Rotary International celebrated 100 years of community service throughout the world in 2005. Paul Harris founded Rotary in Chicago, Illinois on February 23, 1905. Paul was a lawyer in Chicago. He knew many people, but missed the close friendships like those that he enjoyed as a child living in Wallingford, VT.

Paul met with some business friends who wanted more than their work. They met weekly for fellowship, mutual cooperation and a chance to do something for others. They rotated their meeting places, thus came the name, Rotary. The first community project was a public toilet facility in a Chicago park.

The Rotary concept began to grow three years later when an old friend of Paul's, Manuel Manoz started the second Rotary service club in San Francisco in 1908 and members of that club started clubs in Oregon and Washington.
Rotary became an international service organization when a club was started in Winnipeg, Canada. The first club in Europe was started in Madrid, Spain by Angel Cuesta.
Currently there are more than one million Rotarians in 166 countries throughout the world.
Rotary elects new officers each year, both on the International level and local communities.

John Kenny is the Rotary International President for the year 2010 - 2011. President Ray Klinginsmith comes from Grangemouth, Central, Scotland.

His motto for the coming year is: "Building Communities Bridging Continents".

"Rotarians are a varied lot. We come from dozens of countries, speak hundreds of languages, and adhere to a wide spectrum of religious, political and philosophical beliefs. If one strong common thread exists among our 1.2 million members, it is our willingness to share"

Quote from: The Rotarian, July 2007