SERVICE ABOVE SELF

Formed in Chicago, 1905, by attorney Paul P. Harris,
Rotary International, then called the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA, was established to capture in a professional club the friendly spirit felt in small towns. Rotary’s popularity spread rampantly, and by 1921 Rotary clubs had been formed on six continents, contributing their talents to help serve communities in need and all embodying the same motto: service above self.

As Rotary grew, so did its desire to give back to the rest of the world. In 1928, The Rotary
Foundation was founded to improve the lives of people in every corner of the world by promoting world understanding and peace through local, national, and international humanitarian, educational, and cultural programs.

Through its many years, Rotary has established myriad programs and has been involved in
numerous initiatives aimed at enriching, educating, and helping societies across the globe. In
1965, Rotary created Matching Grants for International Humanitarian Projects and the Group
Study Exchange. It also developed Health, Hunger, and Humanity Grants, and a PolioPlus
program, designed to eradicate polio.

Pictured is the first Rotary Convention held at the Congress Hotel in Chicago in 1910. Sixty
Rotarians and spouses attended, with 14 of the 16 clubs then existing represented. Last June, Rotarians worldwide gathered again in Chicago to celebrate 100 years of service.