Rotary District 3140 - Rotary International

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Rotary District 3140

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Revenue Districts of Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai - India

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Rotary International

Rotary International, the world’s largest service organization having a global presence was founded on 23rd February 1905 in Chicago by lawyer Paul Harris & his three friends Silvester Schiele, a coal dealer, Gustavus E. Loehr, a mining engineer and Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor.

Out of their discussions evolved the idea of a men’s club whose membership would be limited to one representative from each business and profession. Weekly meetings were to be held at each member’s place of business in turn. The rotation of meetings was designed to acquaint the members with each other’s vocation and to promote business. Hence, the name ‘Rotary’ was adopted.

Soon, the original motto of getting together for fellowship & business promotion was left far behind and the idea of serving community by using member’s talent & professional was evolved.

By 1910, there were sixteen Rotary Clubs which combined to form an united body ‘The National Association of Rotary Clubs’. Rotary went international when a club was organised in Winnipeg, Canada. In 1911, the Rotary idea spanned the Atlantic when clubs were organised in Dublin, London and Belfast. In 1912, the constitution was revised and the name changed to ‘The International Association of Rotary Clubs’ and the Rotary Club of London, England, cabled its request for admittance to membership. Finally in 1922, the constitution and bylaws were revised completely, the adoption of the Standard Club Constitution was made mandatory for all new clubs organised subsequently and the name was shortened to ‘Rotary International’.

Rotary International is headquartered at One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, Illinois - 60201, U.S.A.

The individual Rotarian, the heart & soul of Rotary is a member of his local club and all such clubs are members of Rotary International.

Officially, Rotary is defined as ‘An organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill & peace in the world’.

Clubs meet weekly and all members enjoy each other’s fellowship before they get down to the business of running the club and discuss its service goals.

Membership is by invitation only and is based on choosing a representative of each business, profession and institution in the community; which is called as ‘Classification’ of the member.

The member is called as a Rotarian or Rtn. in short while the spouse is called as Rotary Ann.

Initially for a great period, Rotary was essentially a men’s club. Effective 1st July 1989, Rotary membership has been opened to women also. Now nearly 2000 women serve as Club Presidents.