Rotary Primer

Four Way Test

Of all 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?

Areas of Focus

Rotary International focuses on six avenues of service throughout the world:

  • Peace and conflict prevention/resolution.
  • Disease prevention and treatment.
  • Water and sanitation.
  • Maternal and child health.
  • Basic education and literacy.
  • Economic and community development.

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;

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.

Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation is Rotary International's world wide resource for doing good in the world.  Donations are invested for three years, after which 1/2 of the proceeds are returned to the district.

Every Rotarian Every Year - The goal of  Rotary International is for each Rotarian to contribute $100 to the Rotary Foundation each year.

Paul Harris Fellowship

Paul Harris was the founder of Rotary, thus donations to the Rotary Foundation are donations to "Paul Harris" and donors are Paul Harris Members, Fellows, or Society, depending on their level of support.

Anyone who commits to donating $100 per year to the Rotary Foundation becomes a "Paul Harris Sustaining Member".  Once reaching $1,000, the donor becomes a "Paul Harris Fellow".  It is the goal of Rotary for every member to contribute $100 per year to the Rotary Foundation.

Donors who commit to $1,000 per year become a member of the "Paul Harris Society".

Donations from our District go to Rotary International, and after 3 years 1/2 of the amount is returned to the District for matching grants. Thus 1/2 our donations to Paul Harris go to International programs, and 1/2 come back to Northwestern Illinois. For more, see "District Grants."

District Grants

1/2 of the yearly donations to the Rotary Foundation are returned to the District after three years to be distributed as "District Matching Grants." Grant applications are due in April of each year, and distribution is normally in August.

The Galena Rotary Club receives a District Grant almost every year.  The amount received depends on the amount given, and ranges between roughly $1,000 - $2,000.  This amount is matched by the club, through existing funds or solicited donations, making the amount granted $2,000 - $4,000.

Due to the recent pandemic, matching funds will be diminished for the next two years.  The Galena Rotary Club chose not to apply for a grant this year, to allow the money to be used by other clubs in our District.  Through our fundraising efforts - and the exceptional generosity of our community, who always fully support us - we were still able to award a $10,000 grant to The Workshop without any match from the District or Rotary International.