Rotary steps out of the shadows with Get to Know event

A message from Rotary District 5370:

Rotarians in Edmonton are working on ways to attract more "People of Action" to the movement, and their efforts are paying off.

On April 15, Rotary District 5370 hosted a successful Get to Know Rotary event, drawing about 150 people despite a snowstorm. The evening brought together members from clubs across the greater Edmonton area alongside a large number of non-Rotarians for an accessible introduction to the organization's local and global work.

"While the public had heard about Rotary, there is a 'knowledge gap' about the organization's identity and global scale," said Maëlle Toews, Public Image Chair for Rotary District 5370. "We always say that Rotary is one of the world's best-kept secrets: We want to change that!"

The event offered a look at how Rotary operates across three pillars of impact. Attendees heard about international efforts such as building playgrounds in Belize in partnership with Mission to Children Canada, local achievements such as the 950 jobs created through the Rotary Employment Partnership with Inclusion Alberta, and youth programs such as the High School Model United Nations at the University of Alberta and Rotary's Youth Exchange program.

Toews said the primary motivation behind the evening was a collective desire for Rotary to step out of the shadows and more visibly showcase its impact. The event was designed to demonstrate that Rotarians are dedicated people making tangible contributions through local and international projects.

The turnout — especially given the weather — signalled strong community demand for informal, low-pressure events that don't require an immediate commitment. Toews noted that the evening also revitalized current members, who found value in seeing other clubs' projects and fostering "a stronger sense of shared identity across the entire district."

Rotary is far from the exclusive "old rich guys' club" that some may mistakenly believe it is, Toews said. "The reality of the 'Get to Know Rotary' event proved exactly the opposite, showcasing a diverse, vibrant, and energetic group of 'People of Action' from all walks of life," she said.

The organization, which traces its roots to Chicago in 1905, operates under the motto "Service Above Self" and guides its members with a Four-Way Test that asks whether their thoughts, words, and actions are truthful, fair, goodwill-building, and beneficial to all concerned.

The success of the evening has solidified plans to make Get to Know Rotary an annual tradition, with refinements already in the works for next year.