Rotary

Rotary is a term with multiple meanings, all rooted in the idea of turning or spinning around a central axis. In physics and engineering, rotary motion describes rotation around a fixed point or axis, as opposed to linear motion.

Rotary International refers to a global humanitarian service organization that began in 1905 in Chicago. It has grown to include clubs in many countries and hundreds of thousands of members. Rotary’s mission is to provide service to others, promote high ethical standards, and contribute to world understanding, goodwill, and peace. The organization organizes local service activities and international projects through its Four Avenues of Service: Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, and International Service. The Rotary Foundation supports education and humanitarian programs, including long-running efforts to eradicate polio through vaccination campaigns.

In technology and engineering, “rotary” describes devices or components designed to rotate. Notable examples include the rotary engine (Wankel engine), which uses a rotating rotor inside a special housing to convert pressure into motion; it has powered select automobiles and aircraft. A rotary dial refers to an early telephone input mechanism that required users to rotate a dial to each digit. In broader use, rotary components such as rotors, shafts, and bearings are essential elements in machines that rely on rotating motion.

Overall, rotary concepts connect everyday motion to organizational and technological applications, spanning service organizations, engines, and mechanical components.