Definition of Rotary
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. There are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians, members of more than 27,000 Rotary clubs in 158 countries and geographical areas.

Responsibilities of Membership
Rotary club membership carries with it certain responsibilities.

• Members are expected to attend weekly meetings of their 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 expected to attend 60 percent of the meetings in a six month period and not miss more than four consecutive meetings without making up. This can be done 14 days before or 14 days after the missed meetings.
• Members are required to play annual dues to their clubs, their districts, and to Rotary International.
• 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.  

How to become a Paul Harris Fellow (Rotary International Foundation)
Making a gift of $1,000 to the Rotary International Foundation designates the donor or whomever the donor wishes a Paul Harris Fellow. A Paul Harris Sustaining member is recognition presented to an individual who has given, or in whose honor a gift is made, a contribution of $100, with the stated intention of making additional contributions until $1,000 is reached. 

The Rotary Club of Rochester has established its own foundation to which members may contribute. The earnings from this foundation are used for incidental activities that may arise throughout the Rotary year. 

Four Way Test
From the earliest days of the organization, Rotarians were concerned with promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives. One of the world's most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is The 4-Way Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor (who later served as RI president) when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy. This 24-word test for employees to follow in their business and professional lives became the guide for sales, production, advertising, and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company is credited to this simple philosophy. Adopted by Rotary in 1943, The 4-Way Test has been translated into more than a hundred languages and published in thousands of ways. It asks the following four questions:

"Of the things 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?"