Rotary International

Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Percy Harris. Born on April 19, 1868, in Racine, Wisconsin, USA, Harris's early life in Wallingford, Vermont, under the care of his paternal grandparents, would later influence his vision for professional fellowship.

After receiving his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1891, Harris settled in Chicago in 1896 and established his law practice. It was his longing for the friendliness and camaraderie reminiscent of small-town America within the bustling urban landscape that sparked the idea for what would eventually become Rotary.

On February 23, 1905, Harris gathered with three business associates - Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram Shorey - at Loehr's office in downtown Chicago. This meeting would become known as the first Rotary club meeting, marking the beginning of what would become a global movement.

The name "Rotary" was adopted to reflect their practice of rotating weekly meetings among members' various places of business. What started as a small fellowship group of 30 members by the end of 1905 would soon evolve into something much greater.

"The thought persisted that I was experiencing only what had happened to hundreds, perhaps thousands, of others in the great city. … I was sure that there must be many other young men who had come from farms and small villages to establish themselves in Chicago. … Why not bring them together? If others were longing for fellowship as I was, something would come of it."

While initially formed for fellowship, the nascent Rotary club quickly recognized the potential to leverage its members' diverse talents and resources for community service. By 1910, Rotary had expanded to several major U.S. cities, leading to the formation of the National Association of Rotary Clubs.

International expansion began in the 1911-1912 Rotary year with the founding of a club in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, followed by clubs in England, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. The organization became the International Association of Rotary Clubs in 1912, officially adopting the name Rotary International in 1922.

Significant milestones include clubs established in Havana, Cuba (1915), Manila, Philippines (1919), and Madrid, Johannesburg, and Melbourne (1921). By its 20th anniversary, Rotary had expanded to approximately 200 clubs with over 20,000 members worldwide.

Paul Harris remained actively involved in Rotary throughout his life, traveling worldwide with his wife Jean to promote membership and service. Before his death on January 27, 1947, he expressed his wish for contributions to The Rotary Foundation in lieu of flowers.

Upon his passing, Rotary created the Paul Harris Memorial Fund to honor his legacy. The response was overwhelming - in just 18 months following his death, The Rotary Foundation received $1.3 million, which helped establish the Foundation's first program: scholarships for graduate study abroad.