Arnie Dowdy on the History of Rotary

Posted by Richard L. Roberts 
 

      Arnie Dowdy, introduced by Sandy Nichols, is past president of the PB/Five Cities Club, past district 5042 Governor, past chair of the District Rotary Foundation, is still active in Rotary work and was characterized by Sandy as Mr. Rotary. And, if you need a good actor, he might be available.

      In his opening remarks, Dowdy said that a good speech is one with a good opening, a good ending and a short space in between. He relates that the Grover Beach Club really has a lot of fun and it's always a pleasure to attend our meetings. His story will be about Rotary.

 

      Paul Harris, in 1905, with three other men started meeting at each other's business office in Chicago. Paul Harris, an attorney, was a product of a broken home, was kicked out of three educational institutions and after getting out of school he traveled abroad for three years making his own way. He picked fruit, was an actor, worked in restaurants, etc. He said he didn't want to make a living, but make a life.
      His Club idea was to meet other business owners and professionals and become acquainted with their work and how they might relate to each other. He came from a small community in Vermont and wanted his new Club to have a small town atmosphere where everyone called each other by their first name; a club with good ethics, trust and friendship. But what to call the club that was all about fun, food and friendship?  The three 'effers'?  Someone suggested Rotary as they rotated the meeting from office to office. ROTARY WAS BORN!  Harris was opposed to expanding Rotary outside of Chicago; but, a friend started a new club in San Francisco and this year it will celebrate their 100 year anniversary. Soon, Seattle, Los Angeles and Oakland followed; the first Club outside of the US was Winnipeg, Canada, and it took off internationally from there. Dublin, Ireland, a place near and dear to the heart of Dowdy (from the family name, O'Dowd), was the first Club in Europe.

      Now Rotary has over 1.2 million members in 170 different countries throughout the world. Clubs are autonomous but expected to follow the bylaws, precepts and ethics of Rotary International. Service Above Self, the Rotary motto, the 4 Way Test and the Objects of Rotary assures that Rotary members are the very best people in every community and are or have been successful in business, their community and in life.

      Dowdy said, "The most important person in the Club is you. You will have 1.2 million friends that will give you the warmest welcome in the world."

      Thank you, Arnie Dowdy, for the great Rotary story and inspirational talk!