Introduction

   The first Rotary Club in the world was organized in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., on February 25, 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 the 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 people of practically all nationalities and of many political and religious beliefs. Today there are Rotary Clubs in Angola and Australia, in Ceylon and Chile, in the Fiji Islands and Finland, in Sweden and Switzerland -- in over 150 countries and geographical regions.

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