Rotary International, one of the largest volunteer-led, non-profit organizations committed to delivering impactful and lasting solutions to the world’s most-pressing humanitarian challenges, inaugurated its 113th annual international convention in Houston on June 4, 2022.

More than 10,000 Rotary members from 100 countries and five continents came together in-person and online for Rotary’s   first-ever hybrid convention.  Members will connect and learn from each other and be inspired by world-renowned speakers to create lasting change in their communities.

In his address to Rotary’s convention, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “I’m glad that Rotary International is actively working on providing clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene,” adding that “Rotarians are successful in their own field yet have not restricted themselves to working towards making our planet better, a true mix of success and service.”

PM Modi also invited Rotary members to support India’s efforts to eliminate TB  in the nation by 2025 by leveraging the lasting global health legacy infrastructure established through Rotary’s polio eradication effort. Rotary is recognized for reducing polio cases by 99.9%, together with its partners and governments across the world, as part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). The health infrastructure created for polio elimination has also been effectively utilized to protect millions of people from other diseases such as COVID-19.

Speaking at the occasion, current RI President Mr. Shekhar Mehta said, “The biggest gift we are given is to change a life – to make a difference in the circle of life through power and magic to serve others. It is ingrained in our values and central to our ongoing mission of Service Above Self. In the last one year, having visited more than hundreds of Rotary clubs across continents, I am proud of the work Rotary is doing to end polio, empower girls through skill development and education, protect the environmental, fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children and grow local economies.”