Introduction to Rotary

President Tom Sperry exchanging club banners with Paramjit Singh Sekhon from the Rotary Club of Kapurthala in India who visited our club on July 10th.

The first Rotary Club was organized in Chicago in 1905 by Paul P. Harris. This club met in rotation at the offices of the members, thus the name Rotary. There are now more than 31,000 Rotary Clubs with a total Rotary membership of over 1.2 million men and women.

The world is divided into 529 Rotary Districts which include clubs in 166 countries. The Rotary Club of Turlock is in District 5220. Rotary International is governed by a president and board of directors elected from all over the world. Annually, each District elects a District Governor and each club elects its officers and directors. Virtually all Rotary clubs have directors for the following areas of service.

• Club Service: Provides service to the club itself such as recruiting new members, organizing social events and even establishing a web site such as this one.
  
  
• Community Service: Provides service to the local community such as raising funds for local activities and providing support services for organizations or needy individuals in the community.
  
  
• Vocational Service: Provides guidelines and suggestions for members to incorporate the ideals of Rotary into their business and professional lives.
  
  
• International Service: Provides services to needy organizations and individuals in foreign countries. For example, the Rotary Club in Turlock has provided funding for water well is isolated areas of Ethiopia as well as for an eye care clinic in rural India.
  

All rotarians are expected to attend a weekly meeting with their club and to participate in one or more committees devoted to one of the four above indicated areas of service. We are expected to be generous with our time, talents and finances.

In addition to the service activities of the thousands of individual local clubs, there are also coordinated activities among these clubs at both the District and International Levels. Often Rotary International and/or the local Rotary District will provide matching funds to local clubs for activities which have been encouraged by these parent bodies.

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 the following;
The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.

High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of their occupation as an opportunity to serve society.

The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to their personal, business and community life.

The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world of fellowship of business and professional people united in the ideal of service.

Rotary is also known for its Four Way Test of the things we think, say or do to determine if they meet the ideals and expectations of a rotarian:

• Is it the TRUTH?
  
  
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
  
  
• Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
  
  
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Not everyone is eligible to become a member of Rotary. Membership is restricted to those members of the community who are known leaders as owners or managers of a business, professionals or managers of other organizations. Prospective members do not apply for membership, but rather are sought out and recruited by other members.

More detailed information about the requirements of being a Rotarian and the services provided by Rotary are available on the web site of Rotary International.