What Is Rotary?
Rotary is a global network of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. It is a non-political and non-sectarian organization open to all people regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, or political preference.
History | The Object of Rotary | Avenues of Service | Code of Ethics | Rotary Foundation | Areas of Focus | Links and Resources
History
- World’s first service club, formed in 1905 by Paul Harris, an attorney in Chicago
- Became international in 1910, when a club was formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba
- By 1921, Rotary clubs formed on six continents
- Principal motto: Service Above Self
- Code of ethics: The 4-Way Test
- In May 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Rotary may not exclude women from membership
- Today, 1.2 million Rotarians, 530 districts, and over 34,000 clubs in more than 200 countries
The Object of Rotary
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and 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.
Avenues of Service
Five 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, crawfish party
- Vocational Service – encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards
- Literacy projects, Boys/Girls State, West Boulevard School partnership
- Community Service – covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community
- Meals on Wheels, bell ringing, dictionary project, Adopt-a-Spot, Food Bank
- International Service – encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace
- PolioPlus, Guatemala Milk Project, PET Project, water/health/hunger projects
- New Generations Service – recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities, service projects, and exchange programs
- Rotary Youth Exchange, Interact, Rotaract
Code of Ethics: 4 way test
In 1932, Rotarian Herbert J Taylor created the 4 way test, a code of ethics adopted by Rotary 11 years later. This test, which has been translated into more than 100 languages, asks the following questions:
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?
Rotary Foundation
- An endowment fund was set up by RI President Arch Klumph in 1917 “for the purpose of doing good in the world” (first donation was $26.50).
- In 1928 the fund reached $5,000 and was renamed the Rotary Foundation.
- In 1930 made its first grant of $500 to an organization that worked with children with physical disabilities (created by Rotarian Edgar “Daddy” Allen, later became Easter Seals).
- In 1947 contributions began pouring in following the death of RI founder, Paul Harris. Since then, Rotarians have contributed over $1 billion to the Rotary Foundation.
- Paul Harris Fellows: given $1,000 or have had that amount donated in their name
- The Paul Harris Society: annually contribute $1,000 or more to the Foundation.
- Grants and programs support Rotary’s worldwide humanitarian missions, including its number one goal of eradicating polio.
- PolioPlus: since its inception in 1985, more than two billion children have received the oral polio vaccine.
- Rotary raised over $200 million to match the Gates Foundation $355 million by June 30th, 2012.
- Since 2013, the Gates Foundation will match 2 for 1 every new dollar Rotary commits to polio eradication, up to $35 million per year through 2018.
- Humanitarian grants program: disaster recovery, district simplified grants, and matching grants.
- Educational programs: Ambassadorial Scholarships, GSE (Group Study Exchange), Rotary Peace Fellowships.
