Further background information
Rotary Facts
The world's first service club was the Rotary Club of Chicago,
Illinois, USA. The club was formed 23 February, 1905 by lawyer Paul P.
Harris and three friends -- a merchant, a coal dealer, and a mining
engineer. Harris wished to recapture the friendly spirit he had felt
among businesspeople in the small town where he had grown up. The name
'Rotary' was derived from the early practice of rotating meetings
among member's offices.
Mission
The main objective of Rotary is service -- in the community, in the
workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians build goodwill and
peace, provide humanitarian service, and encourage high ethical
standards in all vocations. The Rotary motto is 'Service Above Self.'
Membership
Rotarians are professional men and women who work as volunteers to improve the quality of life in their home and world community. Club membership represents a cross-section of local business and professional leaders. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are non-political, non-religious and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.
There are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians working in some 29,000 Rotary clubs in 160 countries and 35 geographical regions worldwide.
First admitted in 1987, women are the fastest-growing segment of Rotary's membership. There are nearly 2,000 women club presidents and women are rapidly assuming regional leadership roles.
Service Today
Rotarians initiate community
projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as
violence, drug abuse, youth, AIDS, hunger, the environment, and
illiteracy. Rotary clubs are autonomous and determine service projects
based on local needs.
Rotarians work with and for youth to address challenges facing young
people today.
Through participation in Rotary-sponsored Interact clubs (for
secondary school students), Rotaract clubs (for young adults), and
Rotary Youth Leadership awards, young people worldwide learn
leadership skills and the importance of community service.
Rotary Youth Exchange gives high school students the opportunity to
broaden their world view and build international friendships.
Rotarians have a history of building safe communities and working for
peace. In the world's cities, where urban violence has become rampant,
Rotary has the community-based network to help prevent unrest.
Rotary-sponsored violence prevention projects and conferences address
the root causes of violence such as drug abuse, poverty, lack of role
models, and gangs.
The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International provides an opportunity
for Rotarians to work for international understanding and peace.
Through their Foundation, Rotarians sponsor international educational
and humanitarian programs.
PolioPlus is Rotary's commitment to eradicating polio by the year
2005. Through the efforts of Rotary and its partners in the fight
against polio, more than one billion children worldwide have been
immunized since 1985. In 1996, 154 nations reported no cases of polio,
up from 85 when PolioPlus began. By the year 2005 Rotarian
contributions will reach a half billion US dollars to eradicate the
crippling disease. Of equal significance is the huge volunteer army
mobilized by Rotary International for social mobilization, vaccine
transport and immunization activities.
Rotary's international network helps link people in need with
Rotarians in other countries that can provide resources. The
Foundation's humanitarian programs provide health care and supplies,
clean water, food, job training, and education -- particularly in the
developing world.
The Rotary Foundation's educational programs include Ambassadorial
Scholarships, the world's largest privately-funded source of
international scholarships. Nearly 1,300 scholarships are awarded
annually for study in another land. Grants are also awarded for
university teachers to serve in developing countries and for exchanges
of professionals.
The 4-Way Test
From the earliest days of the
organization, Rotarians were concerned with promoting high ethical
standards in their professional lives. One of the world's most widely
printed and quoted statements of business ethics is The 4-Way Test,
which was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor (who later
served as RI president) when he was asked to take charge of a company
that was facing bankruptcy. This 24-word code of ethics for employees
to follow in their business and professional lives 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. Adopted by Rotary in 1943, The 4-Way Test has been
translated into more than a hundred languages and published in
thousands of ways. It asks the following four 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?"
The Object of 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.