STRUCTURE OF ROTARY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 November 1943, Page 2

STRUCTURE OF ROTARY

IMPROVEMENT OF BUSINESS MORALITY. HISTORY OF MOVEMENT. At today’s meeting of the Masterton Rotary Club an address on the “Structure of Rotary” was given by Mr J. H. Cunningham. Mr Cunningham said that the idea of the Rotary movement 'was conceived in 1905, at a time when there was much corruption in business circles, the chief object being to im/prove business morality. PaulHarriswas the founder and he worked on the idea of making social friends of his business friends. Largely by reason of the meeting at each man’s residence in to-| tation the name Rotary was given to, the group. The club grew and its formula was: “Go about your common tasks together, avoid discussions of dissentious subjects and your reward will be friendship.” Within a few years Rotary expanded to an organisation of internationtal vision and nobility of purpose. In 1922 the name of the International Association of Rotary Clubs was changed to Rotary International. The four objects of Rotary were: (1) The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service; (2) high ethical .standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an opportunity to serve society; (3) the application of the ideal of service by each Rotarian to his personal business and community life; (4) the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional men united in the ideal of service. In September, 1943, ( there were 5,190 clubs with some 210,- j 000 members, said Mr Cunningham.