1905
Chicago attorney Paul Harris organizes first Rotary meeting on 23 February, leading to formation of the Rotary Club of Chicago.
1906
Rotary Club of Chicago provides a public toilet outside City Hall, Rotary's first community service project.
1910-11
Paul Harris elected first president of National Association of Rotary Clubs at the first convention.
1911-13
Clubs formed in Canada, Great Britain, and Ireland; organization name changes to International Association of Rotary Clubs.
1915-16
Club chartered in Cuba, the first non-English-speaking Rotary country.
1916-17
President Arch Klumph proposes establishing an endowment fund, precursor of The Rotary Foundation.
1942-43
Rotary conference in London on education and cultural exchange sets stage for UNESCO.
1945-46
Forty-nine Rotarians help draft the UN Charter.
1946-47
Founder Paul Harris dies in Chicago; outpouring of funds from Rotarians used to establish fellowship program.
1948-49
First 18 Rotary Fellows study abroad, a precursor of Ambassadorial Scholars.
1962-63
First Interact club formed in Melbourne, Florida, USA. World Community Service program launched.
1965-66
Special Grants (now Matching Grants) and Group Study Exchange programs begin.
1968-69
Rotaract program launched.
1978-79
Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grants begin.
1979-80
Foundation grant to immunize six million Philippine children against polio sets stage for PolioPlus.
1984-85
Rotary launches PolioPlus program and campaigns to raise US$120 million to immunize all the children of the world.
1987-88
Through the PolioPlus campaign, Rotarians raise US$247 million. First women join Rotary.
1988-89
Rotary returns to Hungary and Poland.
1994-95
Western Hemisphere declared polio-free.
1998-99
Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution established.
2000-01
Western Pacific region declared polio-free.
2001-02
Europe declared polio-free
2002-03
Rotary launches a second polio eradication fundraising campaign to help fill a critical funding need. Rotarians raise over US$129 million.
2004-05
Clubs celebrate Rotary's centennial by launching hundreds of community projects and contributing thousands of volunteer hours.
2006-07
The Rotary Foundation recognizes the millionth Paul Harris Fellow.
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