For more than 110 years, Rotary members have been addressing challenges and needs around the world and in their local communities.

A grassroots organization at its core, Rotary unites 1.2 million members to form an organization of international scope.

It all began with the vision of one man, Paul Harris, a Chicago attorney who organized the Rotary Club of Chicago on February 23, 1905, so business and other professionals with diverse backgrounds could meet and exchange ideas, form meaningful, lifelong friendships and give back to their communities.

Rotary’s name came from the first club’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of its members.

Three key traits have remained consistent throughout Rotary’s history. First, it is truly an international organization. Only 16 years after the first Rotary club was formed, Rotary had clubs on six continents.

Second, Rotary has persevered in tough times especially during World War II when clubs in Austria, Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain were forced to disband. Despite the risks, many members of these clubs continued to meet informally, and after the war, the members came back together to rebuild their clubs and countries.

Third, Rotary has always been committed to service, whether in local communities or around the world. Also, Rotary is not afraid to think big or set bold goals. In 1979, Rotary began its first fight against polio with a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. The project soon expanded to a worldwide effort. Today, polio is endemic in only three countries compared to 125 in 1988.

Perhaps Paul Harris said it best – “Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.”