YUNLING · ROTARY EXPLAINED
From Yunlin to the World: Rotary's Structure and Roles
Understand clubs, districts, zones, Rotary International and its Foundation. Compare RI and club directors through Yunling's real international connections.
Verified
01 · SERVICE FIRST
Rotary in one minute
Service starts locally. Members identify a community need, then work through their club to plan, find partners, deliver and review results.
Districts provide learning, specialist support and coordination between clubs. Rotary International connects clubs worldwide and sets shared policies and global programs.
The Rotary Foundation manages donations and grants for humanitarian service. Relationships do not automatically confer grant approval or official endorsement.
02 · CONNECTIONS, EXPLAINED
Explore the relationships
Choose a card to reveal its relationships right there. Each connection states what it means.
- Governance
- Geographic grouping
- Selection process
- Coordination and support
- Service cooperation
Global governance
Rotary International (RI)
The worldwide association of Rotary clubs, supporting clubs and coordinating global programs.
- Governance
RI Board of Directors→ governs and manages →Rotary International (RI)
- Governance
Rotary International (RI)→ has corporate and constitutional governance links with →The Rotary Foundation (TRF)
- Governance
Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling→ participates as a member club in →Rotary International (RI)
RI Board of Directors
Sets RI policy and strategy. The president chairs the Board; directors share its governance responsibilities.
- Governance
RI Board of Directors→ governs and manages →Rotary International (RI)
- Governance
RI president→ chairs →RI Board of Directors
- Governance
RI director→ shares governance on →RI Board of Directors
- Selection process
RI Board of Directors→ elects nominees proposed by the president-elect →Board of Trustees
RI president
Chairs the RI Board and leads Rotary's annual global direction and representation; does not direct every local activity.
- Governance
RI president→ chairs →RI Board of Directors
RI director
Shares responsibility for RI policy, strategy and governance, including strategic implementation in the relevant and paired zones.
- Governance
RI director→ shares governance on →RI Board of Directors
- Selection process
Zone→ nominates through zone/section procedures →RI director
Foundation governance
The Rotary Foundation (TRF)
A charitable corporation supporting humanitarian and educational service through donations and grants.
- Governance
Board of Trustees→ governs and manages →The Rotary Foundation (TRF)
- Governance
Rotary International (RI)→ has corporate and constitutional governance links with →The Rotary Foundation (TRF)
- Service cooperation
The Rotary Foundation (TRF)→ supports eligible, approved grants for →Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling
Board of Trustees
Manages Foundation affairs, with formal constitutional and selection links to RI; it is not an ordinary administrative department.
- Governance
Board of Trustees→ governs and manages →The Rotary Foundation (TRF)
- Selection process
RI Board of Directors→ elects nominees proposed by the president-elect →Board of Trustees
Grouping and support
Zone
A grouping used for international nominations, learning and coordination, rather than a government deciding local projects.
- Geographic grouping
Zone→ groups districts for zone purposes →District 3470
- Selection process
Zone→ nominates through zone/section procedures →RI director
District 3470
Connects clubs across Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan and Penghu and provides district-level support.
- Geographic grouping
Zone→ groups districts for zone purposes →District 3470
- Geographic grouping
District 3470→ includes this local club →Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling
District governor
Leads Rotary within a district, supporting club development, learning, compliance and cooperation.
- Coordination and support
District governor→ supports development and compliance →Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling
Assistant governor
Helps a group of clubs set goals and find resources, linking them with the governor and district committees.
- Coordination and support
Assistant governor→ provides liaison and coordination →Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling
District committee
Provides expertise in fields such as the Foundation, membership, public image or service.
- Coordination and support
District committee→ provides specialist support →Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling
Local service
Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling
Initiates and joins service in Yunlin while participating in District 3470 and the global Rotary network.
