Rotary International is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.

Paul Harris founded the organization in Chicago in 1905. The motto "Service above self" has guided Rotary for over 100 years. Rotary service is aligned along four key "avenues", Community Service, International Service, Club Service, and Vocational Service. Rotarians serve by the Four Way Test:

Of the things we think, say, or do,
Is it the Truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build good will and better friendship?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

International Service is facilitated by the Rotary Foundation which receives over $100 million per year to support such projects as PolioPlus. Contributors to the Foundation are recognized by Paul Harris Fellowships, named after the RI founder.

Rotary District 6840 consists of 53 Rotary clubs in the southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi areas. The 2007-2008 District Governor is Milton Wheeler; the District Governor-Elect is Greg Lier. The District 6840 Conference was held in Biloxi's Beau Rivage May 17-19, 2007. District 6840 will host the 2011 Rotary International Convention.

District 6840 hosted a Group Study Exchange (GSE) Team from District 2040 in May. District 2040 is located in the Milan-Lake Como area of Italy. District 6840 sent its own team to Milan in June, headed by team leader Sharron Newton, a Slidell Northshore Rotary Club member.

In 2008 the GSE Team will be headed to Holland to study the Dutch levee system. The selection process for the team members is currently underway.