
Introduction Service Above Self
Rotary is an organisation 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. Rotary club membership represents a
cross-section of the community's business and professional men
and women. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are
non- political, non-religious, and open to all cultures, races
and creeds.
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
programmes for youth, educational opportunities and
international exchanges for students, teachers and other
professionals plus 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 immunise the children of the world; by 2005, the
PolioPlus program contributed US$500 million to this cause. In
addition, Rotary has provided an army of volunteers to promote
and assist at national immunisation days in polio-endemic
countries around the world.
What in the World is Rotary? (4-minute video Large amount of data)