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.
In nearly 100 years, Rotary has grown from a small club of four members to a worldwide network of men and women who share a common vision for a better world. The world's first service organization, Rotary has a long history of helping those in need and uniting people of different cultures and beliefs. Through the work of individual Rotary clubs, and through the programs of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation, Rotary is making the world a better place.
Rotary is the world's first service club. The first Rotary Club was founded in Chicago, IL on 23 Feb 1905 by a lawyer, Paul Harris, and three of his friends. Weekly meetings were "rotated" among the founders.
Rotary is in 166 countries worldwide. Approximately 1.3 million service-minded men and women belong to more than 30,000 Rotary clubs.
Rotarians meet weekly for fellowship and interesting programs dealing wit topics of local and global importance. Membership is by invitation and reflects a wide cross-section of community representation.
Rotarians plan and carry out a remarkable variety of humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs that touch people's lives in their local communities and our world community.
Rotary is also the Rotary Foundation that each year provides some $90 million for international scholarships, cultural exchanges, and humanitarian projects - large and small - that improve the quality of life for millions of people.
What rotary means
to the community, a rotary club:
promotes a friendlier community by providing genial fellowship and thoughtfulness of others.
helps reduce frictions by providing a common meeting ground and appealing and unselfish motives.
cooperates with, and thereby strengthens, other local organizations.
strives to develop a spirit of cooperation in the handling of matters of public welfare.
serves as a training ground for constructive leadership -- an invaluable asset to the community.
links the community with many thousands of other worldwide rotary communities.
to a member, a rotary club:
provides an opportunity to express, in a practical way, the desire to be of service.
increases the opportunity to express in action the desire to be helpful to others.
constantly widens one's circle of friends.
increases members knowledge of other businesses and professions, and their concerns.
provides a friendly contact and a hearty welcome in many cities in the world.
gives the satisfaction of participating in a movement which is building understanding.
Four avenues of rotary service
Club service
providing services to the rotary club to enable it to run efficiently in the spirit of friendship.
Vocational service
putting high standards of good conduct into practice in rotarians' business and professional lives.
Community service
identifying needs in the rotary club's community and addressing them with service projects.
International Service
Working for international understanding and peace by promoting goodwill between all people.
Each member is required to pay annual dues and expected to support Club activities and projects.