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Rotary Club of Westerville
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Rotary International2
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 RI Board has agreed that the four explanatory statements in the Object of Rotary are of great and
equal significance and that they are actions which must be taken simultaneously.
Do you know...
In some areas of the world, weekly Rotary club meetings begin with all members standing and reciting the
Object of Rotary. This statement, which comes from the constitution of Rotary, is frequently seen on a
wall plaque in Rotarians’ offices or places of business.
The Object of Rotary is “to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise.”
The statement then lists four areas by which this “ideal of service” is fostered: through the development of
acquaintance as the opportunity for service; the promotion of high ethical standards in business and
professions; through service in one’s personal, business, and community life; and the advancement of
international understanding, goodwill, and peace.
Object of Rotary's History
Object of Rotary has not always been expressed in this manner. The original Chicago Rotary Club
constitution in 1906 had two objects:
- The promotion of the business interests of its members.
- The promotion of good fellowship and other desiderata ordinarily incidental to social clubs.
Later that same year, the club added a third Object:
3. The advancement of the best interests of Chicago and the spreading of the spirit of civic pride and
loyalty among its citizens.
Delegates to the first National Association of Rotary Clubs convention in 1910 set five Objectives for the
fledgling organization:
1. To organize new clubs.
2. To promote the common good of all clubs.
3. To encourage civic pride and loyalty.
4. To promote honorable business methods.
5. To advance the business interests of the individual members.
As interest in service took root, Rotarians became more involved in helping others; and in 1915 the
delegates to the San Francisco convention amplified the fifth Object and added a sixth:
6. To quicken the interest of each member in the public welfare of his community and to co-operate
with others in civic, social, commercial and industrial development.
7. To stimulate the desire of each member to be of service to his fellowman and society in general.
In 1918, the International Association approved another revision, and the Objects were restated as four
points. However, the rapid growth of both clubs and projects soon made these untenable, and they again
became six Objects.
Over the years, Rotary has repeatedly tweaked its definition of itself, with the last significant change
coming in 1951. It was then decided that Rotary really had but a single Object: “To encourage and
foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise.” With that noble aim firmly planted, the
credo goes on to describe four areas in which Rotarians accomplish the Object:
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.
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Rotary Foundation
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District 6690
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This is The Official Website of the Rotary Club of Westerville
Serving the Westerville Community Since 1959