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:
1.
The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
2.
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;
3.
The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal,
business and community life;
4.
The advancement of international understanding, goodwill
and peace through a world fellowship of business and
professional persons united in the ideal of service.
Rotary is a strong and vibrant force for good and for world
peace and understanding.
It has grown from humble beginnings in 1905 to a world
community of some 1.2 million Rotarians in 30,149 Clubs
in 530 Districts in 34 Zones in 163 countries. In Australia
alone, there are almost 1,200 clubs.
Rotaract and Interact Clubs throughout the world account
for another 350,000 people sharing the Rotary ideal and
being part of the Rotary International family.
Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, may have died some
55 years ago but his legacy lives on. Indeed, Rotary in
Australia is now over 80 years old.
Our own two Zones have nurtured and developed the very
successful Australian Rotary Health Research Fund project.
The most international of all of the programs, however,
is The Rotary Foundation, offering many initiatives for
the support and involvement of Rotary Clubs, such as:
Group Study Exchange
Ambassadorial Scholarships
Health, Hunger and Humanity Grants (the "3-H"
program)
Perhaps the most visible endeavour of Rotary to reduce
global suffering, to improve the quality of life for people
around the world and to engender community spirit and wellbeing,
is the Polio Plus program, with over 2 billion children
having been immunised in some 122 countries.
In 2002 The Rotary Foundation of RI was recently recognised
by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as an organisation
making a major and lasting contribution to global health,
by the awarding of the 2002 Gates Award for Global Health,
worth $1 million.
In addition, the Group Study Exchange program of The Rotary
Foundation continues to foster international peace and understanding,
while the 3-H [Health, Hunger & Humanity] program was
created as a means for Rotary to become involved in community
action and assistance on a world wide basis.
Rotary can move forward in this new century to its Centenary
in 2005, proud of its achievements, optimistic of seeing
polio eradicated world-wide conclusively by 2005, but ever
mindful of the challenges ahead.
1
FRIENDSHIP:In
an Increasingly complex world, rotary provides a most basic
human need, the need for friends and friendship. It is one
of the reasons Rotary began in 1905.
2
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT: This the second original reason for Rotary's
beginning. Rotary consists of a cross-section of the local
community. rotarians help each other and collectively help
others.
3 PERSONAL
GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT:
Membership in Rotary continues one's growth and education
in human relations and personal development.
4 LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT:
Rotary is an organisation of leaders and successful people.
Serving in Rotary positions is an education in leadership:
learning how to motivate, influence and lead leaders.
5 CITIZENSHIP
IN THE COMMUNITY:
Membership in Rotary makes one a better citizen. Our Rotary
club consists of active community citizens.
6 CONTINUING
EDUCATION:
Each weekly meeting provides different speakers and topics.
7 FUN:
Rotary's aim is to have fun at meetings and in service.
8 PUBLIC
SPEAKING SKILLS:
Many individuals who join Rotary are not confident in public
speaking. Rotary develops confidence and skill in public
communications and the opportunity to practise those skills.
9 WORLD
CITIZENSHIP:
Our organisation is international. Every Rotarian is welcome
at over 28,000 clubs in 188 countries, meaning instant friends
throughout the world.
10 TRAVEL
ASSISTANCE:
Rotarians who travel can call on the assistance of other
Rotarians throughout the world.
11 ENTERTAINMENT:
Every Rotary club and District has activities that provide
diversion in one's working life.
12 SOCIAL
SKILLS:
Every week and at various events and functions, Rotary develops
one's personality, social skills and people skills. Rotary
is for people who like people, or who want to.
13 FAMILY
PROGRAMMES:
Rotary provides one of the world's largest youth exchange
programs and a host of activities designed to help family
members in growth and development of family lives.
14 VOCATIONAL
SKILLS:
Every Rotarian is assigned a vocational classification and
may take part in the growth and development of his or her
vocation and provides vocational service to the community.
15 DEVELOPMENT
OF ETHICS:
Rotarians practise a "Four Way Test" that governs
one's ethical standards. rotarians are expected to be ethical
in business and personal standards.
16 CULTURAL
AWARENESS:
Around the world, practically every religion, country, culture,
race, creed, political persuasion, language, colour and
ethnic identity is found in Rotary. It is a cross-section
of many of the world's most prominent citizens from every
background.
17 PRESTIGE:
Rotary members are leaders in their vocations. Rotary is
the oldest and most prestigious service club in the world.
18 NICE
PEOPLE:
Rotarians are nice people who believe that while it is nice
to be considered important, it is more important to be nice.
19 THE
ABSENCE OF AN "OFFICIAL CREED":
Rotary has no secret handshake, no official creed, no secret
meeing or rituals. It is an open society of people who simply
believe in helping others.
20 THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE:
Rotary is a service club. Rotarians provide International,
Community and Vocational service. The best reason to become
a Rotarian is that it is richly rewarding.
Are you interested in building lifelong friendships, representing
your profession or business, and contributing to the community?
Membership of Rotary is by invitation and, to ensure a
wide community cross-section, is on the basis of a limited
number of representatives of each business and profession.
The Rotary Club of Unley meets on Tuesday evenings (from
6.30pm until 7.45pm) at the Unley Community Sports Club
(across from Unley Oval), 39 Oxford Terrace, Unley, SA.
If you or someone in your organization or network is interested
in discussing Rotary, please go to the Contact
Us page for details of how to call us or send us
an email outlining your enquiry.
