Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world.

Rotary club membership represents a cross-section of the community's business and professional men and women. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical, non-religious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.

The main objective of Rotary is service - in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotary also supports programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development. The Rotary motto is Service Above Self.

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a not-for-profit corporation that promotes world understanding through international humanitarian service programs and educational and cultural exchanges. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and others who share its vision of a better world. Since 1947, the Foundation has awarded more than US$1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants, which are initiated and administered by local Rotary clubs and districts

Our Club is committed to service in our community and to assisting with international Rotary activities. In the Comox Valley we have been contributed to several projects, a complete list is available by visiting the club website at www.comoxrotary.bc.ca. Internationally, our Club sponsors outgoing and incoming youth exchange students, establishes and cooperatively assists developing countries, and contributes to the Paul Harris Foundation.

Responsibilities of Membership

• Members are expected to attend weekly programs of the club. Opportunities to make up attendance include attending the regular meeting of another Rotary club, attending various other Rotary meetings, or attending a club service project authorized by the club board of directors.

• Members are required to pay annual dues to their clubs, their districts, and to Rotary International. These are billed in July and January each year.

• Members are expected to participate in local or international activities or projects of the Rotary club.

• Clubs encourage members to aspire to leadership or committee roles within their clubs.