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Rotary History
Rotary’s two official mottoes.
Arthur Frederick Sheldon, the Rotarian whose convention speech inspired Rotary’s secondary motto, One Profits Most Who Serves Best
Service Above Self and One Profits Most Who Serves Best , Rotary’s official mottoes, can be traced back to the early days of the organization.
In 1911, the second Rotary convention, in Portland, Oregon, USA, approved He Profits Most Who Serves Best as the Rotary motto. The wording was adapted from a speech that Rotarian Arthur Frederick Sheldon delivered to the first convention, held in Chicago the previous year. Sheldon declared that “only the science of right conduct toward others pays. Business is the science of human services. He profits most who serves his fellows best.”
The Portland gathering also inspired the motto Service Above Self. During an outing on the Columbia River, Ben Collins, president of the Rotary Club of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, talked with Seattle Rotarian J.E. Pinkham about the proper way to organize a Rotary club, offering the principle his club had adopted: Service, Not Self. Pinkham invited Rotary founder Paul Harris , who also was on the trip, to join their conversation. Harris asked Collins to address the convention, and the phrase Service, Not Self was met with great enthusiasm.
At the 1950 Rotary International Convention in Detroit, Michigan, USA, two slogans were formally approved as the official mottoes of Rotary: He Profits Most Who Serves Best and Service Above Self . The 1989 Council on Legislation established Service Above Self as the principal motto of Rotary because it best conveys the philosophy of unselfish volunteer service. He Profits Most Who Serves Best was modified to They Profit Most Who Serve Best in 2004 and to its current wording, One Profits Most Who Serves Best, in 2010.
A name badge from the 1928 Rotary International Convention features Rotary’s mottoes.
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Service Above Self
As written by Rtr. Samadhi Gunawardane
Do you remember writing the first-ever essay on “myself”? Probably it was about family, hobbies, pets, and feelings. Isn’t it? But what if you have none of these things? What will be in your new essay on “myself”? Let us figure this out.
The great Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Even if you lose all your possessions, you will still be “someone” to others when you choose to serve others regardless of yourself, age, position, profession, and status. In other words, your existence itself will be useful and meaningful to the world when you help communities around you with those humble thoughts of yours.
“But isn’t it hard to forget the well-being of ourselves and think about other people in need?”, you may ask. It simply takes only a WHAT IF as the answer to that question. What if that other person fighting cancer is your favorite neighbor? What if the person suffering from poverty is your relation? What if the person being bullied every day is your friend? And what if the person dying from hunger is your family? Would you get out of your comfort zone to offer a helping hand to them? Service above self is all about acknowledging that we all are the same and giving a helping hand to others at anytime, every time we can, expecting nothing in return, as it is the most elegant way to live a worthwhile life.
Far more than the things we could do, we could say, it is what we choose to do, choose to say reveals our true selves to be seen by the world. All it matters is what we choose to act upon. So, let us always be humble and put away our egos, to serve human beings who need us while building empathy to connect and make everlasting efforts together.
We, Rotaractors have come together to serve and to amplify our humble service mindset from ourselves to beyond, to fulfill this same purpose of creating a positive and long-lasting impact on the world. That is why SERVICE ABOVE SELF has become the motto of the Rotary family.
In the end, your essay on “myself” will not be about what were you born with and what you had in life but what you have become and the things you gave away to become the person you have grown to be. It will show that you have lived one fascinating life.
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Yoshani Ranaweera
A book lover and an avid writer. Adores travelling and spending time with nature. Always ready to lend a helping hand.
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Service Above Self
Basil Lewis
Basil Lewis Essays
Rotary the World over
Rotary the World over 2
Harris at Sea
Kentucky Colonel, Harlan Sanders
From the earliest days of British Rotary, there was deep suspicion about some of the commercial implications of the American style of operation. Indeed, Arthur Sheldon’s suggested slogan ‘he profits most who serves best’ was never officially recognized in Britain, although adopted in America in 1909. As late as 1949, RIBI officially discounted it for the emphatic use of the word ‘profit’.
