Inner wheel
Inner Wheel is the world's largest independent women's service club organization with currently (2020) around 3900 Inner Wheel Clubs and a total of over 108,000 members in 104 countries on all five continents.
International Inner Wheel (IIW) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) recognized by the United Nations and has observing status in the Economic and Social Council of the UN ECOSOC . Inner Wheel delegates are accredited to the UN centers in Geneva, New York and Vienna.
backgrounds
Since membership was initially only open to women and widows of Rotarians , access is also possible to a wider circle of women members of Rotarians and Inner Wheelers. In addition, since 2012, women without a Rotarian background can be offered membership with the majority of club members agreeing.
An Inner Wheel Club is committed to three goals:
- friendship with one another
- social commitment
- international understanding
Friendship shapes the image of Inner Wheel. Friendship grows through a caring cooperation between young and old and becomes the basis for joint social action. Inner Wheel Clubs meet once a month. There is no compulsory attendance. The minimum number is twelve members. At the meetings, lectures are held from within the company or by guests. Each club is free to choose its own social projects and activities.
Social commitment is an obligation for all Inner Wheel Clubs. The focus is on personal involvement in projects for women, children and families. The club raises the financial means for its social commitment through donations, bazaars and other creative activities. Greatest value is placed on personal and human service.
International understanding does not only mean being open to strangers, but also humanitarian aid anywhere in the world where people are in need. International contacts are maintained through personal contacts, meetings with foreign partner clubs as well as international conferences (World Convention), which are organized by International Inner Wheel every three years. Under the patronage of IIW, the clubs carry out an international social project lasting several years. Currently this is "Happier futures - helping children around the world, now!".
International Inner Wheel is the umbrella organization of the Inner Wheel Clubs. It consists of the International Board, which consists of the Executive Board, chaired by the IIW President, and 16 Board Directors. Its headquarters are in Altrincham / Great Britain. Club, district, and international incumbents are elected by the members of the Inner Wheel Clubs. The term of office is one year on the rotation principle.
history
The historical roots are with Rotary . The Inner Wheel story begins in England during World War I , when Rotarian wives carried on the social activities of their warring husbands. On January 10, 1924, Margarette Golding founded the first Inner Wheel Club in Manchester . Since then, the foundation day has been celebrated as a day of good deed . In 1934 she founded the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland . International Inner Wheel was created in 1967 through the worldwide merger of the clubs.
In Germany, the first Inner Wheel Club was founded in Lübeck in 1968 . Today there are 232 clubs in seven districts. Germany is currently the third largest Inner Wheel country with around 9,000 members.
literature
Inner Wheel Club Graz: Inner Wheel kocht, Graz 2012, online