The RI Bylaws require that districts and clubs be divided into 34 zones of approximately equal number of Rotarians.

The Zone level falls in between the 530 districts and Rotary International. As you would suspect, the objective for the zones to contain equal numbers of Rotarians results in some large differences in geographic area. For example, our Zone 28 (see below) includes our District 6380 plus districts in Alaska, Washington, Maine, New York, most of Canada and even the tiny French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic. The only more widespread zones appear to be in Russia and Africa. On the other end of the spectrum are the exceptionally compact zones in South Korea, Japan and India. See the world map below.

While some of the individual maps may have the appearance of gerrymandering, the beauty of the system is that zones are paired and each pair sends one representative to serve on the Rotary Board of Directors. Thus, every Rotarian has a somewhat equal voice in matters pertaining to Rotary International. Our zone is paired with Zone 32 (see below) (the rest of Canada, some districts in the northeast US and Bermuda). Who is representing our 2,200 clubs and 70,000 Rotarians on the RI Board, you say? Check back soon for a followup article.