It was named "Rotary" as the members met in rotation in their various places of business. The club emblem was a wagon wheel design , which is the precursor of the familiar cogwheel emblem now worn by Rotarians around the world.

Rotary motto is "Service Above Self". Basically, Rotary is people-people imbued with spirit of "Self Above Service" that leads to constructive action and inculcates goodwill and fellowship. Rotary is thoughtfulness of others and helpfulness to other. Rotary is an ideal in action where by thoughtfulness of others is basic in service and helpfulness to others is the expression of service. Together they constitute the Rotary ideal of "Service Above Self".