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Rotary Goes Global
In 1910, Rotary became
international with the formation of the
Rotary Club of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Two years later, the Winnipeg club became
the first Rotary club officially chartered
outside the United States.
By the time Paul
Harris ended his term as president in 1912,
Rotary had spread across the Atlantic, with
the formation of clubs in the British Isles.
After his term, Harris continued his involvement
in Rotary as president-emeritus, traveling
extensively to promote Rotary both in the
US and abroad. |
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1916, witnessing the growing popularity
of the clubs in various regions worldwide,
Rotary set up a district system. The organization
became truly global - transcending national
boundaries, race, language, and religion
- as clubs mushroomed throughout Europe,
South and Central America, Australia, Africa,
and Asia. Rotary was represented on six
continents by 1921. To reflect this worldwide
presence, the name Rotary International
was adopted one year later.
By 1925, Rotary
had grown to 200 clubs with more than 20,000
members. The organization's distinguished
reputation attracted presidents, prime ministers,
and a host of other luminaries to its ranks
- among them composer Jean Sibelius, humanitarian
Albert Schweitzer, author Thomas Mann, and
diplomat Carlos P. Romulo.
During World
War II, many clubs were forced to disband,
while others stepped up their service efforts
to provide emergency relief to victims of
the war. In 1942, looking ahead to the postwar
era, Rotarians called a conference to explore
international educational and cultural exchange
that served as the inspiration for the United
Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO). Rotary also played
a significant role in the birth of the United
Nations itself, with 50 Rotarians serving
as delegates, advisors, and consultants
at the UN Charter Conference in 1945. "Few
there are who do not recognize the good
work which is done by Rotary clubs throughout
the free world," British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill once declared.
From the
earliest days of the organization, Rotarians
were concerned with promoting high ethical
standards in their professional lives. One
of the world's most widely printed and quoted
statements of business ethics is The 4-Way
Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian
Herbert J. Taylor (who later served as RI
president) when he was asked to take charge
of a company that was facing bankruptcy.
This 24-word code of ethics for employees
to follow in their business and professional
lives 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. Adopted
by Rotary in 1943, The 4-Way Test has been
translated into more than a hundred languages
and published in thousands of ways.
It asks the following four questions: "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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