Rotary 106 Celebrations Around the World

Kanazawa Castle in Kanazawa, Japan, is illuminated with an End Polio Now message.

Photo by Mattia Salvi.

I conic landmarks around the world served as the backdrop for the End Polio Now message the week of 23 February in honor of Rotary’s 106th anniversary. They included the Trevi Fountain in Rome; a Lantern Festival gate in Taiwan; the parliament building in The Hague; the globe of the SM Mall of Asia in Manila, Philippines; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation headquarters in Seattle, Washington, USA; Byblos Castle in Byblos, Lebanon; and the soccer stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, among others.

Rotarians celebrate Rotary’s 106th anniversary

The side of the New York Stock Exchange in New York

A closing-bell ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange was rung by RI President Ray Klinginsmith and Michael Watson, Sanofi Pasteur’s vice president of global immunization policy.  Watch the event at www.nyse.com .

RI President Ray Klinginsmith Rings the NYSE Bell

The date is significant to Rotary.  February 23 marks the 106 anniversary of the first Rotary Club meeting which was held in Chicago.

As part of Wednesday’s event in New York, Rotary was able to highlight its 26 year mission to eradicate polio. In 2010, there were fewer than a thousand new cases of polio for the first time in recorded history.

Happy Birthday Rotary 106 Years Old

The first four Rotarians

The first four Rotarians — Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, Hiram E. Shorey, Paul P. Harris.

On 23 February 1905, Paul P. Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram E. Shorey gathered in Loehr’s office for what would become known as the first Rotary club meeting.

Harris’s desire for camaraderie among business associates brought together these four men and eventually led to an international organization of service and fellowship.

106 YEARS ON HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROTARY!

Ron Nethercutt and Paul Harris

Past Chair of ROTI Rotarians On The Internet meets Paul Harris in Evanston Illinois.  Paul founded Rotary 106 years ago. Paul would be amazed at what has become of his idea back in Chicago all those years ago.  Rotary continues to go from strength to strength.

ROTI Web Site


The first four Rotarians — Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, Hiram E. Shorey, Paul P. Harris.

Community Spotlight: Rotary International

To those who do not know what Rotary is about here is a good video, for those who are Rotarians it is a good reminder of who we are and what we do.

Come Join Us-EN from Rotary International on Vimeo.

Membership Drive

This video comes from RIBI or Rotary International Great Britain and Ireland it pertinent to us here in Coolamon. Well worth watching if you are thinking of joining Rotary or even if you are already a member of a Rotary Club.

Why Rotary? from RIBI on Vimeo.