The James E. Shepard Sertoma Club

Code of Ethics

Sertoma International Code of Ethics

I AFFIRM my allegiance to God and to my country. I believe in the everlasting endurance of my country through law and order.

I BELIEVE in The Sertoma Club and its principles of cooperation, friendship and mutual helpfulness.

I PLEDGE myself as follows: To realize that I am a business or professional person ambitious to succeed, but that I am first an ethical person and wish no success that is not founded on the highest justice and morality. To use my greatest endeavor to elevate the standard of the calling in which I am engaged and to conduct myself in such a way that others may find it wise, profitable and conducive to happiness to follow my example. To understand that one of the greatest assets of the business and professional person is friendship and that true friends demand nothing of one another. To abuse the confidence of friendship is unethical and not in keeping with the principles of true cooperation, as adhered to by Sertoma International.

THE SERTOMA CLUB exists for the high and noble purpose of benefiting man-kind at large. True Sertoma spirit is not competitive. All real Sertomans live up to the belief that true cooperation is not confined to the limits of the Sertoma Club but should extend to the limits of the race itself.
THE EMBLEM is a badge of true fellowship, assistance and friendship, and will always stand as an ever-present reminder of the great strength of those united, and the frail weakness of the separated. The Roman fasces ever recalls the ancient lesson of the bundle of branches which it was impossible to break when bound together, but was easily destroyed when separated. It is the hope that Sertoma clubs be bound closely together in the spirit of cooperation, fellowship and good will in Sertoma International, that they will be an unbreakable power for good, advancement, helpfulness and strength in every community.

FINALLY, I believe that the dignity and character of industry can be sustained and improved by Sertoma International, to which I fully pledge my support, and will so administer my affairs as to reflect credit on this great organization.