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Paul Percy Harris (Attorney), Gusloher (Mining Engineer), Silvester Schiele (Coal dealer) and Hiram Shrey (Merchant Tailor) started the first Rotary Club on 23.02.1905 at Room 711, Unity Buildings, Chicago, USA.
One representative from one profession or trade was the condition for admission to the club. Silvester Schiele was the first president. Paul Harris mooted the name ROTARY for the club because the club meetings were held in rotation in the offices of the members.
The second Rotary club was chartered in 1908 at San Francisco, California. The Rotary Wheel was adopted in 1909. The first convention of 16 clubs was organized in 1910.
The famous motto" Service Above Self" was adopted in 1911.
With the chartering of a foreign club outside USA in 1912 at Winnipeg, Canada, Rotary became International. Paul Harris became the first president of the organization at the 1912 convention, Rotary model Constitution and bylaws were formulated. Rotary colours were finalized as Royal Blue and Gold Wagon Wheel Emblem was changed to Cog wheel.
Endowment Fund for the forerunners of the Rotary Foundation was proposed in 1917 by President Arch C. Klumph. The Four A venues of service were formed in 1920. In 1923 - 24, the current Gear Wheel with 6 spokes and 24 teeth was finalized.
Chesiey Perry was elected as General Secretary and served in the post for 32 years. If Paul Harris was the architect of Rotary, Chesiey was the builder of Rotary.
In 1932m Herbert Taylor a Chicago Rotarian proposed the FOUR WAY TEST. The Rotary Conference in 1942 - 43, sets stage for UNESCO. In 1945 - 46, Forty nine Rotarians help draft the UN Charter.
Paul Harris passed away in 1947. Just before Golden Jubilee, Rotary moved into its own building at Evanston, Chicago.
INTERACT a program for youth was introduced in 1962 at Melourne, Florida, USA in 1962 - 63. World Community Corps (WCC) was launched. Matching Grant and Group Study Exchange Awards and awards for Technical Training Programs were introduced in 1965. Rotary Youth Leadership Awards RYLA) was announced in 1967. Another youth program ROTARACT was formed in 1968 at Charlotte, Carolina, USA. 3 Grants - Health, Hunger, Humanity Program was launched in 1978.
The initiation of the world famous POLIO PLUS Program was taken up in 1984 - 85. The formation of Rotary Community corps (RCC) occurred in 1986 - 87.
Only in 1989 LADIES were admitted in Rotary. 'Service above Self' given as the principle Motto. - 05 was the CENTENARY OF ROTARY (100 years of civic service)
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave grants to Rotary to eradicate polio. US $ 100 million in 2007 and Us $ 255 million in 2008 - 09
At present, Rotary has spread to 208 countries in the world covering different geographical regions. start visiting ONE ROTARY CLUB per day it will take 91.6 years to visit all the clubs in the world).
