What is Rotary?
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
- FIRST:
The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service; - SECOND:
High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society; - THIRD:
The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life; - FOURTH:
The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
Four Avenues of Service
(based on the Object of Rotary)
- Club Service
… focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club- Socials, concerts, sporting clays
- Vocational Service
… encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards- Literacy projects, Boys/Girls State
- Community Service… covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community
- Meals on Wheels, bell ringing, rose sale
- International Service
… encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace- PolioPlus, PET project, water/health/hunger projects
The Four-Way Test
(adopted 1943) -
Of the things we think, say or do:
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
A Brief History of Rotary International:
- World’s first service club
- formed in 1905 by Paul Harris, an attorney in Chicago
- By 1921, Rotary clubs formed on six continents
- Principal motto: Service Above Self
- Code of ethics: The 4-Way Test
- Established endowment fund in 1917
- became The Rotary Foundation in 1928 – Paul Harris Fellows
- In 1985 established PolioPlus to eradicate polio worldwide
- Admitted women in 1989
- Today, 1.2 million Rotarians
- about 530 districts, and 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries
