Rotary is an organization
of business and professional leaders united worldwide,who provide humanitarian
service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build
goodwill and peace in the world.
There are approximately 1.2 million
Rotarians, members of more than 29,000 Rotary clubs in 161 countries.
For more information on Rotary International
Please visit
www.rotary.org
Paul Harris
The Founder
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Paul P. Harris, the Founder
of Rotary, was born at Racine, Wisconsin, USA on April 19, 1868.Following his
graduation from Law School of the University of Iowa in 1891, he decided to travel
around the world for the next five years before settling down in Chicago to practice
law in 1896.
For next several years, he reflected
on conditions of life and business and by 1905 formulated a definite philosophy
of business relations.
Talking it over with three of
his clients, he conceived the idea of organising a club which came into being on
23rd February 1905.
He remained active in Rotary
until his death on January 27, 1947.
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Brief History of Rotary
February 23, 1905.
On this particular day, a Chicago
lawyer, Paul P. Harris, called three friends to a meeting. What he had in mind was
a club that would kindle fellowship among members of the business community.
It was an idea that grew from his desire to find within the large city the kind
of friendly spirit that he knew in the villages where he had grown up.
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The four businessmen continued
to meet, adding others to the group, they rotated their meetings among the
members' places of business, hence the name. Soon after the club name was
agreed upon, and so was a wagon wheel design as the club emblem. It was the precursor
of the familiar cogwheel emblem now worn by Rotarians around the world. By
the end of 1905, the club had 30 members.
The second Rotary club was formed
in 1908 half a continent away from Chicago in San Francisco, California. It
was a much shorter leap across San Francisco Bay to Oakland, California, where the
third club was formed. Others followed in Seattle, Washington, Los Angeles, California,
and New York City, New York.
Rotary became international
in 1910 when a club was formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. By 1921 the
organization was represented on every continent, and the name Rotary International
was adopted in 1922.
For latest statistical information about Rotary,
click at the link below:
http://www.rotary.org/newsroom/downloadcenter/pdfs/pr_18.pdf
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