Rotary

Rotary International is the world's first service club organization.  Currently there are 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.  Rotarians form a global network of business, professional and community leaders that volunteer their time and talents to serve their communities and the world.  Rotary was founded in 1905 by a Chicago attorney named Paul Harris.  Mr. Harris organized the first Rotary meeting in February of that year, leading to the formation of the Rotary Club of Chicago.  The idea of service to the local community spread and Rotary Clubs started being formed throughout the United States; in 1910-11 the Rotary Clubs grew together and elected Paul Harris president of the National Association of Rotary Clubs.  The National Association of Rotary Clubs grew; clubs were formed in Canada, Great Britain and Ireland between 1911 and 1913.  The organization changed its name to the International Association of Rotary Clubs.  In 1915-16, the first non-English speaking Rotary Club was formed in Cuba.

From its beginning in Chicago, Rotary International has grown to include more than 1.2 million members whom exemplify Rotary's motto of "Service Above Self" and the humanitarian spirit that is a hallmark of individual Rotarians. 

The local club is the cornerstone of Rotary; this is where the most meaningful work is carried out.  All effective Rotary Clubs are responsible for four key elements: sustaining or increasing their membership base, particularly in service projects that benefit their own community and those in other countries; supporting The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International financially and through program participation; and developing leaders capable of serving Rotary beyond the club level. 

Locally, the Rotary Club of Fair Lawn was established by 33 local business and community leaders that wanted to bring the spirit and enthusiasm of Rotary to our community.  The Club was charted in August of 1948; over 60 years ago.  These charter members brought the guiding principals of Rotary to Fair Lawn; TheObject of Rotaryis to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

1)       The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

2)       High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

3)       The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business and community life;

4)       The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Through out the Club's history in Fair Lawn, local business, professional and community leaders have come together as Rotarians for the betterment of our community.  Currently there are 23 members in the Rotary Club of Fair Lawn; these local Rotarians continue the representation of business, professional and community leaders in service to the local, national and international communities.  The Club does not only focus on service projects for the benefit of the communities we serve, there are many social activities for members and their families that allow each of us to know each other, to create new friendships that are lifelong and allow us to be effective in working together as Rotarians.

The Rotary Club of Fair Lawn meets every Thursday at 12:15 PM for lunch at the Fair Lawn Athletic Club located at 14-19 Parmelee Avenue - adjacent to the Maurice M. Pine Library.

You are invited to reach out to a Fair Lawn Rotarian and attend one of our meetings where you will have the opportunity to meet the members as individuals and learn more about the organization we are proud to be a part of - Rotary.