Rotary Mottoes 
The first motto of Rotary International, "He Profits Most Who Serves
Best", was approved at the second Rotary Convention, held in Portland,
Oregon, in August 1911.
The phrase was stated by a Chicago Rotarian, Art Sheldon, who made a
speech in 1910 which included the remark, "he profits most who serves
his fellows best".
At about the same time, Ben Collins, president of the Rotary Club of
Minneapolis, Minnesota, commented that the proper way to organize a Rotary
club was through the principle his club had adopted - "Service, Not Self".
These two slogans, slightly modified, were formally approved to be the
official mottoes of Rotary at the 1950 Convention in Detroit - "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, since
it best explains the philosophy of unselfish volunteer service. |