Rotary Facts The world's first service club was the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA. The club was formed February 23, 1905 by lawyer Paul P. Harris and three friends - a merchant, a coal dealer, and a mining engineer. Harris wished to recapture the friendly spirit he had felt among businesspeople in the small town where he had grown up. The name "Rotary" was derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among member's offices. Mission The main objective of Rotary is service - in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians build goodwill and peace, provide humanitarian service, and encourage high ethical standards in all vocations. The Rotary motto is "Service Above Self." Membership Rotarians are professional men and women who work as volunteers to improve the quality of life in their home and world community. Club membership represents a cross-section of local business and professional leaders. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are non-political, non-religious and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. There are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians working in some 30,000 Rotary clubs in 165 countries and 35 geographical regions worldwide. First admitted in 1987, women are the fastest-growing segment of Rotary's membership. There are nearly 2,000 women club presidents and women are rapidly assuming regional leadership roles.