The Rotary Club of Spartanburg was chartered by Rotary International on April 1, 1916, and held its first club meeting one block east at the City YMCA. It is presented as a reminder of the club's dedication to the City of Spartanburg and of Rotary International's commitment to Service Above Self, the Object of Rotary, and the Four-Way Test. The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise, especially through the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service, high ethical standards in business and professions, recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, dignifying each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society, applying the ideal of service in personal, business, and community life, and advancing international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in that ideal of service.