Rotary Guiding Principles

These principles have been developed over the years to provide Rotarians with a strong, common purpose and direction. They serve as a foundation for our relationships with each other and the action we take in the world.

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.