The story of Rotary goes back to the year 1905 and Paul Harris, who lived in Chicago, Illinois. Harris, a young lawyer struggling to start his law practice, saw a lack of understanding and communication among members of professions and those engaged in business and trade. He felt deeply a need to bridge that gap, and to rescue the professional man from isolation that was lonesome, irritating and unnecessary. Also, Harris wished to dignify the occupations of tradesmen, which, at the time was not in good repute.

On the evening of February 23, 1905, Harris invited three men to come to his office to talk about a new idea. He had an idea for a club based on the belief that men of business and professions could be and should be personal friends. That group included a coal dealer, a tailor, and a mining engineer. The following day they expanded the circle to include a printer and a real estate broker.

Within a short time, plans for the club were completed. It is significant that each of the six members who formed that new group was a comparative stranger. Each had come from a small town to Chicago to go into business. Each felt the need for personal friendships to replace those that had been displaced by moving from his former hometown. They decided to hold gatherings in the place of business of each member and "rotate" the location with each meeting. The idea of rotating the meeting place prompted Paul Harris to suggest that the new club be called "Rotary".

In the early days, the meetings were devoted to helping each member expand his business opportunities. The members at the meetings read papers on business topics. Members were urged primarily to help increase business for each other. Fortunately this concept and practice has long since been replaced by a more generous concept of service to others. Soon the meetings were enlivened with singing and activities of fellowship. The membership expanded and the group decided to hold dinner meetings. These later gave way to weekly noonday luncheons.