WHAT IS ROTARY
What would it take to change the world? Rotary's 1.2 million members believe it starts with a commitment to Service Above Self.
Rotary had its beginnings in 1905 when Chicago lawyer, Paul Harris (pictured aged 28) started meeting each week with three friends, to socialise and network.
This led to them looking for ways in which to help each other (the over-riding concept of Rotary). The name was derived from them rotating their weekly meetings between each other's office.
From this humble beginning Rotary has grown to an organisation with 34,000 clubs around the world.
Membership of Rotary clubs is open to men and women of every ethnic group, political persuasion, language and religious belief. Rotarians are a group of like minded people with high ethical standards, they share a common purpose - to provide humanitarian service, help build goodwill and peace in the world.
The power of Rotary is best demonstrated by the success of their biggest ever project; Polio Plus. Rotarians took on the daunting task of eradicating polio, the goal may have not yet been achieved but the end is now very much in sight.
This led to them looking for ways in which to help each other (the over-riding concept of Rotary). The name was derived from them rotating their weekly meetings between each other's office.
From this humble beginning Rotary has grown to an organisation with 34,000 clubs around the world.
Membership of Rotary clubs is open to men and women of every ethnic group, political persuasion, language and religious belief. Rotarians are a group of like minded people with high ethical standards, they share a common purpose - to provide humanitarian service, help build goodwill and peace in the world.
The power of Rotary is best demonstrated by the success of their biggest ever project; Polio Plus. Rotarians took on the daunting task of eradicating polio, the goal may have not yet been achieved but the end is now very much in sight.
Object of Rotary
The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideals of service as a basis of worthy enterprise.
First:
The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
Second:
High ethical standards in business and profession; the recognition of the worthiness of all 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 Rotarians 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.
First:
The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
Second:
High ethical standards in business and profession; the recognition of the worthiness of all 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 Rotarians 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.