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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.
There are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians, members of more than 29,000 Rotary clubs
in 161 countries.
Rotary was founded February 23, 1905, when Chicago lawyer Paul P. Harris called three
friends to a meeting. His intention was to form a club that would kindle fellowship
among members of the business community. The four continued to meet, rotating their
meetings among members' places of business (thus the name) and adding others to the group.
By the end of 1905, the club had 30 members.
The second Rotary club was formed in 1908 in San Francisco, California. Others
followed in Oakland, California, Seattle, Washington, Los Angeles, California, and New
York City, New York. The Rotary club of Winnipeg, Manitoba made Rotary an
international organization in 1910, and by 1921 there was a Rotary club on every
continent. The name Rotary International was adopted in 1922.
A few years later (1984 to be exact!) Columbia County Rotary was formed.
Columbia County Rotary now has 50 members and is responsible for fundraising and
service projects that benefit everyone in Columbia County.
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 for 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 serve society;
THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's
personal, business and community life;
FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and
peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal
of service.
For seventy years (since 1927), The program of Rotary has been carried out on four
Avenues of Service(originally called channels). These avenues — club service,
vocational service, community service and international service — closely mirror the
four parts of the Object of Rotary:
Club Service includes the scope of activities that Rotarians undertake
in support of their club, such as serving on committees, proposing individuals for
membership, and meeting attendance requirements.
Vocational Service focuses on the opportunity that Rotarians have to represent
their professions as well as their efforts to promote vocational awareness and high
ethical standards in business. For decades, Rotarians having been applying the "4-Way
Test" to their business and personal relationships and in recent years, a
"Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions" has given expression to
their concern for ethical standards in the workplace. From offering career guidance in
high schools, to seeking ways to improve conditions in the workplace, Rotarians and their
clubs engage in many different kinds of vocational service.
Community Service includes the scope of activities which Rotarians undertake to
improve the quality of life in their community. Many official Rotary programs are intended
to meet community needs, whether it be to promote literacy, help the elderly or disabled,
combat urban violence or provide opportunities for local youth.
International Service describes the activities which Rotarians undertake to
advance international understanding, goodwill and peace. The spread of Rotary clubs across
the globe allows for the concerted Rotary support of humanitarian efforts worldwide.
Special thanks to Rotary International for the
redistribution of this information from their website. |
