Rotary International History

Welcome to the Rotary Clubs web site.  You are now looking at the history of the Rotary International Club.

This site has only been going since May 2000 but the Rotary Club has been going since 1905.

THE HISTORY OF ROTARY'S DEVELOPMENT:

Like many other worldwide institutions Rotary came into existence almost by accident. Its founder Paul P. Harris was reared in Wallington, Vermont, New England. Coming to Chicago as a young lawyer, he felt the isolation of a stranger in a great city. Then the idea came to him that a few businessmen of different trades might be brought together at regular intervals for fellowship. The first meeting of these four founder members took place on February 23, 1905. Rotary was conceived on this basis of fellowship among business and professional men. These pioneers met regularly at each other's place of business by rota, hence rotating. So the name Rotary.

In its early days the members of the new Rotary helped each other in business. The single classification rule by which the club did not contain business competitors militated mutual advantage. It was not long before the idea of service instilled itself in the minds of the new Rotarians. The first club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, came formally into existence in 1905 and within its first year performed its first act of community service.

Three years passed before a second club was formed in San Francisco in 1908. Clubs in Oakland quickly followed this. Seattle, New York, Boston and other cities, and by 1910 the first clubs formed an association, the National Association of Rotary Clubs in America, 14 of which met in convention in Chicago where Paul Harris was elected President and Chesley R. Perry elected Secretary. If Paul Harris was the architect of Rotary Ches Perry, as its first professional secretary, was to be its builder.

In 1910 Rotary spread beyond the United States to Winnipeg in Canada, and in 1911 it crossed the Atlantic to Dublin, London and Belfast. During 19112 the National Association changed its title to the International Association of Rotary Clubs (IARC). At the second convention in 1911 Rotarians adopted a statement of Rotary's principles and aims:

"The Rotary Club demands fair dealings, honest methods and high standards in business. No obligation, actual or implied, to influence business exists in Rotary. Election to membership therein is an expression of confidence of the club in the member elected, and of its goodwill towards him. As his business is an expression of himself, he is expected actively to represent it. Membership in the Rotary club is a privilege and an opportunity, and its responsibility demands honest and efficient service arid thoughtfulness for one's fellow".

WHAT IS ROTARY?

Rotary International is a world fellowship of business and professional men and women united in the ideal of service. It is acknowledged as the world's first service organisation. Rotary has more than 25,000 clubs with a membership of over one million men and women in more than 170 countries and geographical areas.

The principles of service, understanding and goodwill are sustained by the fellowship which a Rotarian enjoys with fellow members in the club, and the mutual understanding and relationship which are shared with Fellow Rotarians throughout the world. Rotarians are encouraged to serve individually and as members of their clubs through their vocations and by the application of service to their personal, business, and community lives in the context of Rotary. The fellowship of Rotary begins with fellow Rotarians in the club. Each Rotary club is normally composed of a single representative from each profession or business within the local community. The club meets weekly and each member is required to attend regularly. Members enjoy the privilege of visiting other clubs in any country, and are always received with warm and cordial fellowship. Furthermore such visits count as attendance at one's own club.

The spirit and ideal of Rotary, which has attracted so many men and women of different races, faiths and cultures, have been simply but eloquently stated in.

The Object of Rotary:

To encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and in particular, to encourage and foster.

First: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.

Second: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by all Rotarians of their occupation as an Opportunity to serve society.

Third: The application of the ideal of service by all Rotarians to their personal, business and community life.

Fourth: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Through membership of a Rotary Club, which is a member of Rotary International, you join the largest fellowship of men and women in the world, dedicated to peace and understanding.

Rotarians are justly proud of their reputation for service. Their belief in freedom and democracy, coupled with acceptance and tolerance of other people's religions and political persuasions, has earned them international respect and recognition.

Rotary Clubs exist in most countries, and the influence of our movement is spreading in eastern! Europe, in the Far East, South America, Asia and Africa. Fellow Rotarians who share the same desires will offer wherever you travel at home or abroad the hand of fellowship to you. "World peace, friendship and care for mankind."

Rotarians are proud of the badge that they wear. Well over one million Rotarians wear one. This page does not cover all the many facets of our movement. It has been written to introduce you to the basics of Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland, and of Rotary International.

Neville Hackett

The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew that he would never he found out.

Lord MacauIay.

The insistence upon attendance throughout the year is of prime importance, for it is only through the regular presence of its members that a Rotary club can develop the fellowship upon which Rotary relies for its impetus.

A Rotary club is however far more than a mealtime club, Its fellowship is not an end in itself; it is the means through which service is encouraged and achieved, initially in each member's vocation, and then in community and international life.

Rotary recognises the value of all useful occupations through which Rotarians can promote ethical standards to serve society. Rotarians thus have the opportunity to establish good relationships with clients, suppliers and employees.

Rotary makes no claim to be a philosophy of life. But through its commitment to service and international understanding it provides a channel in which a person's desire to serve-a desire which incidentally is inherent in all civilized religions and philosophies may find expression and opportunity. Rotary demonstrates that persons of all beliefs may come together in mutual fellowship and harmony. In so doing it has touched the lives of millions throughout the world. To this end Rotary requires of all members that they shall practice the obligation of service above self and that they shall in fellowship acknowledge the same sincerity of purpose in all other Rotarians.

Rotary draws its membership from men and women of executive responsibility who are in a position to influence the conduct of their particular business or profession and of their vocation as a whole. In this way Rotary tries to achieve in each club a cross-section of the local business and professional community. In choosing one representative from each classification among the available vocations it honours those persons by requiring them not only to represent their classification worthily in Rotary, but also to represent Rotary worthily in their own vocation.

The latter requirement is of greater importance because, although they do not represent Rotary in any declared or accredited way Rotarians will tend to be judged among their business and professional colleagues according to the manner in which they uphold its tenets. Rotarians do not use Rotary to do business with each other, nor do they use the privileges of Rotary membership for commercial advantage.

Service and fellowship are at the very heart and soul of Rotary. Service in one's vocation, in the community and in international service is the essence of Rotary, whose horizons of thoughtfulness and helpfulness extend to all aspects of' family. personal and business affairs, to social and economic relationships and to local, national and international citizenship.

The Redhill Club (England) meets at Reigate Hill Golf Club, every monday lunch time.