"Rotary service on a worldwide basis, or even on the most modest, local community level, is like a rainbow: infinitely varied and differentiated in color."- Ernst G. Breitholtz, RI President (1971-72)

The third Avenue of Service embraces everything Rotarians do to improve their communities.

Community service is based on the third Object of Rotary, which encourages "the application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life.“

In the beginning fellowship and business interests attracted members to Rotary in 1905.

At the request of new member Donald M. Carter, the Rotary Club of Chicago added civic service to its constitution in 1906.

What Donald Carter said at the proposed amendment is worth repeating, "An organization that is wholly selfish can not last long. If we, as a Rotary club, expect to survive and grow, we must do some things to justify our existence. We must perform a civic service."

Rotary began serving the community in 1907 when the Rotary Club of Chicago donated a horse to a local doctor and had a public restroom built at City Hall.

Adopted at the 1923 RI Convention in St. Louis, Resolution 34 is Rotary's policy on Community Service. It states that clubs : -Have the autonomy to select projects -Should not duplicate existing efforts -Are encouraged to cooperate with other agencies -Can foster the creation of new agencies

Since then, Rotary clubs have worked to meet a broad range of community needs.

In 1975, Rotarians in Bombay, India, provided irrigation equipment that allowed farmers to grow wheat on previously idle lands. In gratitude, the farmers named their bountiful crops "Rotary wheat.“

Founded in 1981, the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund supports community health research.

Rotarians' commitment to community service grew throughout the 1980s, particularly in Asia, spurred by Polio Plus immunization campaigns.

World community Service and Rotary Community Corps have augmented that growth.

Youth programs such as Interact and Rotaract represent Rotary's long-term investment in the community.

Rotarians use their own vocational skills to benefit the community.

The 1992 Council on Legislation adopted a statement in the spirit of Resolution 34. "Community Service is an opportunity for every Rotarian to exemplify 'Service Above Self.' It is the commitment and social responsibility..... to improve the quality of life."

• Children at risk
• Disabled persons
• Health care
• International understanding and goodwill
• Literacy and numeracy
• Population issues
• Poverty and hunger
• Preserve Planet Earth
• Urban concerns