Rotary Themes through the Years
Each January, as Rotary district governors-elect convene at the International Assembly for training and fellowship, they can be certain of two things: a lot of take-home reading and the announcement of a new RI theme.
The tradition of crafting a theme is credited to 1949-50 RI President Percy C. Hodgson, who outlined a list of four objectives for his term in office. Among them were the better application of the principles of vocational service and dedication to world understanding and peace through international service programs.
Though Hodgson’s 83-word proclamation ran substantially longer than today’s shorter, punchier themes, Rotarians’ desire to celebrate and support their president’s annual program of service has remained the same. Other early themes include Rotary Is Hope in Action (Joaquin Serratosa Cibils, 1953-54), Kindle the Spark Within (Nitish C. Laharry, 1962-63), and Good Will Begins with You (Ernst G. Breitholtz, 1971-72).
In the decades that followed, RI presidents introduced theme logos, lapel pins, ties, and scarves. Theme ties were introduced in the 1990s, and are now given out yearly. Many have incorporated the theme for the year. The first scarves showing the RI theme were designed by 1998-99 RI President James L. Lacy and his wife, Claudine, Follow Your Rotary Dream.
Theme Logo |
Rotary Year |
RI Theme |
RI President |
District 5630 Governor |
1980-1981 |
Take Time to Serve |
Rolf J. Klärich Rotary Club of Helsinki-Helsingfors Finland |
Dr. Wm. G. Hasemeyer North Platte |
|
1981-1982 |
World Understanding and Peace through Rotary |
Stanley E. McCaffrey Rotary Club of Stockton California, USA |
Bill Sherwood Oxford |
|
1982-1983 |
Mankind Is One — Build Bridges of Friendship throughout the World |
Hiroji Mukasa Rotary Club of Nakatsu Oita, Japan |
Eldon Jasa Kearney |
|
1983-1984 |
Share Rotary, Serve People |
William E. Skelton Rotary Club of Christiansburg-Blacksburg Virginia, USA |
Edwin Loutzenheiser Hastings |
|
1984-1985 |
Discover a New World of Service |
Carlos Canseco Rotary Club of Monterrey Nuevo León, Mexico |
Darrell Peters Arnold |
|
1985-1986 |
You Are the Key |
Edward F. Cadman Rotary Club of Wenatchee Washington, USA |
Neal Baxter North Platte |
|
|
1986-1987 |
Rotary Brings Hope |
M.A.T. Caparas Rotary Club of Manila Manila, Philippines |
Emmett Jones McCook |
1987-1988 |
Rotarians — United in Service — Dedicated to Peace |
Charles C. Keller Rotary Club of California Pennsylvania, USA |
Al Achterberg Holdrege |
|
1988-1989 |
Put Life into Rotary — Your Life |
Royce Abbey Rotary Club of Essendon Victoria, Australia |
Cliff Lord Indianola |
|
1989-1990 |
Enjoy Rotary! |
Hugh M. Archer Rotary Club of Dearborn Michigan, USA |
Ken C. Wehrrnan Arnold |
|
1990-1991 |
Honor Rotary with Faith and Enthusiasm |
Paulo V.C. Costa Rotary Club of Santos São Paulo, Brazil |
James W. Biehl Lexington |
|
1991-1992 |
Look Beyond Yourself |
Rajendra K. Saboo Rotary Club of Chandigarh Union Territory, India |
Jack E. Rasmussen Grand Island |
|
1992-1993 |
Real Happiness Is Helping Others |
Clifford L. Dochterman Rotary Club of Moraga California, USA |
Nathan L. Eastman Kimball |
|
1993-1994 |
Believe in What You Do — Do What You Believe in |
Robert Barth Rotary Club of Aarau Switzerland |
Milton W. Rogers Chappell |
|
1994-1995 |
Be a Friend |
Bill Huntley Rotary Club of Alford & Mablethorpe Lincolnshire, England |
Jack R. Knicely Sidney |
|
1995-1996 |
Act with Integrity, Serve with Love, Work for Peace |
Herbert G. Brown Rotary Club of Clearwater Florida, USA |
Bevin Bump Chadron |
|
1996-1997 |
Build the Future with Action and Vision |
Luis Vicente Giay Rotary Club of Arrecifes Buenos Aires, Argentina |
Bob Phares North Platte |
|
1997-1998 |
Show Rotary Cares — for your community, for our world, for its people |
Glen W. Kinross Rotary Club of Hamilton, Brisbane Queensland, Australia |
Melvin H. Gosda Grand Island |
|
1998-1999 |
Follow Your Rotary Dream |
James L. Lacy Rotary Club of Cookeville Tennessee, USA |
Karl J. Borden Kearney Dawn |
|
1999-2000 |
Rotary 2000: Act with Consistency, Credibility, Continuity |
Carlo Ravizza Rotary Club of Milano Sud-Ovest, Italy |
David L. Varmette Chadron |
|
2000-2001 |
Create Awareness — Take Action |
Frank J. Devlyn Rotary Club of Anáhuac Distrito Federal, Mexico |
Jerry Draucker Ogallala |
|
2001-2002 |
Mankind Is Our Business |
Richard D. King Rotary Club of Niles (Fremont) California, USA |
Marcie Schmidt Minden |
|
2002-2003 |
Sow the Seeds of Love |
Bhichai Rattakul Rotary Club of Dhonburi Thailand |
Diane Finch-Oerter Arnold |
|
2003-2004 |
Lend a Hand |
Jonathan B. Majiyagbe Rotary Club of Kano Kano State, Nigeria |
Mark Mendenhall North Platte |
|
2004-2005 |
Celebrate Rotary |
Glenn E. Estess Sr. Rotary Club of Shades Valley Alabama, USA |
Ken Gnadt Grand Island |
|
2005-2006 |
Service Above Self |
Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar Rotary Club of Göteborg Sweden |
William E. Ballou Kearney |
|
2006-2007 |
Lead the Way |
William B. Boyd Rotary Club of Pakuranga Auckland, New Zealand |
Cloyd Clark McCook |
|
2007-2008 |
Rotary Shares |
Wilfrid J. Wilkinson Rotary Club of Trenton Ontario, Canada |
Robert “Bob” Stetter Valentine |
|
2008-2009 |
Make Dreams Real |
Dong Kurn Lee Rotary Club of Seoul Hangang Seoul, Korea |
Thomas L. Kraus Ogallala |
|
2009-2010 |
The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands |
John Kenny Rotary Club of Grangemouth Scotland |
Dr. James Shreck North Platte |
|
2010-2011 |
Building Communities — Bridging Continents |
Ray Klinginsmith Rotary Club of Kirksville Missouri, USA |
Dave Snow St. Paul |
|
2011-2012 |
Reach Within to Embrace Humanity |
Kalyan Banerjee Rotary Club of Vapi Gujarat, India |
Ronald L. Bazata Kearney |
|
2012-2013 |
Peace Through Service |
Sakuji Tanaka Rotary Club of Yashio Saitama, Japan |
Dian Edwards O’Neill |
|
2013-2014 |
Engage Rotary Change Lives |
Ron D. Burton Rotary Club of Norman Oklahoma, USA |
Duane Tappe McCook |
|
2014-2015 |
Light Up Rotary |
Gary Huang Rotary Club of Taipei Taiwan Taipei, Taiwan |
|
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