Guidelines on using the Rotary name and emblem for projects and programs

Help Rotary International protect its good name and intellectual property by correctly using the Rotary name and emblem.

The Rotary name and marks include Rotary-related terms such as Interact, The Rotary Foundation, Paul Harris, and Rotarian and their logos, among others. These names and logos are legally registered trademarks in more than 40 countries.

Rotary Marks shouldn’t be altered, modified, or obstructed in any way. District governors who notice a club incorrectly using the emblem or other marks — on anything ranging from fliers to Web sites — should advise the club to correct the materials.

You can get the correct logos and graphics from Rotary International.

Support with licensing matters

Should any questions regarding licensing arise, please contact Ann Fieldhack, licensing coordinator, at 847-866-4463 (phone); 847-866-6977 (fax); or One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201-3698 USA.

Guidelines

Below are guidelines on the use of Rotary names and marks from the Rotary Code of Policies. Please follow these guidelines in naming your project or program and in developing literature. (See the Rotary Code of Policies, Article 33, and the Manual of Procedure, Chapter 17.)

Rotary name

• The RI Board has determined that any use of the Rotary name without a further qualifier, such as the name of a Rotary club, Rotary district, or other Rotary entity, refers to the international association RI. (Rotary Code of Policies [RCP] 33.020.6)
• When using the Rotary name, new project names or programs not under the exclusive control of RI or The Rotary Foundation must include the name of the participating Rotary club(s), district(s), or other Rotary entity. (RCP 33.02.6)
• If using the words Rotary and Foundation, the words must not appear together, but must be separated by additional identifying information, such as the name of the participating Rotary club(s), district(s), or other Rotary entity. (RCP 33.020.5)
• Ongoing projects and programs not under the exclusive control of RI and not conforming to these guidelines should be renamed to provide this additional identifying information (i.e., the name of the participating Rotary club(s), district(s), or other Rotary entity must be included when using the Rotary name). (RCP 33.020.6)
• No alterations, obstructions, or modifications of Rotary are permitted. No abbreviations, prefixes, or suffixes of Rotary, such as Rota-, are permitted. (RCP 33.020.6)
• Rotary clubs, districts, other Rotary entities, and individual Rotarians should purchase domain names that comply with the naming guidelines outlined in the Rotary Code of Policies and the Manual of Procedure. Before registering domain names, Rotary entities are encouraged to check with their Club and District Support representative to ensure that their proposed domain name complies with Board policy for use of the Rotary Marks. Domain names not in compliance with Board policy should be changed to comply, and RI reserves the right to ask for the transfer of ownership to RI of any noncomplying domain name. (RCP 52.020.1, 33.020.6)
• The naming of any project or program that does not conform to the guidelines must receive specific RI Board approval. (RCP 33.020.6)

Rotary emblem

• The Rotary emblem, like the Rotary name, represents the international association RI. (RCP 33.010.4)
• Whenever the Rotary emblem is used for a project, program, or activity not under the exclusive control of RI or The Rotary Foundation, the name of the participating club(s), district(s), or other Rotary entities should be used in addition to the emblem, should appear directly adjacent to the emblem, and should be of a size of equal prominence to the emblem. (RCP 33.010.4)
• Any reproduction of the Rotary emblem must meet RI’s proper emblem specifications. (See Manual of Procedure, Chapter 17; RCP 33.010.1). Camera-ready art may be obtained via the RI Catalog (Rotary Logos on CD, 234-MU). No alterations, modifications, or obstructions of the Rotary emblem are permitted. The emblem must be faithfully reproduced and always appear in its entirety. (RCP 33.010.4)
• The RI Bylaws discourage any joint use of the RI emblem with the emblem or logo of another organization for any commercial purpose. (RI Bylaws, Article XVIII, 18.020; RCP 33.010.2).