Rotary Chronology

The first Rotary club, 1905

Chicago attorney Paul P. Harris convenes the first Rotary club meeting on 23 February 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Harris envisions a professional club that brings together local men from a variety of vocations. Shown here are the first four Rotarians: Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, Hiram Shorey, and Paul P. Harris.

Rotary Foundation beginnings, 1917

At Rotary's 1917 convention, Arch C. Klumph, then president, proposes establishing an endowment “for the purpose of doing good in the world,” which becomes a precursor to The Rotary Foundation.

Rotary and the United Nations, 1945

Rotary International serves as a consultant to the United States delegation at the United Nations charter conference in San Francisco, California, USA. Eleven people officially represent Rotary in this capacity. Other Rotary members attend as delegates from and consultants to their countries.  

Interact, 1962

Students at Melbourne High School, in Florida, USA, form the first Interact club in November 1962. Interact empowers students in intermediate and secondary school to learn leadership skills.

Rotaract, 1968

Rotary's program for college-age students and young professionals begins with the Rotaract Club of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, in the United States in March 1968.

Rotary International begins its fight against polio, 1979

A multiyear grant project to immunize children in the Philippines launches Rotary International's fight to eradicate polio. 

Rotary launches PolioPlus, 1985

PolioPlus supports the commitment Rotary made a few years earlier to “eliminate polio though immunization.” Today, that commitment remains Rotary’s top priority, and the PolioPlus program coordinates the efforts of Rotary and its partners.

Women in Rotary, 1987 and 1989

In 1987, women begin to join Rotary clubs throughout the United States following a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1989, they join clubs worldwide following action by Rotary's Council on Legislation.

Rotary Peace Centers, 1999

Trustees vote to create the Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution, now known as Rotary Peace Centers. The first class of Rotary Peace Fellows will begin studies in 2002.

District and global grants begin, 2013

The Rotary Foundation introduces a simplified grant model that includes district and global grants to fund Rotarians' service efforts. From providing clean water and sanitation to supporting basic education and literacy, Rotary Foundation grants bring service project ideas to life. Since 2013, we've awarded 2,466 district grants totaling $126 million, and 5,677 global grants totaling $332 million.

Rotary and Polio Eradication

Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 30 years. Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever.

As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we've reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979.

We've helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. So far, Rotary has contributed more than $1.8 billion toward eradicating the disease worldwide.

Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.

Explore the history of Rotary and polio eradication

https://www.rotary.org/en/our-causes/ending-polio

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts where young people can develop leadership skills while having fun and making connections.

https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/rotary-youth-leadership-awards/details

Rotary Community Corps (RCC)

A Rotary Community Corps is a group of people who share our commitment to changing the world through service projects. 

Rotary Community Corps members plan and carry out projects in their communities and support local Rotary club projects but are not members of a Rotary club.

There are more than 10,000 corps in 100 countries. Rotary Community Corps are active everywhere Rotary is present: in urban and rural areas, and in both developed and developing countries.

https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/rotary-community-corps

Rotary Seven Areas of Focus

Rotary is dedicated to causes that build international relationships, improve lives, and create a better world to support our peace efforts and end polio forever.

01. Promoting peace

Rotary encourages conversations to foster understanding within and across cultures. We train adults and young leaders to prevent and mediate conflict and help refugees who have fled dangerous areas.

02. Fighting disease

We educate and equip communities to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases like polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. We improve and expand access to low-cost and free health care in developing areas.

03. Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene

We support local solutions to bring clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to more people every day. We don’t just build wells and walk away. We share our expertise with community leaders and educators to make sure our projects succeed long-term.

04. Saving mothers and children

Nearly 6 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. We expand access to quality care, so mothers and their children can live and grow stronger.

05. Supporting education

More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.

06. Growing local economies

We carry out service projects that enhance economic and community development and create opportunities for decent and productive work for young and old. We also strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.

07. Protecting the environment

Rotary members are tackling environmental issues the way they always do: coming up with projects, using their connections to change policy and planning for the future.

Official Link

Rotary and Our core values

• Service
• Leadership
• Fellowship
• Diversity
• Integrity

Rotary and The Four-Way Test

• Is it the truth?
• Is it fair to all concerned?
• Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
• Will it be beneficial to all concerned?