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Modest start,
worldwide impact
Rotary was born in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., on 23
February 1905. Its founder was Paul P. Harris, an attorney. On that day, Paul met with three friends — Silvester Schiele, a coal dealer;
Gustavus E. Loehr, a mining engineer; and Hiram E. Shorey, a merchant tailor. Paul’s idea was to promote fellowship among business
acquaintances. |
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Rotary founding members (l to r)
Silvester Schiele,
Paul P. Harris, Hiram E. Shorey, and Gustavus E. Loehr |
Because
the men met in rotation at each other’s places of business, their club took the name Rotary. To make the club a representative
cross-section of the business and professional community, only one representative of each business or profession was admitted. This was the
beginning of the classification principle of membership.
While
the original basis of Rotary was fellowship, service to others soon became its hallmark. Each club determines its own service activities,
which it channels through four "Avenues of Service" — Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, and International
Service. The avenues are based on the four-part Object of Rotary.
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The
Four Avenues of Service
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