Rotary is a not-for-profit organization, helping people connect to their community, developing leadership skills and making the world a more peaceful, better place. Service Above Self!

A little History... Once upon a time in 1905:

Four men, Gus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, Hiram Shorey and Paul Harris, came together once a week for a fellowship get-together. Because every week they rotated to another man’s office for their meetings, they called their club, Rotary and in February 23, 1905, Rotary was an official club.

 At the end of the year 1905, the club had gained 30 members. Seeing how each club member had different talents and ideas, the clubs goal was to help others in need, help make the community better and find peace.

The very first donation was $26.50. (Now contributions totaling- $1 Billion!)

In three years a second club was formed in San Francisco. Only five years later many more clubs formed along the West Coast and in New York.

The very first convention was held at Congress Hotel in Chicago; Paul Harris was elected the first president of Rotary. In 1911-1912 Rotary became international allowing Canada to join and in 1922 Rotary adopted the name Rotary International (RI) for clubs over seas. By Rotary’s 20^th birthday, there were near 200 clubs and 20,000 members’ world wide. In January 1947, Paul Harris passes away and in that same year, Rotary creates a program sending 18 students to seven countries that year.

Today, more than 1,800 students as Rotary scholars travel to different countries every year. 2,000 women serve as club presidents. Rotary works to help the hunger, environment, prevent violence, drug abuse, help educate of AIDS and Polio and help the elderly and youth. Service Above Self!