History of Rotary Themes
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 and in 2019-20 Socks! 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 | Theme | RI President | District 5040 Governor |
 |
1980-1981
|
Take Time to Serve |
Rolf J. Klärich
|
|
 |
1981-1982
|
World Understanding and Peace through Rotary |
Stanley E. McCaffrey |
|
 |
1982-1983
|
Mankind Is One — Build Bridges of Friendship throughout the World |
Hiroji Mukasa
|
|
 |
1983-1984
|
Share Rotary, Serve People | William E. Skelton Rotary Club of Christiansburg-Blacksburg Virginia, USA |
|
 |
1984-1985
|
Discover a New World of Service |
Carlos Canseco |
|
 |
1985-1986
|
You Are the Key |
Edward F. Cadman
|
|
 |
1986-1987
|
Rotary Brings Hope |
M.A.T. Caparas |
|
 |
1987-1988
|
Rotarians — United in Service — Dedicated to Peace |
Charles C. Keller
|
|
 |
1988-1989
|
Put Life into Rotary — Your Life |
Royce Abbey
|
|
 |
1989-1990
|
Enjoy Rotary! |
Hugh M. Archer
|
|
 |
1990-1991
|
Honor Rotary with Faith and Enthusiasm |
Paulo V.C. Costa
|
|
 |
1991-1992
|
Look Beyond Yourself |
Rajendra K. Saboo
|
|
 |
1992-1993
|
Real Happiness Is Helping Others |
Clifford L. Dochterman |
|
 |
1993-1994 |
Believe in What You Do — Do What You Believe in |
Robert Barth |
|
 |
1994-1995
|
Be a Friend |
Bill Huntley
|
|
 |
1995-1996
|
Act with Integrity, Serve with Love, Work for Peace |
Herbert G. Brown
|
|
 |
1996-1997
|
Build the Future with Action and Vision |
Luis Vicente Giay
|
|
 |
1997-1998
|
Show Rotary Cares — for your community, for our world, for its people |
Glen W. Kinross
|
|
 |
1998-1999
|
Follow Your Rotary Dream |
James L. Lacy
|
|
 |
1999-2000
|
Rotary 2000: Act with Consistency, Credibility, Continuity |
Carlo Ravizza
|
|
 |
2000-2001
|
Create Awareness — Take Action |
Frank J. Devlyn
|
|
 |
2001-2002
|
Mankind Is Our Business |
Richard D. King
|
|
 |
2002-2003
|
Sow the Seeds of Love |
Bhichai Rattakul
|
|
 |
2003-2004
|
Lend a Hand |
Jonathan B. Majiyagbe
|
|
 |
2004-2005
|
Celebrate Rotary |
Glenn E. Estess Sr.
|
|
 |
2005-2006
|
Service Above Self |
Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar
|
|
 |
2006-2007
|
Lead the Way |
William B. Boyd
|
|
 |
2007-2008
|
Rotary Shares |
Wilfrid J. Wilkinson
|
|
 |
2008-2009
|
Make Dreams Real |
Dong Kurn Lee
|
|
 |
2009-2010
|
The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands |
John Kenny
|
|
 |
2010-2011
|
Building Communities — Bridging Continents |
Ray Klinginsmith
|
|
 |
2011-2012
|
Reach Within to Embrace Humanity |
Kalyan Banerjee Rotary Club of Vapi
|
Hans Doj |
 |
2012-2013
|
Peace Through Service |
Sakuji Tanaka
Rotary Club of Yashio Saitama, Japan |
Rebecca McPhearson |
 |
2013-2014
|
Engage Rotary Change Lives |
Ron D. Burton
|
Gary Shearer |
 |
2014-2015
|
Light Up Rotary |
Gary Huang |
Ken Wilson
Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise
|
 |
2015-2016
|
Be a Gift to the World |
K.R. “Ravi” Ravindran
|
John Anderson
Rotary Club of Tsawwassen
|
 |
2016-2017
|
Rotary Serving Humanity |
John F. Germ
|
Lyn Stroshin Rotary club of Whistler Millennium |
|
|
2017-2018
|
Rotary: Making A Difference |
Ian H.S. Riseley
|
Don Evans
Rotary Club of Vancouver
|
 |
2018-2019
|
Be the Inspiration |
Barry Rassin |
Darcy Long
Sunshine Coast Sechelt
|
 |
2019-2020 | Rotary Connects the World |
Mark Daniel Maloney |
Bala Naidoo
Burnaby Metrotown
|
 |
2020-2021 |
Rotary Opens Opportunities
|
Holger Knaack
Rotary Club of Rotary Club of Herzogtum
Lauenburg-Mölln, Germany
|
Dave Hamilton
Tsawwassen
/Darcy Long
|
 |
2021-2022
|
Serve to Change Lives
|
Shekhar Mehta
Rotary Club of Calcutta-Mahanagar,
West Bengal, India
|
Lorne Calder
Prince George
|
 |
2022 - 2023 | Imagine Rotary |
Jennifer Jones
Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada,
|
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