Rotary International
Who is Rotary?
Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional and community leaders.
Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world.
There are 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious and open to all cultures, races and creeds. As signified by the motto “Service Above Self”,Rotary’s main objective is service – in the community, in the workplace and throughout the world.
Rotary’s Guiding Principles
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:
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First: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
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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;
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Third: The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business and community life;
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Fourth: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
The Four-Way Test
… of the things we think, say or do, which has been translated into more than 100 languages, asks the following questions:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Strategic Plan
Moving toward the future, in 2001-2002, Rotary International began developing a strategic plan to guide the organization as it entered its second century of service. In June 2007, the Board of Directors approved the Rotary International Strategic Plan 2007-10, which identifies seven priorities:
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Eradicate Polio.
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Advance the internal and external recognition and public image of Rotary.
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Increase Rotary’s capacity to provide service to others.
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Expand membership globally in both numbers and quality.
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Emphasize Rotary’s unique vocational service commitment.
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Optimize the use and development of leadership talents with in Rotary International.
- Fully implement the strategic planning process to ensure continuity and consistency throughout the organization.
Our Mission
The mission of Rotary International, a worldwide association of Rotary Clubs, is to provide service to others, to promote high ethical standards and to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through its fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.
Avenues of Service
Based on the Object of Rotary, the 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 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.
For more information about Rotary International please visit their site at
