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 Rotarians belong to more than 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.
Rotary club membership represents a cross-section of the community's business and professional men and women. 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.
Although Rotary clubs develop autonomous service programs, all Rotarians worldwide are united in a campaign for the global eradication of polio. In the 1980s, Rotarians raised US$240 million to immunize the children of the world; by 2005, Rotary's centenary year the PolioPlus program has contributed US$500 million to this cause. In addition, Rotary has provided an army of volunteers to promote and assist at national immunization days in polio-endemic countries around the world.
The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a not-for-profit corporation that promotes world understanding through international humanitarian service programs and educational and cultural exchanges. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and others who share its vision of a better world. Since 1947, the Foundation has awarded more than US$1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants, which are initiated and administered by local Rotary clubs and districts.
2023-2024 RI President Gordon R. McInally speaks during general session 2. International Assembly, 9 January 2023. Orlando, Florida, USA
The mission of Rotary International is to support its member clubs in fulfilling the Object of Rotary by:
1. Fostering unity among member clubs
2. Strengthening and expanding Rotary around the world
3. Communicating worldwide the work of Rotary
4. Providing a system of international administration
Five Avenues of Service
Based on the Object of Rotary, the Five Avenues of Service are Rotary's philosophical cornerstone and the foundation on which club activity is based:
Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club. Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards. Community Service covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community. International Service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary's humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace. Youth Service recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities, service projects, and exchange programs.
The Four Way Test
The Rotary 4 Way Test is one of the most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics in the world. It has been translated into more than 100 languages and published in thousands of ways. The message should be known and followed by all Rotarians.
Of the things we think, say or do:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Polio Eradication Worldwide
There is no cure for polio, a highly infectious, and sometimes fatal disease, that still affects children in countries such as Africa and southern Asia. No child in today's world should ever have to suffer from polio because it is totally preventable. The good news is that a child can be protected against this crippling disease for as little as 50 cents worth of vaccine. If we take action now, we can prevent suffering for future generations.
Members of Findlay Rotary Club agreed to help Rotary International achieve their goal of eradicating polio worldwide. Besides raising funds, more than one million men and women of Rotary have donated their time and personal resources to help immunize nearly two billion children in over 122 countries. This is a remarkable undertaking!
Please help us complete the eradication of this dreaded disease. You may contact the Findlay Rotary Club by e-mail admin@findlayrotary.org or call us at 419-422-7557.
Useful polio eradication Web sites include:
Rotary International: Donate, build awareness, and become an advocate to end polio. World Health Organization: Facts and dates on National Immunization Days, etc. End Of Polio: Includes information about polio as well as photos by world renowned photographer Sebastiao Salgado.
Paul Harris Fellow
A Paul Harris Fellow is one who contributes $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. The Annual Programs Fund of the Foundation supports efforts to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational and cultural programs. This philanthropic arm of Rotary has made a positive impact on the health and welfare of people all over the world since its inception in 1957.
A Paul Harris Sustaining Member is one who makes an initial payment of $100 or more to the Foundation's Annual Programs Fund, with the stated intention of becoming a Paul Harris Fellow by making additional contributions to reach $1,000.
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:
1. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
2. 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.
3. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life.
4. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
