Over a century ago, there lived in the city of Chicago, a young lawyer who had only a few friends and acquaintances and who felt the pangs of loneliness. His name was Paul P. Harris. Desiring to extend his circle of acquaintances, he conceived the plan of calling together a few men engaged in different lines of business and explained to them an idea, which was forming in his mind. His idea was that man is friendly by nature and that the necessity of earning a livelihood under modern economic conditions should not compel a person to sacrifice their natural instinct to have friends and be friendly. That it should be possible for the person in the city to have business and professional friends as does the person in the small town. Friendship should be, and in reality is, the fundamental basis of a person's business relations with their fellowmen. Paul P. Harris, accordingly, invited three men of acquaintance to meet at the office in the Unity Building, Chicago, on the evening of February 23, 1905.
Those invited were Silvester A. Schiele, a coal dealer, H. E. Shorey, a merchant tailor, and Gus H. Loehr, a mining operator. The meeting was informal, and Paul explained his idea to those present, and the formation of a club composed of men each from a different line of business or profession was discussed. It was agreed to meet a week later in the office of Paul Harris.
At the second meeting several other gentlemen were present by invitation and the formation of a Club completed. The name of "Rotary" was suggested by Paul Harris for the reason that it was decided to hold the meetings in rotation at the offices of the different members. In the fall of the year 1905, the first diner meeting of the club was held in the old Sherman House. So came into existence Rotary, and Club No. 1 in Chicago. Space here will not permit an account of the wonderful growth and spread of Rotary.

Rotary Motto
Service Above Self

The Rotary Club
Meets once each week.
Membership is formed on the unique plan of one active and representative person from each line of business and profession in the community.

Objects of Rotary
1.The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
2.High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of their occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
3.The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to their personal, business, and community life.
4.The advancement of international understanding, good will, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional people united in the ideal of service.

Benefits of Rotary
Making the acquaintance of people you ought to know.
Genuine, wholesome good fellowship.
Developing true and helpful friends.
Enlightenment as to other people's works problems and successes.
Education in methods that increase efficiency.
Stimulation of your desire to be of service to your fellow men, women and society in general.

Obligations of Rotary

• To attend meetings regularly.
• To pay dues promptly.
• To do my part when called upon.
• To be a big-hearted, broad-minded person - a person of energy and action - a Rotarian.