June 1, 2026: Every June, Rotary turns its attention to something that does not always get the spotlight it deserves.
Not the service projects. Not the grant funding. Not the committees.
The friendships.
Rotary Fellowships are international groups of Rotary members, their families, and friends who come together around a shared passion. A hobby. A profession. A sport. A love of jazz, motorcycles, rare books, or countless other interests. If you care deeply about something, chances are there are Rotarians around the world who care about it too.
Today, more than 80,100 people participate in Rotary Fellowships across 149 countries. They started informally in 1928, when a group of Rotarians with a shared interest in Esperanto decided to find each other. Nearly a century later, the list has grown to include Fellowships for scuba diving, quilting, hiking, cycling, medicine, photography, and many more.
Each Fellowship is independently run, with its own structure and dues. In a recent policy change, membership is now open to anyone, not just Rotarians, which makes a Fellowship a natural way to introduce a friend to Rotary through something they already love.
Some Fellowships go further than connection, too. For example, the Fellowship of Canoeing Rotarians has organized cleanups of polluted rivers, while the International Computer Users Fellowship runs digital literacy training in communities around the world. When Rotarians share a passion, they often find a way to put it to work.
Why Fellowships Matter
Fellowships provide fun and diverse ways to participate in Rotary, connect people across clubs and countries, create opportunities for friendship and networking, and offer a welcoming introduction to Rotary through shared interests.
More Than a Club Within a Club
Rotary Fellowships are independent, self-run, and open to anyone. They bring people together across countries and cultures through shared passions. If a Fellowship for your interest does not exist yet, members can start one.
Did You Know?
You do not need to be a Rotarian to join Fellowships!
If a Fellowship does not exist for your interest, you can create one through Rotary.
Rotary’s first Fellowship began in 1928 around the language Esperanto.
The Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians has the longest continuous history.
New Fellowships recognized in 2024-25 include Artificial Intelligence, Gaming Globetrotters, Mentoring, Mountains, and Rum.
120 Active Fellowships
80,100+ Participants
149 Countries
As one of District 7040's largest and most established clubs, RCWO is home to members with a wide range of interests, professions, and passions. Fellowships are one of the quieter benefits of Rotary membership, and Fellowships Month is a good moment to surface them. If you are an RCWO member and have not yet explored what is on offer, the full directory is worth a look. Chances are something already matches something you care about.
Friendship That Leads to Action
Some Fellowships go beyond connection. When passion meets purpose, they become service. That is the Rotary way.
The friendships Rotary builds are not incidental to the mission. They are part of it. Fellowships Month is a reminder that the connections we make, whether across a meeting room table or across an ocean around a shared interest, are what make everything else possible.
“The friendships Rotary builds are not incidental to the mission. They are part of it.”
To learn more about Rotary Fellowships and find one that fits, visit Rotary International’s Rotary Fellowships page .
References
- Rotary International. Rotary Fellowships.
- Rotary International. Rotary Fellowships Annual Report 2024-2025.
- Rotary International. General Secretary Report to the 2023 Rotary International Convention.
- Rotary Service in Action. Why Join a Rotary Fellowship?.
- Rotary Service in Action. Rotary International Recognizes 18 New Rotary Fellowships.
- Rotary Club of West Ottawa. About Us.
Published on June 1, 2026
Prepared by Doug Baldwin, Rotary Club of West Ottawa