The Rotary Club of Chicago is part of a network of 35,000 Rotary clubs and 1.2 million Rotarians around the world (www.rotary.org).

The Rotary movement began in Chicago in 1905 when a small group of businessmen formed a charitable organization dedicated to serving their community and fostering fellowship among members of the professional community.  Paul Harris, Silvester Schiele, Gustavus Loehr and Hiram Shorey organized their first meetings in each other’s offices, switching off each meeting at a different office location. Thus, the "Rotary" Club was born.

Today, the Rotary Club of Chicago (ROTARY/One) boasts 130 regular members and 30 honorary members who continue to meet on a weekly basis, a dedicated Foundation (the ROTARY/One Foundation, Inc.), a vibrant calendar of guest speakers, and strong participation in service projects both in Chicago and across the world.  The Club sponsors a Rotaract Club, The Rotaract Club of Chicago.

The mission of the Rotary Club of Chicago is to promote ethical leadership, professional success and friendship among Club members through service in our community and around the world.

ROTARY/One has contributed in a meaningful way to significant Chicago community and international projects, including providing summer internships to Chicago high school students through JOB1, our signature project; delivering dictionaries to Chicago Public School 3rd graders; providing college STEM scholarships for Chicago students going to college; contributing to international polio eradication; providing access to clean water in Thailand; building shelters and digging water wheels in Haiti; and hundreds of other projects.

From the earliest days of the organization, Rotarians were concerned with promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives. One of the world’s most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is The Four-Way Test of the things we think, say or do:

• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

The ROTARY/One Foundation, Inc. is the foundation of the Rotary Club of Chicago. The mission of the ROTARY/One Foundation is to secure the resources necessary to support the Service Mission of the Rotary Club of Chicago.

Please refer to www.Rotaryone.org for more information about the Rotary Club of Chicago and the ROTARY/One Foundation.