History
The world's first service club was the Rotary Club of
Chicago, Illinois, USA. The club was formed February 23,
1905 by lawyer Paul
P. Harris and three friends. Harris wished to
recapture the friendly spirit he had felt among business
people in the small town where he had grown up. The name
"Rotary" was derived from the early practice
of rotating meetings among member's offices.
Mission
The main
objective of Rotary is service -- in the community,
in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians
build goodwill and peace, provide humanitarian service,
and encourage high ethical standards in all vocations.
The Rotary motto is "Service Above Self."
4-Way
Test
One of the most widely printed and quoted statements of
business ethics in the world is the Rotary 4-Way Test.
It was created by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor in 1932
when he was asked to take charge of a company that was
facing bankruptcy. Taylor looked for a way to save the
struggling company mired in depression-caused financial
difficulties. He drew up a 24-word code of ethics for
all employees to follow in their business and
professional lives. The 4-Way Test became the guide for
sales, production, advertising and all relations with
dealers and customers, and the survival of the company
is credited to this simple philosophy.
Herb
Taylor became president of Rotary International in
1954-55. The 4-Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943
and has been translated into more than a hundred
languages and published in thousands of ways. Here it is
in English:
Of
the things we think, say or do:
1.
Is it the Truth?
2. Is it Fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
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