Object
of Rotary
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;
FOURTH. The advancement of international
understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship
of business and professional persons united in the ideal of
service.
The
Four-Way Test
From the earliest days of the organization, Rotarians were
concerned with promoting high ethical standards in their professional
lives. One of the world's most widely printed and quoted statements
of business ethics is The Four-Way Test, which was created
in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor (who later served as
RI president) when he was asked to take charge of a company
that was facing bankruptcy.
This 24-word test for employees to follow in their business
and professional lives became the guide for sales, production,
advertising, and all relations with dealers and customers,
and the survival of the company is credited to this simple
philosophy. Adopted by Rotary in 1943, The Four-Way Test has
been translated into more than a hundred languages and published
in thousands of ways. It asks the following four questions:
"Of the things we think, say or do:
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"
Four
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.
RI
Mission Statement
The mission of Rotary International is to support its member
clubs in fulfilling the Object of Rotary by:
- Fostering unity among member clubs;
- Strengthening and expanding Rotary around the world;
- Communicating worldwide the work of Rotary; and
- Providing a system of international administration.
Declaration
of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions
The Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions
was adopted by the Rotary International Council on Legislation
in 1989 to provide more specific guidelines for the high ethical
standards called for in the Object of Rotary:
As a Rotarian engaged in a business or profession, I am expected
to:
- Consider my vocation to be another opportunity to serve;
- Be faithful to the letter and to the spirit of the ethical
codes of my vocation, to the laws of my country, and to
the moral standards of my community;
- Do all in my power to dignify my vocation and to promote
the highest ethical standards in my chosen vocation;
- Be fair to my employer, employees, associates, competitors,
customers, the public, and all those with whom I have a
business or professional relationship;
- Recognize the honor and respect due to all occupations
which are useful to society;
- Offer my vocational talents: to provide opportunities
for young people, to work for the relief of the special
needs of others, and to improve the quality of life in my
community;
- Adhere to honesty in my advertising and in all representations
to the public concerning my business or profession;
- Neither seek from nor grant to a fellow Rotarian a privilege
or advantage not normally accorded others in a business
or professional relationship.
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