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What Is Rotary Service

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 and the target date for the certification of a polio-free world, the PolioPlus program will have 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.

Rotary divides SERVICE into four major avenues:

1. Club Service implements the first part-and the foundation-of the Rotary Object. It is upon this avenue that the club's entire structure-membership, attendance, programs, and activities-depends.

2. Vocational Service derives from classification principle of membership. Its focus is on human relationships within the scope of the individual members' business activities.

3. Community Service encourages and fosters the application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian in their community and in their personal and business connections within it.

4. International Service implements the portion of the Object of Rotary dealing with the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through Rotary's united world fellowship.

To paraphrase something written on a remaining portion of the Berlin wall:

Rotary is many small people in many small places...
joining together to do things which can change the entire world.

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