A Century of Growth and Expansion
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, formed the world’s first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA, on 23 February 1905. The name "Rotary" derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members' offices. Rotary's popularity spread throughout the United States in the decade that followed; clubs were chartered from San Francisco to New York. By 1921, Rotary clubs had been formed on six continents, and the organization adopted the name Rotary International a year later.
One man in particular helped spread the Rotary story around the world. Between 1928 and 1931, “Big Jim” Davidson traveled 150,000 miles in Europe and Asia, establishing clubs in Greece, Egypt, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other countries. By the time he finished, membership figures topped 150,000.
From the 1950s through the 1970s, Rotary spread throughout Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean region. Then world events took Rotary to a part of the world where it had not been welcome for many years. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, clubs were re-established in Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The first Rotary clubs were formed in Russia, Croatia, Slovakia, Ukraine, and many other countries as the Rotary movement took hold throughout this part of the world. Today, membership tops 1.2 million with more than 31,000 clubs in 166 countries, including the newest Rotary countries of the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, and Timor-Leste.
Join us in Chicago to celebrate our 100 years of growth and success as well as a look toward our future of Rotary. A future, which will find new opportunities to expand its humanitarian service and build bridges of understanding.
Chicago Centennial Convention
2005 Rotary International Annual Convention
18-22 June 2005
McCormick Place
2301 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60616 USA
Tel.: 312-791-7000
The Chicago Centennial Convention will begin on Saturday, 18 June 2005, one day earlier than usual, to accommodate the Rotary International Parade in the morning and Host Hospitality in the evening. Combined Convention Registration and RI Ticket Order forms will make it easy for you to plan your convention itinerary.
Rotarians can now register online for the Centennial Convention via the Member Access area. For more information on how to register online as well as book hotel reservations, purchase event tickets and obtain other valuable information, visit: www.rotary.org/centennial/convention/index.html. You may also register by calling 1-847-866-3000 or faxing @ Rotary International 1-847-328-8554 or 8281. Lastly, your club secretary can also help you with registration.
We encourage you to submit forms early to avoid unnecessary delays and to ensure hotel availability. The Registration and Housing Department experiences high volumes of activity upon opening and on and around deadline dates, so there may be lengthier turnaround times and communication delays during those periods.
Glenn E. Estess Sr., Shades Valley, Alabama, USA
RI President 2004-05
• Trustee, The Rotary Foundation, 1993-96
• Vice President, Rotary International, 1991-92
• Director, Rotary International, 1990-92
• District Governor (D-6860), 1979-80
Glenn E. Estess Sr. is the retired chief executive officer of Glenn Estess Associates, Inc. Born in Pike County, Mississippi; he earned a degree in chemistry and physics from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Glenn is one of five brothers who were Rotarians. Four were presidents of their respective clubs in four different cities in three states. Glenn is past chair of trustees of the Baptist Health Systems, an 11-hospital system headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, with approximately 10,000 employees. He served as director of the Better Business Bureau of Central Alabama and as a trustee for the Workmen's Compensation Trust of the Business Council of Alabama. In Florida, he was chairman of the YMCA, the American Chemical Society, and the Arthritis Foundation. He was also a member of the Board of Regents of the National Association of Personnel Consultants in the United States.
A Rotarian since 1960, Glenn was an adviser to the 1997 RI Convention Committee and PolioPlus national coordinator in 1987-88. During his tenure as a trustee, Glenn served as chair of the Foundation's Finance Committee and vice chair of its Program Committee. He was RI's International Assembly chair and moderator in 1999. He was a member of RI's Audit and Operations Review Committee for four years and its chair for one year. This is RI's only committee having a six-year term. This committee serves in an advisory role to the Board of Directors. Glenn was also the chair of the 2002-03 Membership Development and Retention Committee.
Glenn is a Rotary Foundation Major Donor, a Paul Harris Fellow, and a Benefactor. He is the recipient of RI's Service Above Self Award and The Rotary Foundation's Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award. Glenn and Mary have three children and eight grandchildren. Sixteen members of his family are Paul Harris Fellows.
Welcome to Rotary District 6800 in this our Centennial Year of Rotary. Rotary International President, Glenn Estess, has designated four areas of emphasis. In Rotary’s one hundredth year of service we would like to concentrate on: HEALTH CONCERNS, WATER MANAGEMENT, LITERACY AND EDUCATION and continuing emphasis on the FAMILY OF ROTARY. We will do our part in addressing these issues through our club and district projects. I have appointed PDG Tom Patterson as the Task Force Coordinator for the District. He will coordinate the work of the individual Task Force Chairpersons listed on page 9 of this directory.
It is a distinct honor and privilege to serve as your District Governor. Together we face the challenge to increase the membership in our clubs and give one hundred dollars per Rotarian to The Rotary Foundation. Let us all promote the “Every Rotarian Every Year” slogan; both in our giving to TRF and our quest for members. Plan to attend the District Conference at the Hilton Hotel in Memphis on April 22-23 of 2005. I hope to see you there!!
Yours in Rotary Service,
Dick Wieland, District Governor