Paul P. Harris formed the world’s first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, on 23 February 1905.  He was an attorney who wished to recapture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth.  "Rotary" derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members' offices.  Our club was officially chartered on 24 June 2008 as Rotary Club number 79591. We are now club number 53 in Rotary District 5840. Our Charter will make us the newest of Rotary Clubs in District 5840.  Rotary District 5840 sits in the heart of South Central Texas.   Address by Rotary International (2002-2003) President Bhichai Rattakul As Rotarians we are always asked why we do what we do, why we volunteer, spend time and resources. This 5 minute video may explain it all if you are new to Rotary. At some point we all shared a special experience along the way that left us wanting to do more. Please take the time to watch the video. It is well worth the time.

What Is Rotary?

Rotary is a world wide organization of business professional leaders that provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.

We are the world's first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, was formed on 23 February 1905 by Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to capture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. The Rotary name derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members' offices.

Rotary was founded on fellowship, an ideal that remains a major attraction of membership today. Rotary also provides you an opportunity to enlarge one’s circle of business and professional acquaintances.  As the oldest service club in the world, Rotary members represent a cross-section of the communities’ owners, executives, managers, political leaders, and professionals – people who influence change.

OBJECTS OF ROTARY

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

• FIRST- The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
   
• SECOND- High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
   
• THIRD- The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;
   
• FOURTH- The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

Networking - As members of the oldest service club in the world, Rotarians represent a cross-section of their community’s business owners, executives, managers, political leaders, and professionals – people who make decisions and influence policy.

Service - programs address concerns such as health care, hunger, poverty, illiteracy, and the environment. Rotarians regularly experience the fulfillment that comes from giving back to the community.

Friendship - Rotary was founded on fellowship, a cornerstone that continues to attract members today. Rotarians enjoy camaraderie with like-minded professionals, and club projects provide opportunities to develop enduring friendships. Club members who travel have friendly contacts in almost every city of the world.

Family - Rotary sponsors some of the world’s largest exchange and educational programs. Rotary clubs provide innovative training opportunities and mentoring for young leaders, and they involve family members in a wide range of social and service activities.

Leadership - Rotary is an organization of successful professionals. Team-building, fundraising, public speaking, planning, organization, and communication are just some of the leadership skills that club members can exercise and enhance. Being a Rotary leader provides further experience in motivating, inspiring, and guiding others.

Ethics - Encouraging high ethical standards and respect for all worthy vocations has been a hallmark of Rotary from its earliest days. In their business and professional lives, Rotarians abide by The Four-Way Test:
Of the things we think, say or do

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

FOUR AVENUES OF ROTARY SERVICE         

The Objective of Rotary is reflected in the Club's Four Avenues of Service

(Each member is assigned to at least one of the four avenues of service.)

Club Service is responsible for club operations and provides an opportunity to develop acquaintance and fellowship as an opportunity for service. Club Service raises funds to support the other avenues of service, and assists in acquiring lecturers to address community issues targeting youth and business.

Vocational Service is responsible for promoting high ethical standards within  the business and professional community and recognizing the worthiness of all useful occupations as an opportunity to serve. 

Community Service provides the opportunity for each Rotarian to apply the ideal of service in his/her personal, business, and community life.

International Service provides Rotarians the opportunity to advance international understanding, goodwill, and peace.