 24 other languages, for a total of 32 magazines published by the Rotary World Magazine Press, and a total circulation of about 1.25 million.

The RI Board of Directors has designated April of every year as Magazine Month. It is a time to recognize the role that our Rotary publications play in our Rotary lives – and the role that we should play in our publications. For the magazines to live up to Paul Harris’ original vision, it takes more than just an editorial staff: It also takes the good work of Rotarians. I always feel that the best part of reading any Rotary publication is the opportunity to find out what other clubs are doing. Each issue, each article, is a chance to be informed and inspired.

In an era when electronic communication seems to be everywhere, the role of the paper-and-ink magazine is still important to our organization. Rotary magazines provide us with an overview of what’s happening in different clubs and districts as well as important news and updates from RI headquarters. Even the many Rotarians who regularly visit http://www.rotary.org/will find something new in every issue.

It is a privilege today to be writing this message as Paul Harris once wrote his, and to see his vision of this publication – a magazine filled with the great ideas and great works of Rotarians – brought to life.

Dong Kurn (D.K.) Lee
President,
Rotary International