PAUL HARRIS Rotary International Founder

Rotary is an international organization of service minded persons. Paul Harris in Chicago, Illinois founded Rotary in 1905. He and three other business and professional persons joined in force to create the first Service Club in the world. Rotary, with its principles and values, has spread throughout the world. There are 30,000 Rotary Clubs in 186 nations and territories. There are no religious, race, creed or language boundaries or affiliations affecting the 1,200,000 Rotarians of the World.

Rotarians across the world share in a desire for World Peace and Understanding. Rotarians conduct their world and community service in a quiet and selfless manner. The underlying motto of Rotary is "Service Above Self."

One of Rotary's most proud accomplishments has been the 10-year crusade against polio in the World. The moneys and energies of individual Rotarians have vaccinated over 500 million children. Polio has been virtually eliminated in the Western Hemisphere and will be totally eradicated by the year 2005.

For further information, please visit Rotary International's web site
at www.rotary.org or contact your local Rotary Club listed in
Rotary International District 5130's web site at www.rotary5130.org.
 

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