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Rotary
Information
"The Rotarian"
is the official publication of Rotary International. It is a monthly
magazine carrying authoritative notices and articles in regard to the
activities of Rotary International and is one of the very best means
by which a Rotarian may keep well informed.
Rotary
Emblem
The official emblem is a gear wheel of six spokes or arms and twenty-four
teeth or cogs. The rim supporting the cogs is intended to signify or
symbolize a common interest in community life. The 24 teeth are symbolic
of trade and commerce, the arts and sciences, domestic and social life.
The wheel revolves upon the axle of brotherhood.
Rotary Motto
The Rotary motto condensed into one word is "SERVICE."
Rotary Colors
The Rotary
colors are royal blue and gold.
Attendance
Rotary places greater emphasis upon service than attendance at meetings,
but attendance is an important way for members to build strong relationships
within their club. Members are encouraged to attend at least 60 % of
the meetings which may include attendance at Committee meetings and
other club events.
Rotary also makes provision that members may be helped in maintaining
their attendance record by permitting them to receive credit for attending
the meeting of a Rotary club in another city either FOURTEEN days before
or FOURTEEN days after the regular meeting date of their club. A visiting
Rotarian only needs to request that the Executive Director report his
or her attendance to their home club.
Membership Restricted:
Why?
- Because thereby
the Club is made unique and distinctive.
- Because the
Club is thus made representative of the community and at the same
time remains small enough for the promotion of acquaintance and friendship
among its members.
- Because it
prevents any one calling, or group of allied callings, from being
strong enough to dominate the club.
- Because limited
representation increases the likelihood of selecting the most able
representatives of a given profession or business.
- Because it
represents a distinct basis upon which to establish and maintain the
membership of the club; it enables the club to encourage that each
member be a actively participating in the club or surrender his representation
to someone else.
Obligations
- To attend meetings
regularly.
- To pay dues
promptly.
- To do your
part when called upon.
- To be a leader
in all endeavors, social, civic, and national, which makes for human
betterment.
Benefits
- The acquaintance
of people you ought to know.
- Genuine, wholesome
good fellowship.
- True and helpful
friends.
- Enlightenment
as to other peoples' work, problems, and successes.
- Education in
methods that increase efficiency.
- Information
on social, civic, and national problems.
- Stimulation
of a desire to be of service to your peers and society in general.
Good Fellowship
Good Fellowship is the best soil in which the plant of Rotary can take
root and grow. It is evidenced by:
- The hearty
handshake.
- The first name
acquaintance.
- The consideration
shown by the members to each other.
- The courtesy
extended to presiding officers, other members, and guests.
The Rotary Test-Cooperation
This test is manifested by cooperation with one another in all progressive
and forward movements. It involves cooperation with one another in lifting
the standard of business ethics. Cooperation with one another in adjusting
grievances and petty rivalries and putting the commercial business of
a city on a live-and-let-live basis is another facet of this important
test. The Rotary Test also entails cooperation with all forces that
tend to upbuild, uplift, and uphold decency and righteousness; cooperation
with all city, county, state, and federal officials to uphold all laws,
to condemn lawlessness, and to combat all destructive forces that retard
progress and advancement.
Definitions
of Rotary
"Rotary is a sincere and earnest effort on the part of busy business
and professional people to put live, red, human blood into altruism
and express idealism in a practical way."
"Rotary is
a fraternity without ritual, password, or secrets; a business organization
without commercialism or personal gain; a religion of service and good
fellowship without church or creed."
"Rotary is
an ever widening cycle of influence for good."
"Rotary is
the expression of those nobler desires born in every man or woman to
step outside of his or her own selfish existence and give a helping
hand to the weak and unfortunate. Rotary exists, also, to help youth
develop high ideals, to conduct businesses or professions on a plane
that will elevate the standards of all businesses and professions, and
to promote the ideals of higher living, broader thinking, and better
understanding in their own community and throughout the world."
Exploitation
It is considered unethical to undertake in any way to exploit or commercialize
membership in Rotary. The club list should never be given to agents
for any business solicitations no matter how meritorious the scheme.
There is no obligation to patronize Rotarians, but Rotary knows acquaintance
does beget business if the business is worthy of patronage.
Visiting
Other Rotary Clubs
Payment of Luncheons
The 1914 convention of Rotary International recommended to all the member
clubs that every visiting Rotarian, not an invited guest of the club
or of an individual member thereof, should be permitted to purchase
his or her own luncheon or dinner ticket in accordance with the established
Rotary practice. The purpose of this recommendation is to avoid embarrassing
visiting Rotarians who wish to pay for their own meals when visiting
another club just as they would do when attending a meeting of their
own club.
Guests of Rotarian
Visitors
If a visiting Rotarian would like to bring a non-Rotarian friend to
the Rotary club meeting, he or she should consult the president or the
secretary of the host club before extending an invitation to the guest.
This precaution is doubly important if the non-Rotarian in question
is a resident of the city in which the club is located.
Identifying the
Meeting Place
Rotary clubs frequently indicate the place of the meeting by displaying
the Rotary flag or the Rotary emblem.
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