History

A SOCIAL NETWORK 100 YEARS BEFORE facebook

 
Our 1.2 million-member organization started with the vision of one man—Paul P. Harris.
 
The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago, on 23 February 1905 with four members, which grew to 30 members in the first year.
 
The initial idea was a place where professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.
 
Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of each member.
 
In 1907, the Clubmade its first donation, of a horse to a poor preacher.
 
The first service project also occurred in 1907, when the Chicago Rotary Club arranged for constructed the first public toilets in Chicago's City Hall.
 
Only 16 years after being founded, Rotary had clubs on six continents.
 
Melbourne Rotary Cub became the first Australian club on 21st April 1921.
 
 
 
"WHATEVER ROTARY MAY MEAN TO US, TO THE WORLD IT WILL BE KNOWN BY THE RESULTS IT ACHIEVES.” -PAUL P. HARRIS
 

 

OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT

Rotarians have not only been present for major events in history—we’ve been a part of them. From the beginning, three key traits have remained strong throughout Rotary:
 
  • We’re truly international. Today we’re working together from around the globe both digitally and in-person to solve some of our world’s most challenging problems.
  • We persevere in tough times. During WWII, Rotary clubs in Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, and Japan were forced to disband. Despite the risks, many continued to meet informally and following the war’s end, Rotary members joined together to rebuild their clubs and their countries.
  • Our commitment to service is ongoing. We began our fight against polio in 1979 with a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. By 2012, only three countries remain polio-endemic—down from 125 in 1988.