Welcome to Rotary!
Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. This philosophy is embodied in the "Object of Rotary."
The world's
first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA, was
formed on 23 February 1905 by Paul P. Harris, an
attorney who wished to recapture in a professional club the same
friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. The
name "Rotary" derived from the early practice of rotating meetings
among members' offices. Rotary Clubs meet weekly to plan their
activities and initiate community service projects that address
today most critical issues, such as education, poverty alleviation
and environmental protection, etc.As Rotary grew, its mission expanded beyond serving the professional and social interests of club members. Rotarians began pooling their resources and contributing their talents to help serve communities in need. The organization's dedication to this ideal is best expressed in its principal motto: "Service Above Self."
Rotary also later embraced a code of ethics, called The 4-Way Test, that has been translated into dozens of languages. To further reinforce the importance of strong business ethics underpinning their activities, Rotarians also subscribe to the "Declaration of Rotarians in Business and Professions."
As it enters the 21st century, Rotary has worked to meet the changing needs of society, expanding its service effort to address such pressing issues as environmental degradation, illiteracy, world hunger, and children at risk.
For more information about Rotary please visit the Rotary International website. If you are an expatriate living and working in China and wish to know more about membership in Rotary - please review our membership page.
Although un-districted, the Rotary clubs in China belong to the Rotary China Team, under the leadership of the Special Representative appointed by the Rotary International President.