Welcome to the Rotary Club of Haverhill!
Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.
A good Rotary Club is a primary asset to any town or city, and since 1915, this general truth has been demonstrated in Haverhill. The basis for Rotary activity is attracting a membership of people who are leaders in their businesses or professions and embracing them with the philosophy, “He profits most who serves the best.”
The Rotary Club of Haverhill was chartered with 21 members as Club 167 of Rotary International on September 23, 1914. Originally most of the membership belonged to the former Haverhill Advertising Club, and decided to become part of Rotary, which was organized only ten years earlier in Chicago by Paul Harris. By 1926-27, the Haverhill Club had more than one hundred members —a figure it has maintained as a minimum. Since that time, Rotary International has grown to 25,000-plus clubs worldwide with more than one million members. It is represented in more than 167 countries.
Haverhill Rotarians have throughout the years exhibited the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self.” Members have supported numerous local organizations and community events.
Through the Paul Harris Awards, the Haverhill club has participated in the Rotary Foundation’s many worldwide activities such as scholarships; health, hunger and humanities programs; special grants to underprivileged peoples around the world; world peace; youth exchange; and many other worthwhile activities. Perhaps the most outstanding in recent years has been the Polio Plus Program, with the goal of eradicating polio and other childhood diseases around the world.
In 1995, the club debuted its auction on Haverhill Community Television. Later, the annual Rubber Duck Regatta took its place as the club’s signature fundraiser. Though the fundraising methods may change, the club raises substantial sums of money to be given back to the community. Members are brought together not only to work side-by-side, but have fun at the same time, working on enjoyable projects.
The Haverhill Rotary Club has survived world wars, depression, and economic change, but still maintains its strength. Members meet once a week not only to “Enjoy Rotary” but to learn what others are doing through individual conversation, excellent programs and general dissemination of information.The future years of the Haverhill Rotary Club will be just as strong, and the club will continue its growth because it is constantly attracting young, active people of today from around the Greater Haverhill area.
Four Avenues of Service
- Club Service—Serving one another in a spirit of fellowship and sound organization.
- Community Service—Identifying community needs and addressing them.
- Vocational Service—Putting high standards of conduct in our professional and business lives while supporting the vocational training of young people.
- International Service—Working with our Rotary District and Rotary International to support world peace and understanding.
The Four Way Test
Rotary President Herbert J. Taylor, 1954-1955, developed this simple four-question test of the things we think, say, and do. Rotarians try to apply the four-way test before making decisions.
- Is it the truth?
- Is it fair to all concerned?
- Will it build good will and better friendships?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?