Definition of Rotary
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who
provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical  standards in all vocations, and help
build goodwill and peace in the world.

There are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians, members of more than 29,000 Rotary
clubs in 161 countries.

A Brief History
Rotary's first day and the years that followed...

February 23, 1905. The airplane had yet to stay aloft more than a few minutes. The first
motion picture theater had not yet opened. Norway and Sweden were peacefully
terminating their union. On this particular day, a Chicago lawyer, Paul P. Harris, called
three friends to a meeting. What he had in mind was a club that would kindle fellowship
among members of the business community. It was an idea that grew from his desire to
find within the large city the kind of friendly spirit that he knew in the villages where he had
grown up.








The four businessmen didn't decide then and there to call themselves a Rotary club, but
their get-together was, in fact, the first meeting of the world's first Rotary club. As they
continued to meet, adding others to the group, they rotated their meetings among the
members' places of business, hence the name. Soon after the club name was agreed upon,
one of the new members suggested a wagon wheel design as the club emblem. It was the
precursor of the familiar cogwheel emblem now worn by Rotarians around the world. By
the end of 1905, the club had 30 members.

The second Rotary club was formed in 1908 half a continent away from Chicago in San
Francisco, California. It was a much shorter leap across San Francisco Bay to Oakland,
California, where the third club was formed. Others followed in Seattle, Washington, Los
Angeles, California, and New York City, New York. Rotary became international in 1910
when a club was formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. By 1921 the organization was
represented on every continent, and the name Rotary International was adopted in 1922.

Rotary Motto


Service Above Self


The Rotary Club
Meets once each week for luncheon or dinner.  
Membership is formed on the unique plan of one active and representative person from
each line of business and profession in the community.

Objects of Rotary
The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all
useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of their occupation as an
opportunity to serve society.  
The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to their personal, business, and
community life.  
The advancement of international understanding, good will, and peace through a world
fellowship of business and professional people united in the ideal of service.

Benefits of Rotary
Making the acquaintance of people you ought to know.  
Genuine, wholesome good fellowship.  
Developing true and helpful friends.  
Enlightenment as to other people's work, problems and successes.  
Education in methods that increase efficiency.  
Stimulation of your desire to be of service to your fellow men, women and society in
general.

Obligations of Rotary


To attend meetings regularly.  
To pay dues promptly.  
To do my part when called upon.  
To be a big-hearted, broad-minded person - a person of energy and action - a Rotarian.

Four Way Test - the Heart of Rotary
One of the most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics in the world is the
Rotary 4-Way Test. It was created by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor in 1932 when he was
asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy. Taylor looked for a way
to save the struggling company mired in depression-caused financial difficulties. He drew
up a 24-word code of ethics for all employees to follow in their business and professional
lives. The 4-Way Test became the guide for sales, production, advertising and all relations
with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company is credited to this simple
philosophy.

The 4-Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into more than a
hundred languages and published in thousands of ways. Herb Taylor became president of
Rotary International in 1954-55.

Of the things we think, say or do:


Is it the Truth?
Is it fair to all Concerned?
Will it build good will and better Friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned



Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions


The Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions was adopted by the Rotary
International Council on Legislation in 1989 to provide more specific guidelines for the
high ethical standards called for in the Object of Rotary:

As a Rotarian engaged in a business or profession, I am expected to:


Consider my vocation to be another opportunity to serve;  

Be faithful to the letter and to the spirit of the ethical codes of my vocation, to the laws of
my country, and to the moral standards of my community;  

Do all in my power to dignify my vocation and to promote the highest ethical standards in
my chosen vocation;  

Be fair to my employer, employees, associates, competitors, customers, the public and all
hose with whom I have a business or professional relationship;  

Recognize the honor and respect due to all occupations which are useful to society;  

Offer my vocational talents: to provide opportunities for young people, to work for the
relief of the special needs of others, and to improve the quality of life in my community;  

Adhere to honesty in my advertising and in all representations to the public concerning my
business or profession;  

Neither seek from nor grant to a fellow Rotarian a privilege or advantage not normally
accorded others in a business or professional relationship.
About Rotary