Rotary 3131

District 3131 Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion- DEI

The District 3131 DEI Committee values a commitment to individual and Club efforts to build respect, dignity, fairness, caring, equality and self-esteem. A top priority for Rotary District 3131 is growing and diversifying our membership to make sure we reflect the communities we serve and are inclusive of all cultures, experiences, and identities. We’re creating an organization that is more open and inclusive, fair to all, builds goodwill, and benefits our communities.

To help us achieve our goal, the Rotary International Board of Directors passed a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) statement, which was just recently updated and expanded in the summer of 2021:

Board of Directors strengthens Rotary’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

At its June meeting, the RI Board of Directors, with guidance from the DEI Taskforce, took additional steps to ensure our organization values and lives the principals of diversity, equity and inclusion by revisiting and strengthening Rotary’s 2019 DEI statement. The result is a new Commitment to Diversity Equity and Inclusion adopted in June 2021:

At Rotary, we understand that cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture is essential to realizing our vision of a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change.

We value diversity and celebrate the contributions of people of all backgrounds, across age, ethnicity, race, color, disability, learning style, religion, faith, socioeconomic status, culture, marital status, languages spoken, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity as well as differences in ideas, thoughts, values, and beliefs.

Recognizing that individuals from certain groups have historically experienced barriers to membership, participation, and leadership, we commit to advancing equity in all aspects of Rotary, including in our community partnerships, so that each person has the necessary access to resources, opportunities, networks, and support to thrive.

We believe that all people hold visible and invisible qualities that inherently make them unique, and we strive to create an inclusive culture where each person knows they are valued and belong.

In line with our value of integrity, we are committed to being honest and transparent about where we are in our DEI journey as an organization, and to continuing to learn and do better.

Additionally, the Board agreed to:

Provide DEI training for incoming, current, and past RI officers
Promote the Rotary Code of Conduct
Establish protocols to report Code of Conduct violations

The DEI code of conduct asks Rotary members to:

Use respectful language
Be supportive
Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment
Celebrate diversity

Although free expression is important, what we say and how we behave matter. Rotary does not tolerate speech or behavior that promotes bias, discrimination, prejudice, or hatred because of age, ethnicity, race, colour, disabilities, religion,socioeconomic status, culture, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

All Rotary leaders, from club presidents and district governors to directors and trustees, are expected to apply the DEI code of conduct uniformly by taking responsibility for how their words and actions may affect others.