Mission of the WCSRN

1. To help Rotary clubs plan, initiate, develop and execute viable, new WCS service projects that maximize the use of RI, Rotary Foundation, and external resources and benefit from the guidance of experienced Rotarians.
2. Assist Rotary clubs that encounter difficulties with projects in progress.
3. Develop, expand and maintain a bank of World Community Service expertise (including both information and human resources) that can be easily accessed by Rotary clubs worldwide.

History of Rotary Involvement in Humanitarian Aid Projects

Creation of the World Community Service Resource Network

In June 1997, the Rotary International Board of Directors approved a plan for establishing, promoting and supporting a World Community Service Resource Network (WCSRN) to provide comprehensive information and advice to clubs and districts on successful approaches to carrying out international service projects, funding opportunities available through The Rotary Foundation and other sources, and international shipping procedures for donated goods projects.

The plan for the WCS Resource Network targeted nine countries for an initial pilot period of three years: Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Guatemala, Mexico, Philippines, Poland and the United States. After an introduction of the proposed network at a workshop during the International Convention in Glasgow in June 1997, efforts were made to identify individuals who had extensive experience with international service projects - particularly those involving the international shipment of donated goods - to serve as "Specialists" to help develop the network. Specifically, recommendations were sought from RI Directors, Rotary Foundation Trustees, 1997-98 District Governors and 1997-98 District World Community Service Chairmen. A WCSRN Data Sheet was developed for this purpose. From these recommendations, then-RI President Glen Kinross selected 10 Rotarians from the countries listed above and invited them to serve as the "Specialists" charged with developing the network.

Due to their interest in and past involvement with the development of the network, Past Directors Edgar Hatcher and Irving J. "Sonny" Brown were invited by the president to serve as Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of a WCSRN strategy session held in Evanston in June 1998. This session yielded goals and strategies to advance the concept of a resource network designed to assist Rotarians trying to successfully implement WCS projects. The group met again in May, 1999 to refine the concept

The three year WCSRN Pilot Project expired 30 June 2000 and the RI Board of Directors has taken the following action in relation to the WCSRN's status:

1. May, 2000 - Recommended continuation of the WCSRN, as a self-sustaining group of Rotarians with expertise in carrying out WCS projects, which would be available as an additional resource for Rotarians participating in WCS. The Board also requested the General Secretary to support the WCSRN by continuing to maintain a Database of Rotarians who have expertise in carrying out WCS projects.
2. June, 2001 - Based on a recommendation by the RI Communications Committee, the Board recognized the value of maintaining a WCSRN Web Site and requested the General Secretary to cooperate with WCSRN for the continuation of a WCSRN Web Site for the purpose of giving needy assistance to Rotarians involved in WCS projects.
3. November, 2001 - Also on the recommendation of the RI Communications Committee, the Board requested that the General Secretary provide a link from the appropriate section of the RI Web Site to Web Sites developed by groups of volunteer Rotarians providing, that these groups have been established by Board action (such as Rotary Fellowships, the WCSRN, etc.) and that the Web Sites are actively administered by volunteer Rotarians.

During the International Assembly/Institute in Anaheim in January, 2002, there were a series of mini-meetings that resulted in the restructuring of the Pilot Project organizational structure into a WCSRN Advisory Committee and a WCSRN Operations Committee. The new structure was announced on 14 February 2002 and the resulting appointments are shown in the WCSRN Leadership section of this Web Site.

It should be noted that one of the major objectives of the WCSRN is to provide continuity in information, and access to experienced Rotarians, to assist clubs and districts in the structuring and performance of humanitarian aid projects. Toward this end, the WCSRN leadership and members will serve without a specified term of appointment. In order to provide continuity with RI Presidential priorities, the Advisory Committee will include three successive year's RI WCS Task Force or RI WCS Committee Chairs. In order to insure this continuity, as the RI President nominee names their appropriate Chair, that Chair is added to the WCSRN Advisory Committee and the earliest Chair is retired.

History of the World Community Service Program of Rotary (WCS)

(This History is in the process of being prepared)

History of the Health, Hunger and Humanitarian Program (3H)

(This History is in the process of being prepared)

History of the Matching Grant Program (MG)

(This History is in the process of being prepared)

History of the Disaster Relief Program (DR)

(This History is in the process of being prepared)