“The mission of Rotary International, the worldwide association of Rotary clubs, is to provide service to others, promote high ethical standards, and to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.”
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 recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
- The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
- The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
Moving Toward the Future
Rotary International’s Strategic Plan identifies seven priorities:
- Eradicate polio.
- Increase Rotary’s capacity to provide service to others.
- Optimize the use and development of leadership talents within RI.
- Advance the internal and external recognition and public image of Rotary.
- Expand membership globally in both numbers and quality.
- Emphasize Rotary’s unique vocational service commitment.
- Fully implement the strategic planning process to ensure continuity and consistency throughout the organization.
The Rotary Club of West Salem, founded in the early 1980’s, has approximately 40 members today.
Salem has several other clubs locally. These include:
- Rotary Club of Salem (the largest)
- Rotary Club of South Salem
- Rotary Club of Salem – Creekside
- Rotary Club of East Salem
- Rotary Club of Keizer
Projects
Our club is involved in many projects in West Salem and Polk County. Many projects are in partnership with other Rotary Clubs, businesses, nonprofits and churches.
As a centennial project our Club installed a wading water fountain in a local park. The fountain includes a number of water features which are on a timer and spout or shoot streams of water that the kids can run through and play in during hot summer days. Over time our club has added benches to the fountain area, a partial fence to keep the water balls and other toys from being launched into the road and purchased new playground equipment for the park. It is very rewarding to drive by the park after a long day at work and see all the children playing in the fountain and on the new playground equipment. Our club has helped create happy childhood memories and experiences for many children in West Salem through these improvements to what was once a rundown park.
A few years ago we contributed to the new turf at West Salem High School. The new turf allowed the school to be able to offer the field for use in other sports and Marching Band competitions. In the case of Marching Band, West Salem High School now ranks in the top marching band programs in Oregon.
Our Club members are also on a clean up crew for Wallace Road. We have supported meals on Wheels for many years. Our “claim to fame” is our scholarship program. Since the start of the scholarship program, we have given away over $250,000 in scholarships to West Salem high school students.
How to Request Support
Our Club provides financial support to many organizations in West Salem. If your organization is interested in appealing to our club for financial support, here are the procedures:
- Send an email to “info@rotaryofwestsalem.org” or letter addressed to the “West Salem Rotary President” at PO Box 5438, Salem, OR 97304.
- Describe the purpose for the funds, what they will be used for, and who specifically they will benefit. Funds should benefit residents in West Salem.
- Indicate a specific amount that you are requesting.
- Include a date that your organization would like to receive the funds. This is important because we decide on contribution requests only once a month at our board meeting.
- Be somewhat formal in your request. Use your letterhead and include all your contact information with phone number, cell number and email address .
- Include who specifically the check should be made out to including the organization name, mailing address, etc. Many times we will ask you to come to a meeting to receive the check. this is a great opportunity for you to meet community leaders and talk about your project!