The Object of Rotary is to “encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise.”  Rotary is a service organization.  Since 1910, the Rotary Motto has been “Service Above Self.”

Rotary strives to achieve it’s objective of “Service Above Self” through activities in four primary areas.  These are often referred to as the Four Avenues of Service.

Club Service

This “Avenue” promotes the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.  It involves the activities necessary to make the Club function successfully and achieve its goals.

Click here to find out more about Club Service at Allentown West-Western Lehigh County Rotary.

Vocational Service

This area represents the opportunity that each Rotarian has to represent the dignity and utility of one’s vocation as an opportunity to serve society.  Rotarians promote and foster high ethical standards in business and professions and promote the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations.

Click here to find out more about Vocational Service at Allentown West-Western Lehigh County Rotary.

Community Service

This “Avenue” relates to the activities that Rotarians undertake to improve the quality of life in their community.  Particular emphasis is given to helping children, needy families, the aged, the handicapped, and those most in need of assistance.  Rotarians strive to promote the ideal of service in their personal, business, and community lives.

Click here to find out more about Community Service at Allentown West-Western Lehigh County Rotary.

International Service

In this area, Rotarians strive for the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.  International Service Projects are designed to meet the humanitarian needs of people in many lands, with particular emphasis on the most underprivileged children and families in developing countries.

Click here to find out more about International Service at Allentown West-Western Lehigh County Rotary.

 Membershp

To keep clubs strong, every Rotarian must share the responsibility of bringing new people into Rotary.  Even new members can bring guests to meetings or invite them to participate in a service project .  The best way to spark the interest of potential members is by having club programs that are meaningful, fellowship that includes all members, and involvment in projects that serve the community. 

Foundation

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a not-for-profit corporation that receives contributions totaling more than $70 million annually and distributes some $65 million each year in support of humanitarian and educational programs implemented by clubs and districts.  The Allentown-West Rotary Club also has a not-for-profit account which funds projects where monies are totally spent on local humanitarian progrms.

Information on this page came from the following sources:

The Object of Rotary page on the Rotary International web site

The ABCs of Rotary by Clifford L. Dochterman, published by Rotary International.