Rotary International … Lessons From History

By Alex A. Galenes, Rotary Club of Escondido, California

History can be defined as a study of the past in attempt to understand the present and to predict the future.  In this sense, it is useful to study the origins of the Rotary movement in the context of the life of its founder, Paul P. Harris.

In his memoir, My Road To Rotary, Paul Harris details his upbringing in rural Vermont.  Following college and law school, he absorbed a lifetime of experiences while working his way around the world during a five year odyssey.

When he settled into the practice of law in the city of Chicago, Paul Harris faced loneliness and homesickness.  In response, in 1904, when he and three other businessmen began meeting in rotation at each others’ offices, the birth of Rotary International was at hand.

The Rotary movement grew rapidly throughout the world, albeit with intense organizational efforts on behalf of founder Harris and others.  Central to the Rotary movement are precepts pertaining to ethical business and professional behavior, a focus in counterpoint to practices of “robber barons” and others exposed by muckraking journalists during the period of Rotary’s inception.

According to Paul Harris, the other, central concept of Rotary, that of “Service”, evolved naturally and quickly among Rotary members.  In the context of the times, the “service” orientation arose spontaneously among business and professional people who enjoyed the surpluses of time, talent and material resources characteristic of an advancing technological society.

As the industrial society morphed into the digital age during the latter part of the 20^th century, membership in our nation’s fraternal groups and community service clubs has, in the words of Non Profit Times reporter Matthew Sinclair, “grayed and receded”. The reasons?  Two income households, long commuting times, increasing competition for time, to mention just a few.

Rotary, however, stands out as the notable exception to these trends.  According to a Rotary International spokesperson, “Rotary has kept its membership steady by concentrating efforts on issues that are relevant to communities around the world, such as literacy, peace, education and health”.

The numbers are powerful and persuasive:  More than 1.2 million members worldwide;  more than 32,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas; and a foundation that has received nearly $2 Billion in contributions and recorded more than $1.6 billion in program awards and expenses since 1947.

The challenge for the future is to remain true to the basic tenets of Rotary’s founding ideals while participating fully in rapid societal change.  To do otherwise is to risk extinction by losing relevance.  So far, for Rotary, so good.