Rotary International is an international service organization whose purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and to advance goodwill and peace around the world. It is a secular organization open to all people regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, or political preference. There are more than 35,000 member Clubs worldwide. More than 1.2 million individuals called Rotarians have joined these Clubs.
Rotarians usually gather weekly for breakfast, lunch, or dinner to fulfill their first guiding principle to develop friendships as an opportunity for service. “It is the duty of all Rotarians,” states our Manual of Procedure, “outside their clubs, to be active as individuals in as many legally constituted groups and organizations as possible to promote, not only in words but through exemplary dedication, awareness of the dignity of all people and the respect of the consequent human rights of the individual.”
THE OBJECT OF ROTARY
The 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 of 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 service society;
• Third, the application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
• Fourth, the advancement of international understanding, good will, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
THE FOUR WAY TEST
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and better FRIENDSHIP?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
THE MOTTO OF ROTARY
“Service Above Self”
ROTARIAN CODE OF CONDUCT
The following code of conduct has been adopted for the use of Rotarians:
AS A ROTARIAN, I will
1) Act with integrity and high ethical standards in my personal and professional life
2) Deal fairly with others and treat them and their occupations with respect
3) Use my professional skills through Rotary to: mentor young people, help those with special needs, and improve people’s quality of life in my community and in the world
4) Avoid behavior that reflects adversely on Rotary or other Rotarians