Rotary Theme

Each year, the President of Rotary International chooses a theme for clubs throughout the world to turn their focus to. 

For each president, the challenge is to find a theme that will encapsulate how he feels about Rotary, convey his message, and motivate Rotarians around the world for the year of service ahead.

Rotary Theme 2023-2024

The Rotary International President for 2023-24 is Gordon McInally, a member of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry in Scotland.  At the Rotary International Assembly in Florida in January this year he announced the presidential theme for 2023-24 - Create Hope in the World.  Gordon McInally urged Rotary members to promote peace in troubled nations, help those affected by conflict, and maintain the momentum of initiatives begun by past leaders.  He stated, "The goal is to restore hope — to help the world heal from destructive conflicts and, in turn, to help us achieve lasting change for ourselves."

On announcing the Rotary theme, Gordon spoke about meeting a woman in Ban Taling Chan, in Thailand.  Rotary members had helped build houses, a meeting hall, childcare and health care facilities following the tsunami that devastated South Asia in late 2004. The woman had lost her husband, her daughter, and her son in the tsunami, as well as her livelihood. But she still had a gift to offer Gordon: a beautiful seashell.  He said she went on to tell him that Rotary had restored her optimism – we gave her hope.  This is how Rotary brings lasting change to the world – one restored or newly created hope at a time.