tarians and Rotary clubs should at
all times remember that each Rotary
club is a member of an international
organization, one of whose objects
is to encourage and foster the ad-
vancement of international under-
standing, good will and peace.

Institutes of International
Understanding

Institutes of International Understand-
ing are sponsored annually by many
Rotary clubs. These institutes are public
forums undertaken by local Rotary
clubs, with or without the cooperation
of other community groups. Their pur-
Pose is to give people in the community
a better understanding of international
affairs. These forums are addressed by
competent speakers on current subjects
of international interest. In the usual
form, five clubs cooperatively arrange
institutes each consisting of four forums
at weekly intervals. Detailed informa-
tion on institutes may be obtained from
the secretariat.

Rotary Relief Projects

In recent years a chain of disasters—
earthquake, fire, flood and war—have
brought untold suffering to millions of
people. To meet the need in these
stricken areas Rotarians in many coun-
tries have contributed substantial help.
Some have given money; others have
helped in re-establishing refugees. Both
are forms of international service in

that they advance good will.

Recognizing the great needs of
civilians for relief as a result of war
conditions, Rotary International in 1940
made a contribution of $50,000 to the
Red Cross in the United States, Canada,

Great Britain, Belgium, France, Nor-
way and China.

Recognizing further that war condi-
tions have caused great suffering to
Rotarians and their families, Rotary
International has established a special
fund, to which Rotarians are contribut-
ing, for the express purpose of helping
such distressed Rotarians and _ their
families.

So long as international affairs con-
tinue in crisis, both financial aid and
refugee relief will be avenues of inter-
national service for Rotarians.

The International Service Committee
of a Rotary Club

Within the club the international serv-
ice committee is set up as a sort of
dynamo, generating enthusiasm for such
service and directing inspired energies
into profitable programs and activities.
Upon it rests the responsibility of bring-
ing to members an appreciation of
Rotary’s aims and opportunities in in-
ternational service, in emphasizing that
these aims are best achieved through
individual activity and of suggesting
what some of these activities may be.

Self-Education for Understanding

Rotary’s success in its program of in-
ternational service depends upon in-
telligent thought and action by its in-
dividual members. Such action can be
founded only on an appreciation of the
characteristics and customs of other
peoples and races. This requires a study
of the history and culture, the social,
political and economic life of these peo-
ples, their national and racial problems,
international relations and intercourse.

While opportunities for personal con-
tacts across national boundaries are

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