The Rotary Balita no. 784 (November 10, 1955)

"Brief facts about Rotary," Pamphlet No. 1 of Rotary International, has been revised and re-issued as during the present Rotary year. Pamphlet No. 1 is a concise exposure of the aims and principles of our great organization which should be read and re-read by every Rotarian in order to be able at any moment to express to non-members the fundamental facts about Rotary. In order to have the Manila Rotarians take another look to the contents of the pamphlet we are reproducing it in full in these pages:

What Is Rotary?
Rotary is a world fellowship of business and professional executives who accept the "Ideal of Service" as the basis for success and happiness in business and community life. In Rotary, thoughtfulness of others is regarded as the basis of service, and helpfulness to others as its expression. Together they constitute the Rotary "Ideal of Service."

Rotary's universal appeal is that it offers a practical means of enlarging one's friendships, participating in community betterment undertakings, promoting high standards in business and professional life, and advancing international understanding, good will and peace.

To attain its "Ideal of Service" to humanity, Rotary seeks all that which brings people together and it avoids all which separates them. Rotary is not a secret organization. Rotary does
not seek to supplant or to interfere with any religious or political organization. It assumes that its program of service is in accord with all religions, and it does not concern itself with a Rotarian's politics. Rotary expects him to be faithful to his religion and loyal in his citizenship. The first Rotary Club was organized in Chicago, U.S.A, on 23 February, 1905. From that begin- ning, the Rotary ideals of friendship, fellowship and service to others have spread to the six continents. They have been accepted by men of practically all nationalities-with many different political and religious beliefs-by more than 414,000 business and professional executives in 93 countries and geographical regions.

The Rotary Club
Rotary's membership plan is unique. To make the Rotary Club a true cross-section of the community's interests and activities, its membership is selected on the basis of one active member from each recognized business and profession in the community. In this way, each member of the Club is looked upon not only as a representative of his own business, but also of his vocation; that is, the entire business, or professional field of which he is a part.

Members of Rotary Clubs-called "Rotarians" endeavor to exemplify their mottoes of "Service Above Self" and "He Profits Most Who Serves Best" in all of their daily business, social and civic contacts by placing the obligation to serve others before the desire for profit for themselves.

Rotary differs from other organizations in that the establishment of a Rotary Club links its community to a world-encircling chain of cities and towns where other men have organized Rotary Clubs to give expression to their desire to serve. Their affiliation with other Rotary Clubs in an international organization, their balanced programs and activities, their financial solvency, and their unique basis of membership, give Rotary Clubs permanence and stability.

Rotary International
Rotary International is the association of Rotary Clubs throughout the world. Its offices serve as clearing houses for all Rotary Clubs, aiding in the standardization of their practices and in the translation of the "Ideal of Service" into business and community life.

Rotary International is administered by a Board of Directors composed of 14 Rotarians elected at the annual Conventions of Rotary International.

Its Central Office (Secretariat) is located at 1600 Ridge Avenue in Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A. Other offices for service to Rotary Clubs are in Zurich, Switzerland, and London, England.

Scope
Shortly after the organization of the first Rotary Club, it was realized that Rotary could serve a wider purpose than its original aim of promoting understanding and fellowship among business and professional men. Rotary soon became a factor for the promotion of many different types of community-betterment activities, for constructive work with crippled children and underprivileged children, and for the promotion of high standards in business and professional practices.

As the Rotary ideas of friendship and service to others spread rapidly from country to country, it became evident that Rotary could be a potent force for the development of international goodwill. Thus, through its worldwide fellowship of business and professional men, who are bound together by their devotion to the "Ideal of Service," Rotary has endeavored to encourage and foster the advancement of goodwill, understanding and friendship, not only among its own members, but among all the peoples of the world.

Rotary Club Activities
Wherever Rotary Clubs are located-in the United States of America or the Union of South Africa, in Sweden or Switzerland, in Argentina or Australia, in any of the 93 different countries and geographical regions-the activities of Rotary Clubs are based on the same general objectives.

True, Rotarians meet and they eat at weekly luncheons or dinners-but their activities go far beyond these meetings. Rotarians find many outlets for their activities, both in committee work and as individuals. Rotarians are active in civic and community welfare work, in leading boys and girls into good citizenship, in the betterment of rural-urban understanding, in helping boys clubs and youth movements, in giving counsel in occupational guidance, and in many other useful activities.

The Rotary Club does not endeavor to promote civic activities rightfully belonging to other organizations, but every Rotarian, as an individual, is urged to participate in all activities which make his community a better place in which to live.

Rotarians are active in raising the standards of their own businesses and professions, and of their entire vocation.

Throughout the world, Rotarians of many diverse nationalities are working together-through correspondence, personal contacts at Rotary International Conventions and in their travels, and through study of the history, economy and culture of other countries-for the advancement of inter-national understanding, goodwill and peace.

Origin and Growth of Rotary
The first Rotary Club in the world was organized in Chicago, shortly after the turn of the century, by Paul P. Harris, a young lawyer. He wanted to organize a club which would band together a group of representative business and professional men, a club where the members might recapture the friendliness, comradeship and understanding of the small town life many of them had known as youngsters.

On February 23, 1905, the Club's first meeting took place, and the nucleus was formed for the thousands of Rotary Clubs which were later organized throughout the world. Paul Harris named the new organization the "Rotary Club," because originally the members met in rotation at their various places of business. Membership in this new Club grew rapidly. It soon became too large to meet in the places of business of the members, and the Club began to meet once each week around the luncheon table. These weekly meetings, in connection with a luncheon or dinner, are now held by Rotary Clubs all over the world.

