The world’s first service club, Rotary International was founded.

On 23 February 1905, Paul P. Harris founded the first Rotary Club in Chicago, Illinois; the organization officially adopted the name Rotary International in 1922.

The founding members were Paul Harris, Gustave Loehr (a mining engineer), Silvester Schiele (a coal merchant), and Hiram E. Shorey (a tailor).

The first meeting took place in Room 711 of the Unity Building on Dearborn Street.

The name “Rotary” was chosen because early meetings rotated among the members’ offices.
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