PAGE EIGHT.
THE CAPITAL JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY j.
ROTARY'S
J. ODAY
BIRTHDAY
R
One Club with 4 Members in 1905
600 Clubs with 50,000 Members in 1920
Community of Interests Begun in Chicago
Fifteen Years Ago now World Famous as
if y
A V
An Organization which in 600 cities of the United
States and Canada and elsewhere has come to be known
in each locality as a power for good, an example of high
standards of ethics and personal character, and a cross
section of the substantial business element of each
community.
The remarkable growth of Rotary has been
spontaneous, entirely without the aid of paid organiza
tion work, and stands today A Monument to A Big
Idea which has "sold" itself to the alert, wide-awake,
progressive business element of America and of the World.
Wherever you find a Rotary community, that commu-J
nity is led by the Creed of Living Right
To the Rotarian, Community Prosperity is greater than
personal profit. His city is the "best in the country"'
and his country the "best in the world." The Rotarian
is an all-wool, yard-wide he-man, who works hard,
plays square, and gives with a smile. He has an eye
for a neighbor's need, a hand trained to help, and a
heart for true men, good women and little children.
Origin
Rotary was born February 23, 1905. Four Chicago
men, one a lawyer, one a mining operator, the third a coal
dealer, and the fourth a tailor, decided on that day to
organize a club. These men, drawn together through
mutual acquaintance, proposed a series of meetings at
their respective places of business.
The circle soon was enlarged by representatives from other
lines of business so that within a year a membership of fifty
was reached.
As the time came for each to act the host, he gave a dis
course on his own business so that his guests might learn
something worth while regarding it, and thus broaden
their own knowledge concerning various businesses outside
their own.
Growth
In 1908, San Francisco, having learned of the
Chicago Rotary Club, patterned one after it. This was
in turn rapidly followed by others. - Eventually, the
National Board of Commissioners, a delegate body
representing fourteen clubs, arranged the first National
Convention. This was held in August, 1910, at Chicago.
At that time the term "National Association of Rotary
Clubs" was adopted, but a few years later was changed
to " Ipternational" in recognition of a Canadian club
represented and an application for membership from a
club which had been organized in London.
Rotary is now established in the British Isles, in South
America, Cuba; Hawaii, the Philippines, China and India. :
All clubs seeking membership are carefully surveyed to
insure proper caliber of personnel and adequate repre
sentation of sufficient lines of business to justify member
ship in the International Association.
The name "Rotary" was selected early in the life of the
Chicago Club and was suggested by the early meetings
which were held in "rotation" at the various members
places of business. .
The Rotary Platform
commercial basis
a necessary incident
of
TECOGNIZING the
Bp& moaern-we as a necessary incident in
Jk Ts, human evolution, the Rotarv Club ia or.
ganized to express that proper relation between
private interests and the fusion of private in
terests which constitutes society.
To accomplish this purpose more effectively
the principle of limited membership has been
adopted, the Rotary Club consisting of one
representative from each distinct line of busi
ness or profession. Each member is benefited
by contact with representative men engaged in
different occupations and is enabled thereby to
meet more intelligently the responsibilities of
civic and business life.
The basis of club membership insures the
representation of all interests and the dom
ination of none in the consideration of public
questions relating to business. On account of
its limited membership the Rotary Club does
not constitute itself the voice of the entire
community on questions of general impor
tance, but its action on such questions is of
great influence in advancing the civic and busi
ness welfare of the community.
The Rotary Club demands fair dealings, honest
methods, and high standards in business. No
obligation, actual or implied, to influence
business exists in Rotary. Election to mem
bership therein is an expression of confidence
of the club in the member elected, and of its
good will towards him. As his business is an
expression of himself, he is expected actively
to represent it.
Membership in the Rotary Club is a privilege
and an opportunity and its responsibility de
mands honest and efficient service and thought
fulness for one's felbws. Service is the basis
of all business.
He profits most ivho serves best
Objects
The " objects " of the Rotary Club are to encourage
and foster
High ethical standards in business and professions;
The ideal of Service as the basis of all worthy enterpriser)
The active interest of every Rotarian in the civic, com-
mercial, social and moral welfare f his community;
The development of a broad acquaintanceship as an
opportunity for Service, as well as an aid to success;
The interchange of ideas and business methods as a )
means of increasing the usefulness of Rotarians;
The recognition of the worthiness of all legitimate occupa-
tions and the dignifying of the occupation of each Rotarian
as affording him an opportunity to serve society.
Membership
The Rotary Club is restricted to one member from
each distinct line of business or profession. Such a plan
makes for thorough representation by all branches of
business, yet prevents an unwieldy number or the domina
tion of any club by any one business or profession. Such
a membership becomes an ideal forum for the considera
tion of public or civic questions. ; It prevents lagging
interest, for if a lagger develops he is dropped for a new
and alert member.
Contact and exchange of ideas with diversified business
interests is broadening in every sense and tends to intro
duce fresh thought and new viewpoints into every bushiest
and profession represented.
Summed up, Rotary is Man's Humanity to Man at its Broadest, Biggest and Best Wherever vou
see a Rotarian, there you see a Good Citizen, an Asset to his Community and a Leader in his Craft
This Advertisement Placed by the )
OTARY CLUB OF SALEM' OREGON