Rotary Club of Madras Central (RCMC) is committed to serving society through five Avenues of Service such as Youth, Vocational, Club, Community, and International.

Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club. Organizing weekly meetings and social gatherings, preparing membership directories, and publishing the Club bulletin are some of the activities of Club Service.

Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards. Organizing seminars, factory / business visits, and recognizing vocational excellence through awards are some of the activities.

Over the years RCMC has organized seminars in areas Human Resources and Financial Management. Outstanding performance in ones chosen vocation is recognized with appropriate awards. Persons belonging to various professions such as the police, nursing, performing arts, entertainment, sports and administration have received these awards from RCMC. Some of the eminent recipients of these awards include Vishwanath Anand, Vijay Amritraj, Lt Gen Kalkhat, Menaka Gandhi, T N Seshan, V Kasturirrangan, film stars Nagesh and Vadivelu, AVM Studios, Carnatic musicians Palghat KV Narayanaswamy and Bombay Jayashree Ramnath.

Community Service (Health)focuses primarily on service to the poorer sections of society that neither has access nor the means to afford quality health. The Margaret Sidney Hospital, and the Rotary – VHS – TTK Blood bank are two major projects in this area. Some of the other significant services include provision of prosthetics to physically handicapped patients, regular health screening, and providing mobile medical care through the Clinic-on-Wheels program.

Community Service (Projects) focuses primarily on education and rehabilitation. RCMC’s biggest project in education is the Rotary – VES primary school for poor children in rural areas. In addition, ongoing financial assistance is provided to deserving students at various educational institutions in and around Chennai such as Gopalapuram Boys High School, Vivekananda Centenary Girls School, and Clark’s school for the speech and hearing impaired. In the rehabilitation area RCMC’s biggest and most ambitious project has been the project in Nagapattinam in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami tragedy. A superb complex comprising residential quarters, primary school, and a senior citizen’s home has been constructed for the benefit of the numerous children orphaned by the tsunami. Another noteworthy rehabilitation effort is the ongoing project to provide education and micro-loan facilities for the dependents of persons afflicted with leprosy.

Youth Services provides opportunities for youngsters in schools and colleges to take on responsibilities and leadership roles, and prepare their future as responsible citizens. Specific programs and projects include the Rotary Youth Leadership Activities, Career Guidance Seminars, competitive activities such as painting and chess, and community service projects such as rainwater harvesting.

International Service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary's humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace. This is done through International Theme Evenings, Sister Club affiliations between countries, Semester at Sea and Rotary Youth Exchange programs.