In fact, Paul Harris himself was unhappy about the way in which the Chicago Club had developed. His original idea had been to found a club, based on fellowship, which should do something for the community from which it drew its members. The Chicago Club, however, had become a self help organisation, even having a ‘transactions register’ in which members recorded business deals resulting from their weekly meetings. It had effectively become, as some people realised, a closed shop. Restricting membership to only one person for each trade or profession gave extra emphasis to this, and Chicagoans even objected to the creation of clubs elsewhere in the United States. It was not the Rotary which Paul Harris had envisaged, in which service to the community was to be a direct result of the fellowship engendered in the regular meetings. *
It was another four years before another member of the Chicago Club, Chesley Perry, was able to support Harris in developing Rotary as a service organisation. With Chesley’s aid, Harris could now look for extension’ and several clubs were opened from 1909 onwards. Britain, however, had retained a more puritanical approach to business ethics, and Paul Harris had always considered that London would be a suitable stepping off point for a Rotary Club based on his concept of what Rotary should be.
The above piece is based on ‘Towards My Neighbour’ by C.R.Hewitt, published by Longman Green in London in 1950. This is definitely out of print and almost certainly unobtainable. The idea of giving work to fellow members was officially abandoned in the 1920s.
Written by Basil Lewis , RGHF Senior Historian
* From Rotary In Canada – “75 years of Service Above Self” Page 5 “The 1912 Convention…. At the same meeting, it was decided to drop the “personal gains” idea and branch out into fields of unselfish works, a Service Organization — No. 1.”
Information provided is courtesy of members of the International Genealogy and Heraldry Fellowship of Rotarians in cooperation with Rotary Global History.
ROTARY: OUR MOTTO IS "SERVICE ABOVE SELF"
The Talent of Servant Leadership: Giving Service Above Self
- Categories: Community Service Effective Leadership Leadership Styles
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Published: Apr 17, 2023
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Moral courage, leading authentically, spiritual motivation, transforming influence, relationship focus, most important dimension, obtaining and maintaining transforming influence, avoiding leadership pitfalls.
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Service Above Self Essay- MG
Posted by Madeline Gersemehl "Service Above Self” Essay Throughout my childhood, service has been an extremely important virtue to me. Service not only helps other people, but it also satisfies me knowing I positively impacted someone else's life. Seeing other people who are less fortunate than I can be heart-wrenching but knowing I can help them, comforts me. To me, one of the most important aspects of living is helping those who are in need also live their life to the fullest. Everyone deserves to be living comfortably and that is why I believe it is our job, as people who are blessed with more than enough, to help those who are less fortunate. One of my favorite acts of service is helping those in need by creating shoes out of jeans. As a service project, I volunteered to take old jeans, and, with the help of others, create shoes for those who have none. The moment I knew that there were thousands of children whose health was declining because of the infections they were getting in their feet I knew I had to help. There are so many children around the world who unfortunately have no shoes to wear, however, this project allowed us to create these shoes so their feet could be protected. Although it may not seem like a lot, these shoes protect children from getting infections and other injuries on their feet. For many, these donated shoes mean so much more than we can truly understand. When we see the happiness and amount of gratitude, they have it truly makes the service project worth every minute given. As president of the National Honors Society, I have had the amazing opportunity to come up with many different service opportunities. For one project, we found a family in need in Faribault and gifted them with presents that they could not afford for Christmas. After raising money, we were able to gift this family over six hundred dollars’ worth of presents. The best part about this service project was seeing the children's faces light up when we put their presents under the tree. They had never received this many presents before which is why it was even more meaningful to us volunteers. It was so heart warning to see the family's thankfulness but also to see my fellow NHS members involved and excited to provide this sweet family with wonderful gifts. One of my favorite things to do is protect the earth. From buying natural products and recycled materials to cleaning our environment; I love it all. That is why another one of my top favorite service projects has been cleaning our earth. It is eye-opening to see the amount of garbage and waste that people will throw on the side of the road. After multiple hours cleaning the one side of the road it was clean. It is sad to know that in a couple of months it will be dirty once again from people mistreating it. But we will go out there again and clean it up because that is what our earth deserves: to be clean. Another way I love to take care of our community is by taking care of our school gardens. I volunteer my time by planting flowers, pulling weeds, and just taking care of the garden. I love that people of our community can share the joy that these beautiful gardens bring me each season. As a result of my community service, I have grown as a person, scholar, and peer. I have learned the most beneficial ways to help those in need by tending to their individual needs first. Although it may be challenging to find a lot of extra time in one's schedule, service will always be there for when you are able to find that time. These service projects have made me eve1more grateful and appreciative for everything I have in my life. I look forward to being of even more service to my community in the future.
