The information below was taken from the “August 2006 Rotarian”
Throughout Rotary’s history, several basic principles have been developed to guide Rotarians in achieving the ideal of service and high ethical standards.
Object of Rotary: First formulated in 1910 and adapted through the years as Rotary’s mission expanded, the Object of Rotary provides a succinct definition of the organization’s purpose as well as the club member’s responsibilities. 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;
FORTH The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
Classification principle: By assigning each member a classification based on his or her business or profession, this system ensures that each club’s membership reflects the business and professional composition of its community. The number of members holding a particular classification is limited according to the size of the club. The goal is professional diversity, which enlivens the club’s social atmosphere and provides a rich resource of occupational expertise to carry out service projects and provide club leadership.
Avenues of Service: Based on the Object of Rotary, the four Avenues of Service are Rotary’s philosophical cornerstone and the foundation on which club activity is based:
Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the Club
Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards.
Community Service covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community.
International Service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace.
