Rotary brings people together through friendship and social connection, united by a shared purpose of doing good in the world through community service. Members of Rotary grow through personal and professional development while making a positive impact in their communities and beyond.
Rotary's beginning:
Our 1.2 million member global organisation started with the vision of a Chicago lawyer, Paul Harris, who formed one of the world’s first service organisations, the Rotary Club of Chicago in 1905. His vision was a group where professionals with diverse backgrounds could gather and exchange community service ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of each member.
From the beginning, some key traits remained strong throughout Rotary as it has grown:
Rotary is truly international. Only 16 years after being founded, Rotary had clubs on six continents. Today we’re working together with groups from around the world, both online and in-person, to solve some of our world’s most challenging problems.
Rotary perseveres in tough times. During WWII, Rotary clubs in Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, and Japan were forced to disband. Despite the risks, many continued to meet informally. Following the war’s end, Rotary members joined together to rebuild their clubs and their countries - and Rotary also became involved in setting up the United Nations organisation.
Rotary's commitment to community service and its causes is ongoing. Rotary began the fight to eradicate polio worldwide in 1979 with a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. As of April 2026, only two (2) countries in the world remain polio-endemic, down from 125 in 1988.
Encouraging high ethical standards in member's professions, and respect for all worthy vocations, has been a hallmark of Rotary from its earliest days. In our business, professional and personal lives, Rotarians refer to The Four-Way Test:
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?
Rotary today:
Rotary is an international membership organisation of communities of like-minded people across all ages and genders who share passion and commitment to enhancing communities and improving lives. Rotary connects and unites passionate people who want to make positive changes in their communities - locally, regionally and around the world.
We meet locally to collaborate, initiate and volunteer on projects and community services, while building friendships and networks with like-minded people who care. In the process, members are often transformed by what they can accomplish as part of this international organisation.
Rotary people take actions together which we would not ordinarily be able to do as individuals, and we make a real difference by creating lasting impact for good - in our community, in our region and in ourselves.
Local initiatives plus global support is how Rotary gets things done.
Rotary's vision: Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the world, in our communities, and in ourselves.
Rotary's mission: We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
From peacebuilding to clean water, from fighting disease to protecting the environment - these seven major causes reflect Rotary's commitment as an organisation to improving people's lives, international relationships, and creating a better world. These areas of focus guide local club projects, international grants, and large-scale programs that strengthen communities and create lasting change around the world.
Individual people join Rotary as members of community-based Rotary Clubs. Como Rotary is located in the South Perth area of Western Australia.
Como Rotary is one of 78 community-based clubs in the district of Rotary Western Australia.
Link to://rotarywa9423.org.au
Rotary Western Australia is one of the districts within the Region of Rotary South Pacific, covering 1158 community Rotary Clubs.
Link to://rotarysouthpacific.org
Rotary South Pacific is a region of the worldwide network of Rotary International, which has over 1.2 million individual members in community Rotary clubs across more than 200 countries around the world. The binding theme this year for Rotary International is "Create Lasting Impact".
Link to://rotary.org