Each of the men who joined with Paul Harris in organizing this Club was engaged in a different type of service to the public. This basis of membership one active member from each business and profession-became one of the cornerstones of Rotary.

From Chicago, Rotary soon spread to other cities. The second Rotary Club was founded in San Fran- cisco, California, in 1908, and the organization of other Clubs followed rapidly. In 1910, there were 16 Clubs and the National Association of Rotary Clubs was formed.

Two years later, to provide charters for Rotary Clubs in Canada, Ireland, and England, the Inter-national Association of Rotary Clubs was formed and in 1922 this name was shortened to Rotary International. Paul Harris was the first President of the National Association and the first President of the International Association, and, when he passed away in 1947, he was President-Emeritus of Rotary International.
The first Rotary Club organized outside the U.S.A. was in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1910. The first Club outside North America was organized in Dublin, Ireland, in 1911; the first in Latin America in Havana, Cuba, in 1916; the first in Asia in Manila, the Philippines, in 1919; the first in Continental Europe in Madrid, Spain, in 1920; the first in Africa at Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1921; and the first in Australia at Melbourne in 1921.

One indication of the vitality of Rotary is that during the last ten years, Rotary Clubs have been organized throughout the world at the rate of more than six new Clubs every week.

Rotary Districts
For administrative purposes, Rotary Clubs are grouped into 238 Districts. Each District is supervised by a District Governor (in Britain and Ire. land by a Representative) who is chosen by the Clubs in the District and elected at the annual Convention of Rotary International.

An annual conference of the Rotarians of each District is held to discuss the activities of their Clubs and to participate in Rotary fellowship.

Rotary Encircles the World
Here is a list of the 93 countries and geographical regions in which there are Rotary Clubs, together with the date when the first Club in each country or region was organized:
Alaska-1925
Algeria-1930
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 1938
Angola-1955
Argentina-1919
Australia-1921
Austria-1925
Belgian Congo-1955
Belgium-1923
Bermuda-1924
Bolivia-1927
Brazil-1922
Brunei-1954
Burma-1929
National Zone-1932
Canada-1910
Netherlands-1922
Netherlands Antilles-1937
Ceylon-1929
Chile-1923 China-1919
Colombia-1926 Costa Rica-1927
New Zealand-1921
Nicaragua-1929
North Borneo-1952
Northern Ireland-1911
Cuba-1916
Cyprus-1938
Denmark-1921
Dominican Republic-1943
Northern Rhodesia-1953
Ecuador-1927
Norway-1922
Egypt-1929
England-1911
Nyasaland-1955
Pakistan-1927
Ethiopia-1955
Panama-1919
Fiji Islands-1936
Paraguay-1927
Finland-1926
Peru-1921
Philippines-1919
France-1921
French West Africa-1939
Portugal-1925
Puerto Rico-1918
Germany-1927
Saar-1930
Salvador-1927
Greece-1928
Guatemala-1925
Hawaii-1915
Sarawak-1936
Scotland-1912
Honduras-1929
Hong Kong–1930
Singapore-1930
Southern Rhodesia-1930
Iceland-1934
India-1919
South West Africa-1953
Surinam-1953
Sweden-1926
Switzerland-1924
Italy-1923
Israel-1929
Japan-1920
Syria-1937
Tanganyika-1948
Kenya-1930
Thailand-1930
Tunisia-1935
Luxembourg-1929
Lebanon-1931
Turkey-1955
Union of South Africa-1921
Malaya-1929
United States of America-1905
Uruguay-1918
Monacó-1937
Moroceo French Zon-1930
Venezuela-1937
Vietnam-1953
Wales-1917

Annual Convention
Once each year, a great International Convention is held which is attended by representatives from Rotary Clubs all over the world. Most Conventions have been held in the United States of America, where the largest number of Rotary Clubs is located, but Conventions also have been held in Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, France, Mexico and Scotland.

Rotary Clubs send delegates to the International Convention in order that the principles of Rotary may be studied, worldwide acquaintanceship and understanding may be enhanced, inspiration to carry the "Ideal of Service" into action may be disseminated, proposed legislation for the progress of Rotary may receive consideration, and officers of Rotary International may be elected.
The 47th Annual Convention of Rotary Inter- national will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., June 3-7, 1956.

Rotary Foundation Fellowships
The Rotary Foundation Fellowships enable out- standing graduate students to study for one year, in a country other than their own, as ambassadors of good will on Rotary grants averaging $2,500.

Since this program for the promotion of international understanding was inaugurated in 1947, 709 Rotary Fellowships have been awarded to students from 57 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, North, South and Central America, and the Islands of the Pacific, with grants totaling more than $1,750,000.

Literature
The official magazine of Rotary International -The Rotarian in English and Revista Rotaria in Spanish-is published monthly in Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A., and contains articles of interest to non-Rotarians as well as to Rotarians. The circulation of The Rotarian is 325,000; of Revista Rotaria, 38,000. In addition, there are a number of Rotary magazines in various languages published by Rotary Districts or by regional groups of Clubs. Various pamphlets regarding Rotary and the activities of Rotary Clubs are available.

Requests for information regarding Rotary International may be directed to the following addresses: 1600 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.; Borsenstrasse 21, Zurich, Switzerland; Tavistock House (South), Tavistock Square, London, W.C.I., England.

Membership Statistics
On June 15, 1955, there were 8,856 Rotary Clubs in 93 countries and geographical regions, with a membership of more than 414,000 business and professional executives.

On that date, there were 4,548 Clubs in the United States of America; 1,134 in Latin America; 1,116 in Continental Europe, North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean Region; 787 in Great Britain and Ireland; 393 in Asia; 354 in Australia and New Zealand; 323 in Canada, and 75 in other parts of the world.