About Rotary

There are over 33,000 Rotary Clubs around the world.  The main objective of a Rotary Club is service - in the community, in the workplace and throughout the world. Rotary International has developed a broad range of programmes to help individual Clubs carry out this vital mission. Some of these programmes have been underway for many years, while others have been developed more recently to meet emerging needs.  Rotary’s motto is Service Above Self.

The service work of Rotary is through participation in the various project teams of the Club, and by contribution to local, district, national and international activity which is on-going and has been since the establishment of Rotary nearly a century ago.

Involvement in Rotary can be summarised in the five avenues of service in which the Club is actively engaged:

  • 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.  Vocation concerns figure in many Club and District activities designed to promote ethical standards in the workplace and to help young people and others become and remain productive members of society.
  • 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.
  • New Generations Service recognises the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities, service projects, and exchange programs

Rotary's community development programmes address many of today's most critical issues - health, hunger, poverty, the environment, education, and literacy to name a few. Other programmes focus on the development of young people with leadership training and student exchanges.

The International nature of these programmes enables Rotary Clubs and Districts to support, participate, share information and arrange exchanges with Rotarians in other countries to aid the international effort and to assist with the development and execution of their own local projects.

In addition to community service, Rotarians are encouraged to put into practice the high ideals of Rotary in their day to day private, business and professional lives, guided by the "Four Way Test" of things we think, do or say:

  • Is it the truth?
  • Is it fair to all concerned?
  • Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
  • Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

 

Rotary International

Many satisfying achievements and lifelong friendships have ensued from the fellowship and enjoyment of worthwhile community service through membership of the Rotary Club of Auckland, and its affiliation with Rotary International.

Rotary, established in 1905, was the world first service Club organisation. Today it is an association of nearly 33,000 local clubs, with over 1,200,000 members in more than 200 countries and geographic areas - gathered into a larger organisation called Rotary International. The individual Rotarian - the heart and soul of Rotary - is a member of his or her local club; all Clubs are members of Rotary International.

As the entity representing the global association of all Rotary Clubs, Rotary International's mission is to assist Rotarians and Rotary Clubs to accomplish the Object of Rotary, emphasising service activities by individuals and groups. In particular, those that enhance the quality of life and human dignity, encouragerqe high ethical standards, and create greater understanding among all people to advance the search for peace in the world.

For more information on Rotary International visit www.rotary.org