What is Rotary Anyway?

Are you wanting to start giving back to the community and the world? Do you want to meet new people and learn about new things? If this is you, please consider joining the Rotary Club of Chicago O'Hare. Some people think a Rotary Club is an organization of a bunch of old men having lunch while writing a check to a good cause every so often to make themselves feel good. Wrong, Rotary is a way of life, a way to look at the world, a way to realize no matter how bad things get in your life, there are people who have it worse and you have the power to help.

A bunch of old men? No way. We have members of all ages. For every age and gender, the mission of service remains the same. Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders. Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. There are over 34,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. As signified by the motto Service Above Self, Rotary's main objective is service - in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. 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;  SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;  THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;  FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service. Based on the Object of Rotary, the Avenues of Service are Rotary's philosophical cornerstone and the foundation on which club activity is based:  Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club.  Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards.  Community Service covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community.  International Service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary's humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace. The Rotary Club of Chicago O'Hare services O'Hare, Schiller Park and the Rosemont communities. We meet each Thursday at the Great Escape in Schiller Park from noon to 1:30pm for lunch, networking, and to listen to a brief speaker discussing a topical subject. We have many service projects but one of our favorites is providing over $20,000 in scholarships to worthy East Leyden students and other community high school students. Please feel free to visit us and learn more about us. For further information, contact Barbara LaSpesa 847-390-0088