Mottos
Rotary's principal motto, "Service Above Self" and its other official precept, "He Profits
Most Who Serves Best", evidence the enthusiam with which Rotarians embraced the ideal
of service. The roots of both of these adages, adopted as official mottos at the 1950 RI
Convention, can be traced back to the first decade of Rotary's existence, when "He profits
most who serves his fellows best and Service not self were both put forth as slogans. In
1989, the RI Council on Legislation designated "Service above Self" as the principal motto.
The Rotary emblem
Rotary's first emblem was a simple wagon wheel (in motion with dust) representing
civilization and movement. Montague Bear, a member of the Chicago club, who was an
engraver, designed it in 1905 and many Rotary clubs of the time adopted the wheel in one
form or another.
In 1922, authority was given to create and preserve an official emblem, and the following
year the present gear wheel with 24 cogs and six spokes was adopted. A keyway was added
to signify that the wheel was a
"worker and not an idler." At the
RI Convention in 1929, royal
blue and gold were chosen as the
official colors.