If you’re a Rotarian and have an interest in aviation, you’ll want to check out the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians (IFFR).
What is the IFFR?
The IFFR is a group of Rotarians dedicated to promoting Rotary and aviation as an opportunity for fellowship and service. This fellowship operates in accordance with Rotary International policy, but is not an agency of, or controlled by Rotary International.
The IFFR is divided into three Regions – Australia/Asia, Europe/Africa, and The Americas.
With widespread geographical locations, the goal of Flying Rotarians helps to achieve the furtherance of the ideals and objectives of Rotary International throughout the world. International understanding continues to benefit through this Fellowship of Flying Rotarians.
To learn more about the history of IFFR, click here: History of IFFR.
Fellowship and Service
The Air Care Alliance (ACA) was introduced to the IFFR through its Vice President for the Americas, Alan Dias. Though now retired, Alan once served as Executive Director of Angel Flight West (AFW) and he’s been a Command Pilot since 1995. He flies his Cessna 182 out of Whiteman (KWHP) in Southern California. Through his involvement with public benefit flying, Alan got to know the Air Care Alliance. When he became Vice President of the IFFR for the Americas, he recognized a natural affiliation. The IFFR’s mission “…fellowship and service” makes it a natural fit for those involved with the ACA.
Many IFFR members fly their personal airplane in support of international activities. Members donate their time, funds, and aircraft to supply the needy outlying areas with medical, dental, optical, and surgical aid in the form of material, equipment, tools, machinery, medicines, time-critical fluids and transplant organs and tissue.
Additionally, hundreds of events have been held over the years in nearly all of the sixty countries in which Flying Rotarians reside. These Fly-Ins, or conventions, consist of programs presented to a member’s home Rotary club or other similar audiences.
How to get involved
If you’re a Rotarian and have an interest in Aviation (you don’t need to be a pilot) you can join IFFR here: http://ifframericas.org/Join.htm
Additionally, check out the Rotary e-Club of Aviation. The Club, founded in Scotland, meets biweekly through Zoom and currently has members in thirteen Countries. In a way, it’s a Rotary International Convention held every two weeks. You can learn more about that here: https://www.facebook.com/rotaryeclubofaviation