What is Rotary?

Rotary began on February 23, 1905 in Chicago, Illinois. Paul P.  Harris had invited three friends to explore his idea that had been developing for several years. The idea - a club of business and professional men who could and should be friends. Harris was a lawyer, his friends were a coal dealer, mining engineer, and merchant tailor. The aim of the first Rotary Club was the encouragement of friendship, fellowship and mutual assistance. It is significant that each of the members of the first Rotary Club was a comparative stranger from a small town who had come to that great metropolis of Chicago to go into business. Each felt a need for personal friendships to replace those severed by moving from their former homes.

The name "ROTARY" was suggested by Harris; prompted by the original plan of the club members meeting in rotation at their various places of business. As the membership increased, it became necessary to hold dinner meetings which later gave way to weekly noonday meetings. Contrary to general opinion, although Paul Harris was the originator of Rotary, he was not the first president. That distinction went to Silvester Schiele, one of the original four. Paul Harris became the president of Chicago Club No. 1 in 1907. Also in 1907 the first Rotary community project was undertaken - the establishment of public comfort stations in Chicago's City Hall. 

Soon to follow was Club No. 2 in San Francisco, then Oakland, followed by Seattle, Los Angeles, New York and Boston. The first Rotary Convention was held in 1910 in Chicago with 29 members present, representing 14 of the 16 organized Rotary Clubs. Like wildfire the movement spread to Canada, England, Ireland, South America, the Phillipines and into Asia. The first club in District 5520 was the El Paso Rotary Club (#119), chartered in 1914. Today the idea of Paul Harris and his friends has spread to 184 countries and geographical regions with over 1,157,000 members in over 26,000 clubs.

Statistics of Rotary's tremendous world-wide growth are impressive, but Rotary's accomplishments through the years defy expression in figures. The fellowship created, the improvement in the conduct of business and professions, the playgrounds provided, the crippled children helped, the student loans granted, the community betterment undertakings, the increased understanding among nations, the countless other achievements of Rotary Clubs, and the activities of The Rotary Foundation, all must be considered when viewing the progress of Rotary.

The real in-depth knowledge of Rotary comes from your participation in its many diversified activities. Some life long friendships will be made along the way and that alone may be reason enough to join.

Rotary was founded on the basis of exchanging information with people in diversified careers, fellowship and community service. It quickly became an idea whose time had come and spread into international service. Where else can you enjoy the fellowship of your community leaders, get involved with worthwhile community projects, meet people from all over the world and enjoy a good program?

As with any worthwhile endeavor, you will get out of Rotary much more than you put into it. However, you must make an effort to put something into it. This is not a lunch club; you can eat lunch anywhere. This is a service club. Rotary is the number one service club in the world. It will expose you to a wide range of service projects in your community as well as around the world. It will give you a chance to give back to your community some of the benefits your community has given you.

Rotary will also allow you the opportunity to make a difference in the world. Yes, the world. In 1985, Rotary International initiated a worldwide vaccine program. Its purpose was to inoculate the children of the world against the five major childhood diseases. As of January 1995 over 600,000 children in the world have been inoculated. This program wiped out polio in the western hemisphere as of September 1994. When this program is complete in the year 2005, Rotary will have directly or indirectly affected the lives of one out of four people living on the earth.  Come join us and become an active member of your club. If you are looking for a place just to have lunch, you may want to keep looking. If you are looking for a way to serve your community, to make new friends, to make a difference in the community and in the world, come join us. You will be rewarded in ways you never imagined.

John B. Guyette
District Governor 1995-96
District 5440 - USA, parts of Northern Colorado and Nebraska, and Wyoming.

Watch a video on Rotary's End Polio Now Programme here VIDEO

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Page last updated 03/05/10