CHICAGO ONE, WHERE IT ALL STARTED
If you are in Chicago on a Tuesday for business or pleasure, do plan a visit to a RotaryOne meeting. The Union League of Chicago is a private mens residence in Chicago’s financial district at 65 West Jackson Boulevard. The Union Club of Chicago has rented RotaryOne an upstairs meeting room for the last 112 years of Tuesday noon club meetings.
Above, Judy Henderson visits with
members of the Rotary Club of Chicago
members of the Rotary Club of Chicago
This will not be your average Rotary “makeup meeting”. You will be dressed in business attire, eating a delicious 3-course plated luncheon (soup or salad; beef or chicken; apple pie) served by a male wait staff. The banquet room is impressive with 21-foot ceilings atop walls of priceless original artwork by Monet, Renoir, Degas. A social time and cash bar preceeds this Tuesday noon luncheon meeting of RotaryOne……..the first Rotary club in the world.
You will be wearing “business dress” because there is a dress code at The Union League of
Chicago (no jeans, shorts, athletic shoes or shirts without collars) The actual Rotary meeting will make you feel right at home though with an opening bell, 4-way test, pledge to flag and speaker. Club banners are exchanged after the meeting. You will learn that the current District community project of RotaryOne is the restoration of Paul Harris’ home and office.
You will be wearing “business dress” because there is a dress code at The Union League of
Chicago (no jeans, shorts, athletic shoes or shirts without collars) The actual Rotary meeting will make you feel right at home though with an opening bell, 4-way test, pledge to flag and speaker. Club banners are exchanged after the meeting. You will learn that the current District community project of RotaryOne is the restoration of Paul Harris’ home and office.
In Chicago on February 23, 1905, Paul Harris, Silvester Schiele, Gustavus Loehr, and Hiram Shorey organized their first meetings at each others’ offices, switching off each meeting at a different office location. The first “Rotary” club was born only a few blocks from the Rotary One current meeting place. RotaryOne began with four members; the club now has 200 members although about 50 members attend Tuesday luncheons which are $40/person and require a Monday rsvp by 3:00 pm CST to the luncheon hot line 312-857-3060 or by email to RSVP@RotaryOne. Club. Go to RotaryOne website at www.rotaryone.org or visit on Facebook for a map and the speaker calendar.
Your Tuesday luncheon meeting at RotaryOne will be a Rotary “makeup meeting” memory!
Bring your club banner to exchange with The Rotary Club of Chicago – RotaryOne!