Awards for Rotarians
Avenues of Service Citation
Nominators: Club presidents
Deadline: Ongoing
This citation program provides a way for Rotary clubs to personally recognize one club member for his or her outstanding efforts in the five Avenues of Service. A club member must have demonstrated support of the Object of Rotary through active participation in each of the five Avenues of Service: Club, Vocational, Community, International, and New Generations. Nominees must be an active Rotarian and can only receive the award once.
Club Builder Award
Nominators: District governors
Deadline: Ongoing
This award recognizes Rotarians who have made a significant impact in supporting and strengthening their Rotary clubs. District governors may grant this award to up to 10 deserving Rotarians from their district each year. This award is administered at the district level. Governors can find additional information by visiting the District Governor's Exchange in Member Access .
Each Rotarian: Reach One, Keep One Award
Nominations: Club presidents
Deadline: Ongoing
This award allows Rotary club presidents to nominate and recognize individuals for sponsoring new members while focusing on retention. There are several award categories:
- Gold pin and certificate: for Rotarians bringing 25 members into any Rotary club,
with 20 still active after six years
- Silver pin and certificate: for Rotarians bringing 10 members into any Rotary club,
with 8 still active after four years
- Bronze pin and certificate: for Rotarians bringing five members into any Rotary
club, with four still active after two years
Certificates and pins may be purchased through Rotary International.
RI Service Above Self Award
Nominators: District governors, immediate past district governors, RI directors, past RI directors
Deadline: 1 September
As Rotary’s highest honor for individual Rotarians, this award recognizes up to 150 Rotarians annually who have demonstrated exemplary humanitarian service, with an emphasis on personal volunteer efforts and active involvement in helping others through Rotary. Current district governors, directors, and past directors may nominate up to three candidates by 1 September each year.
RI Vocational Service Leadership Award
Nominators: District governors
Deadline: 1 November
This award recognizes Rotarians who have made a significant impact in advancing vocational service. District governors may nominate one candidate from their district each year.
The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service
Nominators: District governors
Deadline: Ongoing
This award recognizes Rotarians who have demonstrated active service to The Rotary Foundation for more than one year.
The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award
Nominators: Any Rotarian
Deadline: 15 November
Four complete Rotary years after receiving the Citation for Meritorious Service, a Rotarian becomes eligible for the Distinguished Service Award. Because this is the Foundation’s highest service recognition, a recipient’s exemplary service to the Foundation must extend beyond the district level and occur over an extended period of time.
The Rotary Foundation District Service Award
Nominators: District governors
Deadline: Ongoing
Because so many Rotarians serve humanity through Foundation programs, The Rotary Foundation created the District Service Award to recognize their efforts. Each recipient is given a certificate, awarded at the district level. District governors may obtain up to 20 blank certificates at no cost to their district.
Service Award for a Polio-Free World
Nominators: Any Rotarian
Deadline: 1 November
This award was established by the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation in order to recognize outstanding contributions to the effort by Rotarians and thereby to encourage final efforts. In geographic areas coinciding with WHO regions, up to ten regional service awards per region are given annually. These awards recognize outstanding service in polio eradication. International Awards, for broad service to the cause of polio eradication, are also made annually, not to exceed ten individuals.