The Rotary Balita no. 641 (March 2, 1950).

As we celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the founding of Rotary on the 23rd of this month of February, our reminiscent thoughts, naturally, go back to those early days in Chicago when Paul Harris, a lawyer, gathered together a handful of his close friends from the various businesses and professions in order to form this great organization destined to become later the No. 1 Service Club throughout the world. Today, Rotary counts with nearly 7,000 Clubs, with a membership of 350,000 scattered over 83 different countries and regions of the world. Time and again, people have asked, what is Rotary? Rotary is just a Service Club or organization integrated by top business and professional men, representing the cross-section of every community, gathered together for the purpose of rendering unselfish service. Its program of activities fall under four (4) main divisions, namely, the Club Service, where friendship and fellowship are fostered and developed; the Vocational Service, stressing high ethical standards in business and professions and the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; the Community Service, calculated to help the various needs of the community; and the International Service, the purpose of which is to advance international understanding, good will, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional men united in the ideal of service. In a world such as ours which today is torn by conflicting ideologies and groaning under the merciless and terrific lashes of men's uncontrolled emotions, prejudices, and greed, Rotary is needed in order to teach kindliness, purity of intentions, respect for the truth, defense of the right and the condemnation of the wrong, protection of the weak and the less privileged, and the doctrine of square deal. Rotarians are expected to do all these, and more. True Rotarians believe that the more they give the richer they become. Judged by its achievements, Rotary is a potent power in the world for good, and we, Rotarians, are confident that the coming years will justify more and more the existence of our worthy organization. (Sgd.) EMILIO M. JAVIER (Emy) Rotary Governor of the Philippines District No. 48, R.I.