About Rotary

Rotary is an opportunity to build lifelong friendships and experience the personal fulfillment of providing service to others. A volunteer organization with over 32,000 clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas, Rotary initiates humanitarian programs that address today's challenging issues, such as hunger, poverty, and illiteracy.

Rotary club members represent a cross-section of business and professional leaders worldwide. These 1.2 million men and women donate their expertise, time, and funds to support local and international projects that help people in need and promote understanding among cultures.

Rotary's flagship program is its effort to protect children against polio, with the goal of ending the disease throughout the world. Rotary is also known as the world's largest private provider of international education scholarships, funding more than 1,000 students annually to study overseas and serve as cultural ambassadors.

The world's first service club, Rotary began with the formation of the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA, on 23 February 1905. The club was started by a young lawyer, Paul P. Harris, and three of his friends. He wished to recapture the friendly spirit he had felt among business people in the small town where he had grown up. Their weekly meetings “rotated” among their offices, providing the new service club with its name. Rotary quickly expanded around the globe. Clubs meet weekly for fellowship and to discuss local and global topics and support the community. Clubs are nonreligious, nonpolitical and open to every race, creed and culture.

More about Rotary can be found at Rotary International and our District 5180 websites.