The first Rotary club was founded in Chicago, Illinois, USA, on 23 February 1905. Membership is by invitation and refects a wide cross-section of community representation. More than one-half billion children in developing nations have been immunized against polio through PolioPlus grants. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service. Membership Rotary International is the association of Rotary clubs around the world.
Rotary clubs select their own service projects based on local needs and requirements.
Clubs work on projects relating to health, hunger, environmental concerns, literacy and vocational assitance, drug abuse, and assisting senior citizens and young people. Club members support projects internationally, through their own contacts with Rotarians in other countries, and through participation in the programs of The Rotary Foundation. Membership in a Rotary club is by invitation and is on the basis of one representative of each business and profession. This classification system ensures a wide cross-section of community representation. Clubs meet weekly for fellowship and interesting and informative programs dealing with topics of local and global importance.