This 24-word code of ethics is the way Rotarians strive to lead their lives. R otary is an organization 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 is the world's first service club. The first Rotary club was founded in Chicago, Illinois on February 23, 1905. Rotarians meet weekly for fellowship and interesting and informative programs dealing with topics of local and global importance.
Membership is by invitation and reflects a wide cross-section of community representation.
Rotarians plan and carry out a remarkable variety of humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs that touch people's lives in their local communities and our world community. Rotary is The Rotary Foundation , which each year provides some sixty million dollars for international scholarships, cultural exchanges, and humanitarian projects large and small that improve the quality of life for millions of people. Rotary is Polio Plus, Rotary's commitment to work with national and international health organizations of the goal of polio eradication by the year 2005, Rotary's 100th anniversary. More than one-half billion children in developing nations have been immunized against polio through Polio Plus grants. Rotary is service above self.