1. India polio free

After going an entire year without a new reported case of polio, India was removed from the list of polio-endemic countries by the World Health Organization (WHO).

2. New grant model

Rotary districts have begun qualifying for The Rotary Foundation's new grant model, which goes into effect for all districts on 1 July. For the past three years, 100 pilot districts have been testing this Future Vision model, providing feedback to help the Foundation refine it.

3. RI Theme

RI President Sakuji Tanaka unveiled the 2012-13 RI theme, Peace Through Service, during the International Assembly in January. The then president-elect urged the Rotary leaders in training to explore the many ways they would be able to build peace through acts of service.

4. 2012 RI Convention

More than 35,000 Rotarians from 181 countries and geographical areas converged on Bangkok, Thailand, in May for the 2012 RI Convention. They celebrated successes in the campaign to eradicate polio (see above), and left with renewed energy to continue the fight against the crippling disease.

5. Interact turns 50; Peace centers 10

Interact clubs and their sponsors around the globe celebrated the program’s 50th anniversary during World Interact Week, 5-11 November.  The Rotary Peace Centers program marked its 10th anniversary in 2012. The program has been offering master's degrees in peace and conflict resolution at leading universities in Australia, England, Japan, Sweden, and the United States since 2002.