The original Rotary Club was organized in Chicago by attorney Paul Harris in 1905. The name “Rotary” was chosen because the club met in rotation at each member’s place of business. Rotary Clubs are nondenominational and nonpolitical and have both male and female members.

The Rotary ideals of friendship, fellowship and service to others spread from Chicago in 1905 throughout the United States and the world, reaching Boston in 1906, Quincy and Weymouth in 1924, Hingham in 1933 and Scituate in 1969.

Members of a Rotary Club are part of a diverse group of professional leaders who look beyond themselves to address needs in the community, the nation and the world. They seek the truth and let fairness govern their relationship. They build good will and better friendships and strive to benefit all in every interpersonal relationship and promote peace and 

understanding throughout the world. In short, they put Service Above Self – this is Rotary’s motto.

Rotarians are community leaders. They are executives of large businesses, owners of small businesses, doctors, lawyers, academics, clergy, professionals, and administrators among other things. Each Rotary club strives to attract members from a broad range of occupational classifications to ensure that membership represents as many worthy businesses and professions in each community, as is possible. In this way a club becomes a cross-section of its community.

Rotary is committed to peace and conflict resolution in the world. We believe this begins at home and in our community.

The Rotary Club of Scituate meets at Scituate Country Club, 91 Old Driftway Road, Scituate on Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8:00PM. On the 3^rd Wednesday of each month, the meeting is at noon for 1 hour.

Every member is expected to attend 60% of the meetings of the club every year, volunteer to serve on Club Committees, recruit new members, participate in the Club’s major fund raisers, learn more about Rotary, and live the motto of “Service Above Self”.

A missed meeting can be made-up by participating in a club function or activity or by participating in a District or International event or by participating at a meeting of another club or through internet participation. Rotarians who are traveling can attend Rotary Club meetings all over the world adding to the experience of global interconnectedness which Rotary fosters. Make-up meetings also provide an opportunity to broaden acquaintances and bring back to our home clubs information and ideas that can improve local club operations and programs.

Each meeting begins with a salute to the flag and an invocation. The meal is served and club business is transacted. As often as possible, the program committee schedules guest speakers for each meeting. Speakers are an excellent way to learn about the community, identify needs and get new ideas for Rotary projects.

Rotary membership is by invitation but we welcome interested individuals as guests to join at a meeting and see what we do as well as to ask us questions. Rotary values worthiness of all vocations and invites active persons with a big heart, who are keen to foster the ideals of service, peace and hope.

• They broaden their circle of friends and acquaintances.

• They keep in touch with the mainstream of community life and with the people who make it “tick.”

• They obtain increased knowledge of other businesses or professions by participating in an organization dedicated to an ideal of service.

• They acquire talents and achieve greater capabilities in roles of leadership in club activities.

• They are enabled to express in a practical way nobler desires found in persons wanting to make their own contribution to the betterment of society.

• They increase their knowledge of world affairs and learn about the customs and character of other people of the world.

• They acquire a friendly contact and warm welcome in most of the cities all over the world from fellow Rotarians.

Membership fees consist of a one time initiation fee of $100.00, an annual membership fee of $125.00 (which may be paid annually or semiannually) and a weekly meal cost of $18.00 (which includes a split pot raffle ticket and a $2.00 donation to the Rotary Foundation). Members may participate in informal contributions to the club and/or Foundation accounts. Contributions to foundation accounts are tax deductible.

The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations and the dignifying of each Rotarian of their occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

The application of the ideal of service by each Rotarian to his or her personal, business and community life;

The advancement of international understanding, good will and peace through world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

• Is it the Truth?

• Is it Fair to all concerned?

• Will it Build Goodwill and Better Friendships?

• Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?

For more information about Rotary check out  the Rotary International site at www.rotary.org.