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Service Above Self: Why and How do We Serve Others? by John
John's entry into Varsity Tutor's March 2024 scholarship contest
Service Above Self: Why and How do We Serve Others? by John - March 2024 Scholarship Essay
“Be men and women for others,” a Jesuit ethos, is said in our house almost as often as “did you brush your teeth?” Our family mission is to use all the tools in our toolbox to grow and use our talents to serve our community.
Two summers ago, I applied to be an overnight summer camp counselor at Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp (“MHKC”), a non-profit that offers outdoor recreational programming for campers with developmental, intellectual, and physical differences. I was partnered with one camper (MHKC ensures a one-to-one camper-counselor ratio).
I’d packed for many overnight camps over the years so, while I knew this would be a different experience, I felt prepared. The first day was great. My camper and I got to know each other a little bit, I helped her settle into her cabin, and had dinner with her. I was excited for the rest of the week.
But then anxiety crept in. I was afraid of making mistakes, ranging from “what if I don’t offer her enough water throughout the day?” to “what if I don’t control this tandem bike and we fall down?”
My camper sensed my anxiety. She started guiding me. It was supposed to be the other way around! She told me what to do, where to go and how to get there, and suggested different places we could explore. She assured me we wouldn’t get lost because she was a seasoned MHKC camper and had explored much of the 22-acre campsite before.
She put me at ease, and I had a moment of clarity. I had wrongly assumed she needed my help with everything. That was not true. And, if she needed my help, she was more than capable of asking for it. We began to share stories. She told me about jobs she’d held and how customers often avoided her. Hearing how she had been marginalized struck a chord with me. I had to step outside of my comfort zone. I wanted to interject with solutions or a plan, but I realized that what I really needed to do was be present and listen. That was not easy to do.
As our relationship grew, I clued in on her non-verbal cues. If she felt uncomfortable with certain things like sunscreen (she really hated applying sunscreen) or her clothing, then she would squeeze my hand. She would make a certain facial expression if she had something to say. I noticed that facial expression on zipline day, so I asked her. She wanted to zipline, but she didn’t want everyone clapping because it was so loud. A “jazz hands” solution was born, and she was able to zipline, repeatedly.
This camp experience was life changing. I went into it with the mindset of helping someone “different.” I learned more than my camper did. Service isn’t just about “doing” for others; listening and understanding are essential. We all deserve dignity and respect. Our differences should be honored, and strong relationships can be built despite differences.
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Izick Hernandez shares how the Interact Club and the Rotary Club of Flatonia influenced his life and goals. He expresses his commitment to service above self, respect, and determination through his academic and athletic achievements.
A personal story of how joining Rotary changed the life of a Rotarian who wanted to build bridges and change lives around the world. Learn about the history and meaning of the motto "Service Above Self" and how you can live it in your own way.
These are the guidelines for an essay to be submitted to the Rotary Club of Greenville as part of the Service Above Self Scholarship Application. Rotary Club of Greenville - Scholarship Committee - 728 N. Pleasantburg Drive - Greenville, SC 29607. Please answer the following questions. Your response must be presented professionally.
The Origins of Service Above Self. The motto Service Above Self was adopted by Rotary International in 1950, but its roots can be traced back to the very beginnings of Rotary. Founded in 1905 by Paul Harris, Rotary was originally a small group of businessmen in Chicago who sought to build connections and give back to their community.
