In 1955, RI President A.Z. Baker announced a theme, “Develop Our Resources,” to serve as Rotary’s program of emphasis. Since that time, each president has issued a theme for his Rotary year. The shortest theme was in 1961-62 when Joseph Abey selected “Act.” Other one-word themes were chosen in 1958-1959 by Charles Tennent (“Serve”) and 1968 – 1969 by Kiyoshi Togasaki (“Participate”).
Carl Miller, in 1963 – 1964, had a theme for the times when he proposed “Guidelines for Rotary in the Space Age.” Other “timely” themes were in 1980-81 when Rolf Klärich created “Take Time to Serve” and William
Carter in 1973 – 1974 used “Time for Action.” Two themes have a similarity to commercial advertising: “A Better World Through Rotary” (Richard Evans, 1966 – 67) and “Reach Out” (Clem Renouf, 1978 – 1979). Bridges have been a striking metaphor. Harold Thomas, 1959 – 60, urged Rotarians to “Build Bridges of Friendship”; William Walk, 1970 – 71, created “Bridge the Gap”; and Hiroji Mukasa, 1982 – 1983, declared “Mankind is One-Build Bridges of Friendship Throughout the World.”
A worldwide focus was given by Stan McCaffrey in 1981 – 1982 with the message, “World Understanding and Peace Through Rotary,” and again in 1984-85 by Carlos Canseco who urged Rotarians to “Discover a New World of Service.” In other years, the individual was emphasized, as “You Are Rotary” (Edd McLaughlin, 1960 – 61), “Goodwill Begins With You” (Ernst Breitholtz, 1971 – 1972) and “You Are the Key” (Ed Cadman, 1985 – 1986).
Frequently the theme urges Rotarians to become more involved in their club, such as “Share Rotary-Serve People” (Bill Skelton, 1983 – 84) or “Make Your Rotary Membership Effective” (Luther Hodges, 1967 – 1968). But whether you “Review and Renew,” “Take a New Look,” “Let Service Light the Way” or “Dignify the Human Being,” it is clear that the RI president provides Rotarians with an important annual program of emphasis. In 1986-87, President M.A.T. Caparas selected the inspiring message that “Rotary Brings Hope.”
Charles Keller in 1987 – 1988 saw “Rotarians-United in Service, Dedicated to Peace,” while Royce Abbey asked his fellow members in 1988 – 1989 to “Put Life into Rotary-Your Life.” Hugh Archer (1989 – 1990) urged us to “Enjoy Rotary!” and Paulo Costa (1990 – 1991) asked that we “Honor Rotary with Faith and Enthusiasm.” My predecessor Raja Saboo (1991 – 1992) exhorted every Rotarian to “Look Beyond Yourself.” In 1992 – 1993, I reminded Rotarians, “Real Happiness Is Helping Others,” and in 1993 – 1994, Bob Barth counseled Rotarians, “Believe In What You Do and Do What You Believe In.” In 1994 – 1995, Bill Huntley encouraged Rotarians to “Be A Friend” to their communities.
Here bellow are the List of Historical Rotary International Theme’s
- 2019-2020 Rotary Connets the World
- 2018-2019 Be the Inspiration
- 2017-2018 Making A Difference
- 2016-2017 Rotary Serving Humanity
- 2015-2016 Be A Gift to the World
- 2014-2015 Light Up Rotary
- 2013-2014 Engage Rotary Change Lives
- 2012-2013 Peace Through Service
- 2011-2012 Reach Within to Embrace Humanity
- 2010-2011 Building Communities Bridging Continents
- 2009-2010 The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands
- 2008-2009 Make Dreams Real
- 2007-2008 Rotary Shares
- 2006-2007 Lead the Way
- 2005-2006 Service Above Self
- 2004-2005 Celebrate Rotary
- 2003-2004 Lend A Hand
- 2002-2003 Sow the Seeds of Love
- 2001-2002 Mankind is Our Business
- 2000-2001 Create Awareness…Take Action
- 1999-2000 Act with Consistency, Credibility, Continuity
- 1998-1999 Follow Your Rotary Dream
- 1997-1998 Show Rotary Cares
- 1996-1997 Build the Future with Action and Vision
- 1995-1996 Act with Integrity – Serve with Love – Work for Peace
- 1994-1995 Be A Friend
- 1993-1994 Believe In what You Can Do – Do what You Believe In
- 1992-1993 Real Happiness is Help Others
- 1991-1992 Look Beyond Yourself
- 1990-1991 Honor Rotary with Faith and Enthusiasm
- 1989-1990 Enjoy Rotary
- 1988-1989 Put Life in Rotary – Your Life
- 1987-1988 Rotarians – United in Service Dedicated to Peace
- 1986-1987 Rotary Brings Hope
- 1985-1986 You Are the Key
- 1984-1985 Discover a New World of Service
- 1983-1984 Share Rotary – Serve People
- 1982-1983 Mankind is One-Build Bridges of Friendship Throughout the World
- 1981-1982 World Understand and Peace
- 1980-1981 Take Time to Serve
- 1979-1980 Let Service Light the Way
- 1978-1979 Reach Out
- 1977-1978 Serve to Unite Mankind
- 1976-1977 I Believe in Rotary
- 1975-1976 To Dignify the Human Being
- 1974-1975 Renew the Spirit of Rotary
- 1973-1974 A Time for Action
- 1972-1973 Let’s Take a New Look and Act
- 1971-1972 Good Will Begins with You
- 1970-1971 Bridge the Gaps
- 1969-1970 Review and Renew
- 1968-1969 Participate
- 1967-1968 Make Your Rotary Membership Effective
- 1966-1967 Better World through Rotary
- 1965-1966 Action, Consolidation and Continuity
- 1964-1965 Live Rotary
- 1963-1964 Meeting Rotary’s Challenge in the Space Age
- 1962-1963 Kindle the Spark Within
- 1961-1962 Act. Aim for Action. Communication For Understanding. Test for Leadership.
- 1960-1961 You are Rotary – Live it!
- 1959-1960 Vitalize! Personalize! Build Bridges of Friendship
- 1958-1959 Help Shape the Future
- 1957-1958 Enlist-Extend-Explore-Serve
- 1956-1957 Keep Rotary Simple
- 1955-1956 Develop Our Resources
