Rotary 2 Mottoes History 1910 to Date - Las Vegas WON Rotary
Two Mottoes for Rotary
Many seasoned Rotarians may not be aware Rotary actually have two Mottoes. Most everyone is aware of “Service Above Self” as the Rotary Motto. Let us step back in time and see how the history of Rotary Mottoes came to be.
Two Rotary Mottoes Were Born in 1910-1911
At the second Rotary convention at the Commercial Club Convention Hall, in Portland, Oregon in 1911, August 21-23, they approved a motto for Rotary . . . “He Profits Most Who Serves Best”
The “He Profits Most Who Serves Best” motto was adapted from the words of the speech by Rotarian Arthur Frederick Sheldon had made at the first convention held in Chicago in 1910.
At the second Rotary convention, in Portland, Oregon in 1911, they approved a motto for Rotary . . . “He Profits Most Who Serves Best”
The “He Profits Most Who Serves Best” motto was adapted from the words of the speech by Rotarian Arthur Frederick Sheldon had made at the first convention held in Chicago in 1910.
(Picture is Rotarian Arthur Frederick Sheldon)
(He joined the Rotary Club of Chicago in 1908)
At the second Rotary convention at the Commercial Club Convention Hall, in Portland, Oregon in 1911, August 21-23, they approved a motto for Rotary . . . “He Profits Most Who Serves Best”
The “He Profits Most Who Serves Best” motto was adapted from the words of the speech by Rotarian Arthur Frederick Sheldon had made at the first convention held in Chicago in 1910.
At the second Rotary convention, in Portland, Oregon in 1911, they approved a motto for Rotary . . . “He Profits Most Who Serves Best”
The “He Profits Most Who Serves Best” motto was adapted from the words of the speech by Rotarian Arthur Frederick Sheldon had made at the first convention held in Chicago in 1910.
(Picture is Rotarian Arthur Frederick Sheldon)
(He joined the Rotary Club of Chicago in 1908)
Also, during the 1911 convention, on a day outing on the Columbia River, three men were in a conversation about Rotary. Ben Collins, president of Rotary Club of Minneapolis, Rotarian J.E. Pinkham, President of the Seattle Rotary Club, and Rotary Founder Paul Harris were in a conversation centered around the proper way to organize a Rotary Club. Collins talked about a principle his club adopted, Service, Not Self. Paul Harris asked Collins to address the convention where the phrase “Service, Not Self” was received with great enthusiasm. (There were Twenty-two Clubs represented at the 1911 convention, with a total of 149 delegates attended)
Not until the 1950 Rotary International Convention in Detroit, Michigan were the two slogans / mottoes became the official mottoes of Rotary.
“He Profits Most Who Serves Best”
and
“Service Above Self”
As time goes on, so does change and in 1989 at the Council of Legislation established the motto “Service Above Self” as the principal / primary motto of Rotary. They felt this best conveys the individual Rotarians who daily executed the philosophy of unselfish volunteer service.
In 2004, “He Profits Most Who Serves Best” was modified to “They Profit Most Who Serve Best” for an unknown reason . . .
In 2010, once again the motto was changed to, “One Profits Most Who Serves Best” which is the current wording used today.
Displayed below is the badge for the June 18-22, 1928, Rotary International Convention held in Minneapolis. You can see both Mottoes were used at the same time in those days.
Not until the 1950 Rotary International Convention in Detroit, Michigan were the two slogans / mottoes became the official mottoes of Rotary.
“He Profits Most Who Serves Best”
and
“Service Above Self”
As time goes on, so does change and in 1989 at the Council of Legislation established the motto “Service Above Self” as the principal / primary motto of Rotary. They felt this best conveys the individual Rotarians who daily executed the philosophy of unselfish volunteer service.
In 2004, “He Profits Most Who Serves Best” was modified to “They Profit Most Who Serve Best” for an unknown reason . . .
In 2010, once again the motto was changed to, “One Profits Most Who Serves Best” which is the current wording used today.
Displayed below is the badge for the June 18-22, 1928, Rotary International Convention held in Minneapolis. You can see both Mottoes were used at the same time in those days.
