What is Rotary?
The world's first
service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, was formed over eighty years ago
by a man named
Paul Harris, an attorney who wished to get together with a few business
friends to talk about mutual
business problems. He felt that talking about matters that concerned
each of them would prove beneficial not only to themselves but to the
community at large. The men liked the idea of the weekly meetings so the
name "Rotary" was derived from the practice of rotating meetings sites
among members' respective offices. Thus Rotary, one of the largest service
organizations in the world, was born.
In the years that followed Rotary's popularity grew.
By 1921, the organization had spread to six continents, and one year
later adopted the name Rotary International.
Today Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional
leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical
standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the
world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotary men and women belong to more than 32,000
clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.
Rotary club members represent a diverse cross-section of the community's
business and professional leaders. The world's Rotary clubs meet
weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures,
races, and creeds.
The main objective of Rotary is service — in the community, in the
workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service
projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as
children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and
violence. They also support programs for youth, educational
opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers, and
other professionals, and vocational and career development. The Rotary
motto is Service Above Self.
Measured in time and money, Rotary
is the largest independent giving organization in the world.
