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District 7090 is committed to a welcoming, respectful, safe environment for all of our members, friends of Rotary and family members, as well as prospective members, and all those we engage with as Rotarians. Our district is creating a DEI committee (more news will be released shortly). I delighted with the commitment and direction from Rotary International’s Board of Directors, and the resources they have already made available to support discussions and awareness building.Excerpt from Rotary International: My Rotary begins…
Rotary's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Everyone who engages with Rotary — no matter who they are, where they are in the world, or how long they have been connected with Rotary — should feel valued, respected, and welcomed. These ideals reflect what current and prospective members want and expect from their Rotary experience: respect, ethical leadership, inclusion, and the opportunity to work together to create more just, open, and welcoming communities for all people.
Diversity has long been one of Rotary's core values and continues to serve as a foundation for how we interact with each other and our communities. But we know there is more for us to learn and do in order to ensure that our organizational culture reflects and exemplifies DEI in all ways.
The Board of Directors convened the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force to assess the current state of DEI within Rotary and develop a comprehensive plan of action with achievable, measurable, and meaningful outcomes for Rotary. This plan will be presented to the Board of Directors in October 2021.
As a first step in that new plan to ensure our organization values and lives the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, the Board of Directors, with guidance from the DEI Task Force, revisited and took measures to strengthen Rotary's DEI statement adopted in 2019. The result is a new commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion:
At Rotary, we understand that cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture is essential to realizing our vision of a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change.
We value diversity and celebrate the contributions of people of all backgrounds, across age, ethnicity, race, color, disability, learning style, religion, faith, socioeconomic status, culture, marital status, languages spoken, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity as well as differences in ideas, thoughts, values, and beliefs.
Recognizing that individuals from certain groups have historically experienced barriers to membership, participation, and leadership, we commit to advancing equity in all aspects of Rotary, including in our community partnerships, so that each person has the necessary access to resources, opportunities, networks, and support to thrive.
We believe that all people hold visible and invisible qualities that inherently make them unique, and we strive to create an inclusive culture where each person knows they are valued and belong.
In line with our value of integrity, we are committed to being honest and transparent about where we are in our DEI journey as an organization, and to continuing to learn and do better.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion is not a political issue; we all have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, to have equal opportunities for fellowship and service, and to be given the same platforms for our voices to be heard.
- Support DEI in your club, district and community: Talk about diversity with your club members and create a member diversity and inclusion action plan using the Diversifying Your Club assessment.
- Speak out respectfully and hold yourselves and each other accountable when a person's actions do not reflect Rotary's ideals or values. These conversations can bring about meaningful change.
- There is no place for racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, classism, or ageism in Rotary. We do not tolerate speech or behavior that promotes bias, discrimination, prejudice, or hatred because of age, ethnicity, race, color, disabilities, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
- Invite local diversity, equity, and inclusion experts to speak to your club. Connect with local organizations that support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and work with them on projects or events.
- Encourage and support current participants from underrepresented groups to take on leadership positions in your club and district. Expand your knowledge by taking a DEI course in the Learning Center at https://vimeo.com/channels/rotarymembership:
- Building a Diverse Club
- The Power of Connection With Diverse Communities
- Committing to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Uncovering Unconscious Bias
- Design an Inclusive Plan for Your Organization
- Preventing and Addressing Harassme
- Create a community advisory board and invite diverse members from the community and your club to take part. You'll learn what's important and discover ways to work together to take action.
Read about how Rotary and Rotaract members are creating a club experience that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive on the Rotary Voices blog, including:
- 3 ways to make your club more inclusive
- 3 ways to create a harassment-free zone at Rotary
- What you can do to make your club more LGBTQ+ inclusive
- Rotaractors promote diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Sunrise after Dark increases Rotary's diversity in Louisiana
- Engaging more women in Rotary
Lisa Bishop
DGE D7090