Our 1.4 million-member organization started with the vision of one man—Paul P. Harris. The Chicago attorney formed one of the world’s first service organizations, the Rotary Club of Chicago, on 23 February 1905 as a place where professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of each member.Rotary Arrives in York
In 1911, a Rotary Club was established in Harrisburg. York businessman Morgan E. Gipe attended a Harrisburg Club meeting as a guest in 1915, was impressed by what he experienced, and decided to bring Rotary to York.
An organizational meeting was held in York on March 31, 1916, and the charter meeting, with 27 members present, was held on April 17. Gipe was elected the first president and dues that first year were $10 a member. The club originally met at the Colonial Hotel on the Square in York. When the Yorktowne Hotel opened in 1925, it became the permanent meeting place for the club until 2017 when it closed for renovations.
The Rotary Club of York is the oldest, continuous service organization in York County. Throughout its history, The Rotary Club of York has developed a proud tradition of living up to the Rotary motto: "Service Above Self."
Community Involvement
One of the Rotary Club of York's major emphasis over the years has been children. As early as 1923, Rotary chartered a Boy Scout Troop.
An Educational Loan Fund was established in 1921 with individual Rotarians making themselves responsible for the bank loans. Across the years, more than half a million dollars in loans have been made available for students.
In 1924, the Rotary Club of York created a clinic for crippled children. That original clinic has now grown into the Growth and Development Clinic for Children through the York Hospital.
One of the Rotary Club's most visible programs has been International Youth Exchange. The York Rotary Club's Exchange Program is one of the most active in the Rotary District. York County full-year student-ambassadors have been sent to countries ranging the alphabet from Argentina to Venezuela. In return, the Rotary Club of York has hosted students from - Australia to Zimbabwe.
Each month, the Rotary Club presents Youth Achievement awards to students selected by one of the high schools in the Rotary service area. In addition, young musicians are invited to perform before the Rotary Club membership.
Community Awareness
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