- Geographic grouping
District 3470→ includes this local club →Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling
- Coordination and support
District governor→ supports development and compliance →Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling
- Coordination and support
Assistant governor→ provides liaison and coordination →Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling
- Coordination and support
District committee→ provides specialist support →Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling
- Governance
Yunling's club board→ governs and manages →Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling
- Service cooperation
Club member→ plan and deliver service together →Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling
- Service cooperation
The Rotary Foundation (TRF)→ supports eligible, approved grants for →Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling
- Governance
Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling→ participates as a member club in →Rotary International (RI)
Club president
Works with the club board and members on annual plans, meetings, service and partnerships.
- Governance
Club president→ chairs →Yunling's club board
Yunling's club board
Governs this club with members under its constitution, bylaws and valid decisions.
- Governance
Club president→ chairs →Yunling's club board
- Governance
Yunling's club board→ governs and manages →Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling
- Selection process
Club member→ elect under club bylaws →Yunling's club board
Club member
Identifies local needs and contributes time, skills and relationships to decisions and service.
- Selection process
Club member→ elect under club bylaws →Yunling's club board
- Service cooperation
Club member→ plan and deliver service together →Rotary Club of Yunlin Yunling
03 · ROLES, NOT RANK
Who does what?
RI PresidentRI presidentRotary International President
Chairs the RI Board and leads Rotary's annual global direction and representation; does not direct every local activity.
- Term
- 1 year
- Scope
- Worldwide Rotary
- Selection
- RI nomination and election procedures.
- Often confused with
- Club president
Verified：2026-10-18
RI DirectorRI directorRotary International Director
Shares responsibility for RI policy, strategy and governance, including strategic implementation in the relevant and paired zones.
- Term
- 2 years
- Scope
- Worldwide Rotary
- Selection
- Zone or section rotation and nomination, followed by RI election procedures; see the steps below.
- Often confused with
- Club director
- Identify the applicable zone, section, pairing and rotation. There is no fixed seat for every country.
- District clubs choose nominating-committee representatives under the bylaws, generally qualified past governors.
- The committee selects qualified director and alternate nominees. Challenges and club ballots have their own formal procedures.
- RI then completes the applicable convention election or uncontested confirmation procedures. The two-year term begins on the prescribed 1 July.
- Rotary International — Directors and 2026–27 Board Committees ↗
- Rotary International — Manual of Procedure 2025 ↗
Verified：2026-10-18
TRF TrusteeRotary Foundation trusteeThe Rotary Foundation Trustee
Shares responsibility for the Foundation's assets, finances and humanitarian policies, safeguarding donations and grants.
- Term
- 4 years
- Scope
- The Rotary Foundation
- Selection
- Nominated by the RI president-elect and elected by the RI Board.
- Often confused with
- RI director
Verified：2026-10-18
DGDistrict governorDistrict Governor
Leads Rotary within a district, supporting club development, learning, compliance and cooperation.
- Term
- 1 year
- Scope
- District and its clubs
- Selection
- Selected through the district's approved nomination, club-ballot or conference process, then elected under RI rules.
- Often confused with
- RI president
Verified：2026-10-18
AGAssistant governorAssistant Governor
Helps a group of clubs set goals and find resources, linking them with the governor and district committees.
- Term
- 1 year per appointment; up to 3 years of service in total
- Scope
- District and its clubs
- Selection
- Appointed by the governor-elect annually; reappointment is subject to policy.
- Often confused with
- District governor
Verified：2026-10-18
PClub presidentClub President
Works with the club board and members on annual plans, meetings, service and partnerships.
- Term
- 1 year
- Scope
- The member's own club
- Selection
- Elected under the club's bylaws, normally progressing through nominee and president-elect stages.
- Often confused with
- RI president
Verified：2026-10-18
Club DirectorClub directorClub Director
Participates in the governance of one club under its constitution, bylaws and valid decisions.
- Term
- Club bylaws determine the term
- Scope
- The member's own club
- Selection
- Elected under the club's bylaws; seats and terms follow the club's valid rules.
