Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. In more than 160 countries worldwide, approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 30,000 Rotary clubs.

Rotary provides collective resources to accomplish more than one person could do alone. Rotary permits you to identify with causes you believe are important. Attendance requirements bring stability, continuity and commitment. Job classification requirements bring diversification in membership. The international aspects of Rotary mean contacts wherever you travel in the world.

Rotary club membership represents a cross-section of the community's business and professional men and women. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races and creeds.

The main objective of Rotary is service -- in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy and violence. They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development. The Rotary motto is "Service Above Self."

The world's first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA, was formed on February 23, 1905, by Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to recapture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. The name "Rotary" derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members' offices. Today, Rotary International has its headquarters in Evanston, Illinois.

Over the past 50 years, the Glen Ellyn Club has held noontime meetings at several locations. It now meets every Thursday at 12:15 p.m. at locations including Barone's restaurant and the Glen Oak Country Club.

The Rotary Club of Glen Ellyn was sponsored by the Oak Park Rotary Club and chartered in 1943. After several years, the Rotary Club of Glen Ellyn sponsored the West Chicago club in 1954 and the Wheaton Club in 1957.

Although Rotary has participated in many civic endeavors over the years, the Club is best recognized as a major funder of College and Vocational Scholarships since 1965. The Club has assisted over 170 students by spending $200,000 in the past 30+ years. In 1999, in conjunction with James E. Pehta, the club began offering the Hesterman Entrepreneurial Scholarship.

Recent local projects include work on refurbishing Family Service Shelter and the construction of the Gazebo in Prairie Path Park. International Projects include humanitarian efforts in Peru, ambulances for Cuajimalpa, Mexico, vocational scholarships for 18 youths in Palo Alto, Mexico and participation with Rotary International in the effort to eradicate polio throughout the world. Through this last effort, 144 countries are now polio-free.

The history of our Club would not be complete without mentioning the many pleasant events enjoyed by members and their spouses. Some of these events include the Annual Installation and Recognition Dinner, Bulls and Cougars games, Golf Outing, Steak Fry, and Wine and Cheese Party.

The Glen Ellyn Rotary Foundation maintains a nonprofit status for tax deductible donations. The Foundation receives money from all of the Club's yearly fund-raisers, which include the Citrus Sale, Big Wheel Night and Three on Three basketball tournament (with the Park District). The Citrus sale is our major fund-raiser held in late fall with a December delivery. By pre-selling 4/5 bushels of oranges and grapefruits, the Rotary Club generates $20,000 in revenues.

A separate board of directors oversees the collection and disbursement of these funds so there is a system of checks and balances. Over the course of the Rotary year, college and vocational scholarships are awarded to students from Glenbard West and Glenbard South High Schools. Other money is given to local organizations in the form of grants. Recent recipients include Bridge Communities, YWCA, the Glen Ellyn Park District Band Shell, WSDRA, and B.R. Ryall YMCA. The Glen Ellyn Rotary Foundation continues to look for local projects to undertake and support.