About Rotary

What Is Rotary?
History
4-Way Test 
Rotary International

What Is Rotary?

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. 

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 The Rotary Foundation, which each year provides some US$60 million for international scholarships, cultural exchanges, and humanitarian projects large and small that improve the quality of life for millions of people.

ROTARY is PolioPlus, Rotary's commitment to work with national and international health organizations on the goal of polio eradication by the year 2005, Rotary's 100^th anniversary.  More than one-half billion children in developing nations have been immunized against polio through PolioPlus grants.

ROTARY is service above self.

Four Avenues of Service
The term Four Avenues of Service is frequently used in Rotary literature and information.  The Avenues refer to the four elements of the Object of Rotary: Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service and International Service.

The Avenues of Service concept describes the primary areas of Rotary activity.

• Club Service involves all of the activities necessary for Rotarians to perform to make their club function successfully.
   

• Vocational Service is a description of the opportunity each Rotarian has to represent the dignity and utility of one's vocation to the other members of the club.
   

• Community Service pertains to those activities that Rotarians undertake to improve the quality of life in their community.  It frequently involves assistance to youth, the aged, handicapped and others who look to Rotary as a source of hope for a better life.
   

• The Fourth Avenue, International Service, describes the many programs and activities that Rotarians undertake to advance international understanding, goodwill and peace.  International Service projects are designed to meet humanitarian needs of people in many lands.

History of Rotary

Rotary is the oldest service club organization in the United States.  It was founded in 1905 by Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer (born in Racine, Wisconsin) and three other businessmen (coal dealer, mining engineer, and merchant tailor) in Chicago.  The group of four would get together for lunch and camaraderie and each week they would rotate the meeting between each of the four members offices.  Harris developed the idea of a regular meeting to share ideas and learn more of each other's business and profession. 

Today, there are 1.2 million Rotarians in over 32,000 clubs in 200 countries.

The 4-Way Test

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?

How It Works
For many decades Rotary clubs and Rotarians around the world have used The 4-Way Test as an instrument to develop respect and understanding among peoples.

The Chicago Rotarian who developed the 4-Way Test suggests that you first memorize The 4-Way Test and then form the habit of checking your thoughts, words and deeds with it.

The 4-Way Test has been used successfully around the world in business, government and schools as an effective measuring stick for conduct, a guide to right thinking.  If memorized and constantly applied to relations with others, it will contribute to more effective and friendlier relationships.

If you get into the habit of checking your thoughts, words and deeds against The 4-Way Test, experience has shown that is will help you become happier and more successful.

Rotary International

Visit the Rotary International website for information about Rotary clubs around the globe and the many ways Rotarians provide service to their community and the world.