Rotary's two official mottoes. Arthur Frederick Sheldon, the Rotarian whose convention speech inspired Rotary's secondary motto, One Profits Most Who Serves Best. Service Above Self and One Profits Most Who Serves Best, Rotary's official mottoes, can be traced back to the early days of the organization. In 1911, the second Rotary ...
That is why SERVICE ABOVE SELF has become the motto of the Rotary family. In the end, your essay on "myself" will not be about what were you born with and what you had in life but what you have become and the things you gave away to become the person you have grown to be. It will show that you have lived one fascinating life. Tags. Featured
Service Above Self. From the earliest days of British Rotary, there was deep suspicion about some of the commercial implications of the American style of operation. Indeed, Arthur Sheldon's suggested slogan 'he profits most who serves best' was never officially recognized in Britain, although adopted in America in 1909.
Complete a typewritten or handwritten essay that explains what Service Above Self means to you. I am aware that if I am awarded this scholarship, I must provide Quitman Rotary Club with proof of enrollment from a recognized institute of higher education, including a four-year college or university,
Learn how Rotary's motto Service Above Self reflects its philosophy of unselfish volunteer service and its seven areas of focus. See how Rotary members work locally, regionally, and internationally to make the world a better place.
The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. "Service Above Self". The principal motto of Rotary, since 1989, because it best conveys the philosophy of unselfish volunteer ...
When I was writing about service above self essay I've reviewed the results from the survey and I was surprised to find that the two dimensions I thought would be most applicable to my leadership style, proved to be the least applicable. Leading authentically and relationship focus were two areas that, by definition, appear to be strengths of ...
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. The Faribault Rotary Club was established 103 years ago on May 1, 1920 as Rotary's 596th club with 22 ...
The nurse through the values of caring, integrity, diversity, and excellence. My nursing philosophy, simply put is service above self. Nursing is a call to service, if every nurse when they showed up to work remembered that they weren't there for a promotion or a paycheck and aimed to serve others always, it could be transformative.
A student shares how they practice service above self in their personal and academic life, citing biblical verses and examples. The essay also provides a free plagiarism check and essay help services.
I went into it with the mindset of helping someone "different.". I learned more than my camper did. Service isn't just about "doing" for others; listening and understanding are essential. We all deserve dignity and respect. Our differences should be honored, and strong relationships can be built despite differences.
Mike Myatt, a leadership advisor and author, shares his thoughts on the value of becoming a true servant leader and the characteristics of a warrior's heart. He uses his personal example of his son's commissioning as an Air Force officer to illustrate the importance of service above self in business and life.
The winners of the 2022 Coronado Interact Club essay contest were announced at Coronado High School. Twenty-four students submitted their creative writings on the topic, "what does 'Service Above Self'" mean to me. Many of the essays included very personal and heartwarming examples of "Service Above Self" and of their learning experiences at a young age on the importance of serving ...
Microsoft Word - RotaryTrifoldIntro.info 7-23-15.doc. The 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: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service. High ethical standards in business and professions; the ...
The Rotary motto Service Above Self conveys the humanitarian spirit of the organization's more than 1.2 million members. Strong fellowship among Rotarians and meaningful community and international service projects characterize Rotary worldwide. Member Dr. Steve Esposito, Dentist, has put this motto into action. He and other local ...
After all, the School's mission is about public service. "The reason is because we share the same values of service above self," Futrell said. "That's what draws applicants to the Kennedy School. The same thing holds true for the Tillman scholar community. They have shown through lived experience and through their communicated ...
What Services above Self Means To Me When I was a little girl my mother told me that it takes an entire village to raise a single child. Of course she told me this in response to my cries about being scolded by the lady who lived above us for playing in the street. But, what she said left a...
Answer: The required essay on " Service above self " is as below: Explanation: 'Service above self' is the only way by which the world will get rid of all the problems facing us today and we will be able to escape the 'Chakravyuh' which we have found today. The idea of living for oneself is distorted. Also the work done by a person affects the ...