VASHON ROTARY was started in 1986 and has served the community in countless ways since then. Weekly programs include a speaker on topics ranging from scientific research to current events to insights on government to education. VISITORS ARE WELCOME at the meetings….just contact any member or our club president Linda Bianchi ( lbianchi@windermere.com ) to let us know you’d like to attend. We usually meet for Thursday breakfast, but there are exceptions….check the schedule on the right hand column for evening programs and our occasional holiday breaks.
WHAT IS ROTARY?
Rotary is an organization of business and professional men and women united worldwide to conduct humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and build goodwill and peace in the world.
HISTORY
Rotary was founded by Paul Harris and three other businessmen in Chicago, on February 23, 1905, to promote fellowship and help them promote their businesses. At the suggestion of the Seattle #4 club just a few years later, service to others soon became the Rotary hallmark. Rotary International now consists of over 1.2 million members in over 33,000 clubs worldwide. This includes thousands of groups of college students are in Rotaract Clubs, and high school students are in Interact Clubs.
The Vashon Island Rotary Club was formed in 1986 with assistance from the members of the West Seattle Club, and now includes about 45 members.
OBJECT OF ROTARY
To encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise, and in particular to 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 service 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.
FIVE AVENUES OF SERVICE
New members are encouraged to become involved in one or more aspects of the club and its projects:
CLUB Service – service within our club; the inner workings; socials & Firesides; membership development; club administration
COMMUNITY Service – to Vashon Island and nearby region
INTERNATIONAL Service – projects around the world
VOCATIONAL Service – projects that utilize members’ vocational skills and/or support vocational development
NEW GENERATIONS Service – encouragement of youth involvement in Rotary projects and service to and support of youth to foster their positive development
FOUR-WAY TEST
of the basis of things we think, say and do in Rotary and in our professional and personal lives:
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
MOTTO: Service Above Self
Rotarians put service ahead of their own interests. It means we serve even when it is inconvenient or costly. Although some non-members may believe that Rotary is a club for business promotion, it is in fact devoted to find effective and significant ways to serve the community and the world through the four avenues above.
CODE OF ETHICS
As a Rotarian engaged in a business or profession, I am expected to:
1. Consider my vocation to be another opportunity to serve;
2. Be faithful to the letter and to the spirit of ethical codes of my vocation, to the laws of my country and to the moral standards of my community;
3. Do all in my power to dignify my vocation and to promote the highest ethical standards in my chosen vocation;
4. Be fair to my employer, employees, associates, competitors, customers, the public and all those with whom I have a businesss or professional relationship;
5. Recognize the honor and respect due to all occupations which are useful to society;
6. Offer my vocational talents: to provide opportunities for young people, to work for the relief of the special needs of others, and to improve the quality of life in my community;
7. Adhere to honesty in my advertising and in all representations to the public concerning my business or profession;
8. Neither seek from nor grant to a fellow Rotarian a privilege or advantage not normally accorded others in a business or professional relationship.
THE ROTARY YEAR
Rotary’s finances and leadership, worldwide, observe a July 1 through June 30 year. There is usually considerable transition planning in the year prior to each turnover. Sometimes you’ll hear the year called by the name of the current club President, such as this being “Linda’s Year.” Please know that this is just a term of convenience; Rotary is very much a group that makes decisions together, and our Presidents facilitate and guide far more than they take charge.