The Marco Polo Club

THE MARCO POLO CLUB
Facts About The Marco Polo Club

What is The Marco Polo Club?
Established in 1986 as a branch of the EACT/EURO-CHINA International Ass., the Marco Polo Club is an autonomous, non-governmental, non-political and non-profit seeking organization (NGO), with Chapters in Europe and overseas.

Which are the goals of the Marco Polo Club?
The Marco Polo Club acts as a Forum to facilitate the exchange of thinking and the practice of networking and implementing cultural, economic and scientific initiatives.

Who are the Members of the Marco Polo Club?
The Members of the Marco Polo Club are individuals or entities wishing to support the spirit of pioneering, which was the main trait of Marco Polo, and to foster the objectives of the Club.

What does membership of the Marco Polo Club involve?
In return for their support, financial or otherwise, Members are entitled to the Marco Polo Club privileges, such as: invitations to the Annual Gala Dinner for the presentation of the Marco Polo Award, invitation to fund-raising Gala events, free admission to Meet-the-Author sessions, subscription to Newsletter and special mailings, including Study-Tours announcement and information on Cultural and Business Forums in Europe and in China, eligibility to apply for the Marco Polo Award, to qualify and create a new domestic or overseas branch of the Marco Polo Club, and to purchase and use items carrying the Marco Polo Club Logo.
Membership involves, however, the payment of an annual fee of EURO/US$ 200 as entry fee, and EURO/US$ 200 for annual dues. Supporting institutional or individual Members may offer and annual due of minimum EURO/US$ 1000, with no entry fee. No payments are demanded from Honorary Fellows.

What is the Marco Polo Award?
It is a prize awarded every second year to individuals or organizations for outstanding achievements in the research or implementation of projects of cultural, scientific or economic nature, at planetarian or extra-planetarian level, that may have a decisive impact on the survival, progress or welfare of mankind. It will be awarded at a solemn Gala Ceremony in Europe, in the USA or in China, as a recognition of a significant contribution the recipient have made to human knowledge, discovery and understanding. It consists of a gold medal and a plaque describing the recipient's work and its significance for mankind. Prof. Siro Polo Padolecchia, Founder-President of The Marco Polo Club and direct descendant of Marco polo, will formally present the Marco Polo award to the winner(s) during a Gala Ceremony. The winner(s) will offer acceptance comments, at the presence of international scholars and personalities. By awarding the Prize, The Marco Polo Club hopes to dramatically increase the awareness of the world-community for unbiased research and interaction between human society, culture, science and economies, in this critical Third Millennium.