Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.
Over time, Rotary’s reach and vision gradually extended to humanitarian service. Members have a long track record of addressing challenges in their communities and around the world.
From a first club in Chicago, the idea quickly expanded to other cities across the United States and by 1910, a Rotary club began meeting in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, marking the beginning of Rotary as an international organization.
In 1911, the first meeting of the Rotary Club Dublin was held in Dublin, Ireland, and this led to the setting up of the first club established outside of North America.
Today, Rotary is present in almost every country and region across the globe, with over 36,000 Rotary Clubs and a membership of 1.2 million Rotarians.
