About Us
The Rotary Club of Downtown Sioux Falls is the oldest and largest Rotary Club in South Dakota. It was started on July 1st, 1915 at the Cataract Hotel by 42 businessmen that wished to have a place to socialize weekly. They were introduced to the new International Rotary organization that was started by Paul Harris in Chicago in 1905. After realizing that they had the same Business ethics and standards as Rotary International, they joined Rotary International and formed the "Sioux Falls Rotary Chapter".
After a period of time, more Rotary clubs became entities in town. Because there are more than one Rotary Club in Sioux Falls, the name of "Sioux Falls Downtown Rotary" evolved. We are proud to have four clubs in Sioux Falls--Downtown Rotary, Rotary West, Rotary North, and our newest club, Rotary South.
Downtown Rotary may be large in numbers but the feeling of being "at home" in the midst of many influential and talented business and professional men and women is always present in this group. Stop in and join "Downtown Rotary" for an hour of socializing with good company every Monday Noon at the Downtown Holiday Inn City Center.
After a period of time, more Rotary clubs became entities in town. Because there are more than one Rotary Club in Sioux Falls, the name of "Sioux Falls Downtown Rotary" evolved. We are proud to have four clubs in Sioux Falls--Downtown Rotary, Rotary West, Rotary North, and our newest club, Rotary South.
Downtown Rotary may be large in numbers but the feeling of being "at home" in the midst of many influential and talented business and professional men and women is always present in this group. Stop in and join "Downtown Rotary" for an hour of socializing with good company every Monday Noon at the Downtown Holiday Inn City Center.
About Rotary
Rotary is the experience of persons of different faiths and different opinions and different nationalities growing in fellowship wherever they may be. It is persons discovering their responsibilities toward one another and finding themselves in purposeful actions. It is a philosophy of service - “service above self” - and is based on the practical, ethical principle that “He profits most who serves
best.”
best.”
The high ideals of Rotary require each Rotarian to have the highest ethical and moral standards both in their personal life and in their professional or business life.
The Objects of Rotary, the Rotary mottos and the Four Way Test tell each Rotarian what is expected of them wherever they may be.
When we apply these to our everyday lives, we find that we are replacing hate with love; that we are ready to help those who may injure us rather than looking for revenge; that we strive to bring about union and prevent discord; that we do our best to instill faith in those who may have doubts; that we want to replace darkness with light, despair with hope and when we find sadness, we shall do our very best to bring joy.
OBJECT OF ROTARY
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:
- FIRST: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service; (Club Service)
- SECOND: High ethical standards in business and professions: the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of their occupation as an opportunity to service society; (Vocational Service)
- THIRD: The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to their personal, business and community life; (Community Service)
- FOURTH: The advancement of international understanding, good will, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional men and women, united in the ideal of service. (International Service)