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The first Rotary Club in the world was organized in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., on 23 February, 1905 by Paul P. Harris, a young lawyer, who gathered together in a spirit of friendship and understanding a group of men, each of whom was engaged in a different form of service to the public. That basis of membership - one man from each business and profession in the community - still exists in Rotary. At first, the members of the new club met in rotation at various places of business of the members and this suggested the name "Rotary". |
Since 1905, the ideas of Paul Harris and his friends have become ideals which have been accepted by men of practically all nationalities and of many political and religious beliefs. Today there are Rotary clubs in Austria and American Samoa, in Brazil and Brunei, in India and Italy, in Scotland and South Africa - in some 172 countries and geographical regions. The universal acceptance of Rotary principles has been so great that as of June 1994 there are some 26,850 Rotary clubs, which have membership of 1,187,500. The Philippines itself is divided into nine separate districts with a total of 537 Rotary clubs and 17,011 Rotarians.
The general objectives of Rotary clubs in every country are the same - the development of fellowship and understanding among the business and professional men in the community, the promotion of community betterment endeavors, and of high standards in business and professional practices, and the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace. Rotary clubs everywhere have one basic ideal - the "Ideal of Service", which is thoughtfulness of and helpfulness to others. |