- Often confused with
- RI director
Verified：2026-10-18
—District committeeDistrict Committee
Provides expertise in fields such as the Foundation, membership, public image or service.
- Term
- Depends on the committee role
- Scope
- District and its clubs
- Selection
- Appointed under the relevant district leadership plan and role-specific rules.
- Often confused with
- Club director
Verified：2026-10-18
—Club memberClub Member
Identifies local needs and contributes time, skills and relationships to decisions and service.
- Term
- Membership has no office term
- Scope
- The member's own club
- Selection
- Admitted under the club's membership procedure; membership is not an elected term office.
- Often confused with
- Club director
Verified：2026-10-18
Key comparisons
RI director and club director
The shared word 'director' does not mean the same office: one governs RI globally; the other governs one club.
RI president, district governor and club president
Their scope is global, district and club respectively. This is not a single chain directing every service activity.
RI director and Foundation trustee
Directors govern RI; trustees manage the Foundation. Their selection and terms differ.
04 · YUNLIN ↔ THE WORLD
Yunling in the network
District 3470 appears in approved new Zone 10. Legacy Zone 9 and new numbering coexist during the transition: always read the document's year and purpose, rather than assuming every process changed together.
- 2026-03–07
The new grouping was first used to select the RI president nominating committee that met in August 2026.
- 2026–27 → 2027-09/10 → 2029–31
Districts select director-nominating committee members in 2026–27; committees meet in September/October 2027 for directors serving in 2029–31.
- 2026-09/10
Director-nomination processes scheduled for September/October 2026 continue under legacy groupings, including legacy Zone 9; realignment is not retroactive.
- 2028-08–12
Institutes use the new structure from August 2028; convener selection begins earlier.
- ≥ 2028-07-01
Regional-leader district assignments are reviewed separately. The April 2026 FAQ describes changes no earlier than 1 July 2028, not a universal finalized switch.
05 · A REAL CONNECTION
What does the director in the photograph actually do?
Brian Hall | RI Director 2025–2027
Member of the Rotary Club of Covington, Louisiana, USA. The 2026–27 Board committee directory names him chair of the Programs (Participant Experience) Committee, reviewing committee recommendations for the Board.
This illustrates a director's ordinary work: global policy and program governance, beyond attending events.
The photograph comes from Yunling's presidents-elect luncheon record at the 2026 Taipei Convention. Brian Hall holds the RI director office; his spouse does not acquire that title by appearing beside him.
The event record retains his 2025–2027 director title. The 2026–27 committee assignment is separately dated and is not applied retroactively to every event.
The photo documents a meeting and participation, not RI endorsement, grant approval or a partnership commitment.
Common questions
Is an RI director the same as a director in our club?
No. RI directors share worldwide governance; club directors make decisions for their own club. Their selection and terms differ.
Official source ↗Does the district governor decide every club's projects?
Usually not. Clubs act on local needs through their own governance. The governor supports them and has responsibilities under Rotary rules; clubs must still comply with RI policy.
Official source ↗What is the difference between a zone and a district?
Districts provide day-to-day club support and learning. Zones serve international nominations, geographic grouping and coordination.
Official source ↗Are RI and the Foundation one legal organization?
No, but they have formal governance links. Trustees manage the Foundation; RI is its corporate member and participates in trustee selection and constitutional governance.
Official source ↗Why can one person have several Rotary titles?
People serve at different levels over time. Check each term: a past office does not automatically confer present authority.
Official source ↗What do elect, nominee, past and current mean?
Current means serving now. Elect and nominee describe different future succession stages under the applicable rules. Past means a completed term.
Official source ↗How can Yunling cooperate internationally?
Start with community needs, meet partners through District 3470, conventions or clubs, then agree responsibilities, funding and outcomes. Acquaintance is a starting point.
Official source ↗Does a photo with a director mean RI approved a project?
No. A photo records contact and participation. Approval, endorsement and results require separate documents and evidence.
Official source ↗