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.
There
are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians, members of more than 32,000 Rotary
clubs in 168 countries.
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Paul P.
Harris
Founder of Rotary
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Rotary's
first day and the years that followed...
February
23, 1905. The airplane had yet to stay aloft more than a few minutes. The
first motion picture theater had not yet opened. Norway and Sweden were
peacefully terminating their union. On this particular day, a Chicago
lawyer, Paul P. Harris, called three friends to a meeting. What he had in
mind was a club that would kindle fellowship among members of the business
community. It was an idea that grew from his desire to find within the large
city the kind of friendly spirit that he knew in the village where he had
grown up.
The
four businessmen didn't decide then and there to call themselves a Rotary
club, but their get-together was, in fact, the first meeting of the world's
first Rotary club. As they continued to meet, adding others to the group,
they rotated their meetings among the members' places of business, hence the
name. Soon after the club name was agreed upon, one of the new members
suggested a wagon wheel design as the club emblem. It was the precursor of
the familiar cogwheel emblem now worn by Rotarians around the world. By the
end of 1905, the club had 30 members.
The
second Rotary club was formed in 1908 half a continent away from Chicago in
San Francisco, California. It was a much shorter leap across San Francisco
Bay to Oakland, California, where the third club was formed. Others followed
in Seattle, Washington, Los Angeles, California, and New York City, New
York. Rotary became international in 1910 when a club was formed in
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. By 1921 the organization was represented on
every continent, and the name Rotary International was adopted in 1922.
See the Rotary International timeline.
The 4-Way Test
One of the
most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics in the world is
the Rotary 4-Way Test. It was created by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor in 1932
when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy.
Taylor looked for a way to save the struggling company mired in
depression-caused financial difficulties. He drew up a 24-word code of
ethics for all employees to follow in their business and professional lives.
The 4-Way Test became the guide for sales, production, advertising and all
relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company is
credited to this simple philosophy.
Herb
Taylor became president of Rotary International in 1954-55. The 4-Way Test
was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into more than a
hundred languages. Here is the English version:
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"Of the
things we think, say or do: |
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The
Rotary Foundation
The Rotary Foundation is a
not-for-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International
to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian,
educational, and cultural exchange programs.
The Foundation's Humanitarian Programs fund international Rotary club
and district projects to improve the quality of life, providing health care,
clean water, food, education, and other essential needs primarily in the
developing world. One of the major Humanitarian Programs is Polio Plus, which
seeks to eradicate the polio virus worldwide by the end of 2005. Through its
Educational Programs, the Foundation provides funding for some 1200 students
to study abroad each year. Grants are also awarded to university teachers to
teach in developing countries and for exchanges of business and professional
people. Former participants in the Foundation's programs have the
opportunity to continue their affiliation with Rotary as Foundation Alumni.
The Rotary Foundation is supported solely by voluntary contributions
from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a
better world. Included in this section is information pertaining to the
history of The Rotary Foundation, its financial support, its Alumni
programs, training and resources, and the SHARE system.
If
you would like to know more about Rotary International or the forming Angels Camp Rotary Club contact the
Webmaster by email.
This page updated last on
07/29/2007
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