Rotary founder Paul Harris envisioned a club that would kindle friendship among members of the Chicago business community. He wanted to find the kind of friendly spirit and helpfulness in the large city that he had known in the small towns where he had grown up -- the spirit to reach out in service to others less fortunate. Through the subsequent spread of the Rotary movement, the spirit of friendship and service evolved quite naturally into a focus on helping to build goodwill and peace in the world.

It was also Harris' thought that the first club should represent a cross-section of the business and professional members of the community. The Rotary's Classification Principle developed. The Rotary club membership is by invitation. Accepting the invitation represents a personal commitment of the Rotarian to exemplify high ethical standards in one's own vocation or occupation.

The main objective of a Rotary Club is service -- in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotary International (RI) has developed a broad range of programs designed to help clubs carry out this vital mission. Some of these programs have been underway for many years, while others recently ave been developed to meet emerging needs.

Rotary's community development programs address many of today's most critical issues - - hunger, the environment, and literacy, to name a few. RI also offers programs that focus primarily on young people, including service clubs for high school students and young adults, leadership training workshops, and student exchanges. The international programs of RI assist Rotary efforts abroad , shares information and arrange exchanges with Rotarians in other countries. Many club and district projects are designed to promote high ethical standards in the workplace, and to help young people, and adults become productive members of society.