ROTARY CLUB, a local organization of business men founded for the purpose of furthering business service and foster ing social relations. The first Rotary was founded in the city of Chicago, Ill., on Feb. 23, 1905, by a lawyer, Paul P. Harris. The members met in rotation at the offices or places of business of the various members. This method suggested the name, Rotary Club. Similar clubs were organized in other cities of the United States of America, and in August 1910, at Chicago, the 16 clubs then in existence formed the National Association of Rotary Clubs. In 1912, after the formation of the Winnipeg, Canada, and the Dublin, Ireland, clubs the organization became the International Association of Rotary Clubs. In 1922 the name was changed to Rotary International. At the present time (June, 1928) Rotary International includes 2,923 clubs in 44 countries. There are about 137,000 members.
There is nothing secret about Rotary. Its constitution and by laws can be obtained by anyone. Its aims and objects are to encourage and foster : 1. The ideal of service as the basis of all worthy enterprise. 2. High ethical standards in business and pro fessions. 3. The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his personal, business and community life. 4. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service. 5. The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an op portunity to serve society. 6. The advancement of understanding, goodwill and international peace through a world fellowship of business and professional men united in the ideal of service.
Membership in Rotary is based upon activity in a business or profession. One representative of each business, profession or institution in a community may be elected to membership. A second active member, who is a junior member of the firm or organization of which the first active member is a senior member, may be elected to membership. Men who have distinguished them selves by some meritorious service may be elected to honorary membership. The affairs of each club are administered by a board of directors assisted by various standing committees. The officers (president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer) are elected annually. Clubs hold weekly luncheon meetings. Mem bership in the club is forfeited if the required standard of at tendance is not maintained. Clubs are banded together in districts. The club executives in each district meet in conference each year. Delegates and members of the clubs meet in annual district con ference. In June, 1928 there were 69 such districts, not including those in the British Isles. The affairs of the district are ad ministered by a governor, who is nominated by the district con ference, and who is elected by the delegates at the international convention. The governor is the representative of Rotary Inter
national in his district. Each year representatives of all the clubs in Rotary International assemble in convention. The annual international convention elects a president who, with a board of directors, administers the affairs of Rotary International. The constitution provides that of the 12 directors, at least 5 must be from countries other than the United States of America. A permanent secretariat, consisting of the secretary, assistant secre taries, and staff, is maintained at Chicago, Ill. Branch secretariats are maintained in London, England, and at Zurich, Switzerland. The official publication is The Rotarian, published at Chicago.
The Rotary movement in the British isles was started in 1911. The first actual Rotary club was organised in Dublin by an Irish gentleman who had lived for many years in the United States. Shortly afterwards clubs were founded in London and Manchester by business men belonging to those cities who had seen something of the movement in America. Subsequently clubs were formed in Belfast, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Bir mingham. These eight clubs formed, in May 1914, the British Association of Rotary Clubs, which was entrusted with the work of extending the movement and of preserving its aims and objects.
The British Rotary club differs in no essential way from that of North America. Its constitution provides for a membership limited to a single representative in each club of a given classifi cation of trade or profession who must be either proprietor, active partner, or managing director, holding an executive posi tion, or sole agent of a local branch. The club must meet weekly for luncheon and is expected at such meeting to provide a speaker on a topic of general interest, preferably one reflecting in some way the Rotary ideal of service in personal, business and corn munity life. The club appoints its president and council at an annual meeting and is entirely autonomous so far as its local affairs are concerned. Party politics and sectarian religion are rigidly excluded from the proceedings. The fact that the member enjoys the exclusive privilege of representing his classification gives him no right to use his privilege for personal advantage. Mutual trading is in no way encouraged, but rather the reverse.
The Rotary clubs in Great Britain and Ireland have increased progressively in numbers since 1914 and there are now (1928) nearly 300. The governing body, formerly the British Association of Rotary Clubs, is now Rotary International, the clubs in Great Britain and Ireland, organized into fifteen districts, forming an administrative area organisation known as R.I.B.I. (Rotary International: Britain and Ireland). The headquarters are at 34, Norfolk Street, Strand, London. (V. C.)