About the Rotary
The Rotary Club of New Orleans was formed on February 23, 1910 during a meeting held at 232 North Peters Street.
 
On April 26, 1910, with a membership of 40, the Rotary Club of New Orleans officially became the 12th Rotary Club organized in the world. Its weekly meetings began at 12:12pm in honor of this.
 
In 1914, the Rotary Club of New Orleans became the 11th club to be admitted into the International Association of Rotary Clubs.
 
As the City of New Orleans expanded into the suburbs, the Rotary Club of New Orleans sponsored many new Clubs being formed outside the New Orleans central business district. From the New Orleans Club were born the Westbank Rotary Club in 1953, the Rotary Club of Metairie in 1957 and the Rotary Clubs of East New Orleans and Carrollton in 1959. In 2010, the Riverbend Club joined the group offering meetings in uptown New Orleans.
 
Throughout its history, the Rotary Club of New Orleans has been a service organization. Just one example of its commitment to everyone in the community, New Orleans Rotary sponsored Blind Golfers Tournaments in 1972, 1979, 1986 and 1993.
 
The Rotary Club of New Orleans participates in many community projects. The club has supported members painting and scraping houses in blighted neighborhoods, painting classrooms in schools, volunteering at public parks and public television stations and tutoring at the public schools, to name a few. Internationally, the Club has raised funds to help bring medical assistance to impoverished areas around the world.
 
In 1991, a member of the Rotary Club of New Orleans, who was also a District Governor-Elect, Herb Brickson and his wife, Audree, led a group study exchange team to the Philippines and noted the lack of textbooks in the schools. The Rotary Club of New Orleans sponsored a school affiliate club at Warren Easton High School and collected more than 20,000 new and used textbooks and arranged for a full container to be shipped, at no cost, to the Rotary Club of Roxas Hillside, where they distributed the books to 65 area schools.
 
Today, the Rotary Club of New Orleans can be found distributing dictionaries to local elementary schools, collecting eyeglasses for those in need, maintaining a section of Poydras Street in the city's central business district and distributing food and clothing to needy groups in the community. Members enjoy one of the most robust program schedules in the city providing an opportunity to learn something new each and every week.

Give to Rotary International

District Governor, and club member Richard "Dick" McCarthy reminds Rotarians of the many opportunities to donate to several worthy Rotary International projects and programs: "I ask you to please read this letter which explains how each Rotarian in our own way may make annual donations to the Rotary Fund and long term donations to the Permanent Fund. It's as simple as becoming a member of the Bequest Society by promising you will write into your will a desire to have $10,000 donated after your ultimate demise. Happy thought! This letter helps clarify the various programs with hopes that you will work with Charlie Young and Randy Feldman to figure out the best way for you to make small or large donations. I am personally stepping up to the plate to make addional donations in both categories. Please won't you join me? "

Foundations

Rotary International, as well as the Rotary Club of New Orleans, has established ways to handle local and international donations.
  • The Rotary Foundation "TRF" provides a way for Rotarians around the world to join together for the common good.
  • Providing Ambassadorial Scholarships
  • Giving health, hunger and Humanity grants
  • Funding a program to eradicate Polio
  • Sponsoring group study exchange teams of business and professional non-Rotarians all over the world.
  • Countless other grants and programs supported by TRF.
  • The New Orleans Rotary Fund, Inc. "NORFI" is our club's local philanthropic arm awarding grants each year to local non-profit organizations for the acquisition of capital assets. NORFI awards thousand of dollars each year.
Rotary Information

Meeting Place

The Rotary Club of New Orleans meets each Wednesday at 12 noon for a lunch meeting filled with fellowship and interesting and informative programs. We typically meet at New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club , 5353 Laurel St, New Orleans, LA 70115. See Map and Directions for further details.

Rotary Contact Details

Rotary Club of New Orleans P.O. Box 50635 New Orleans LA 70150 504-383-3120 neworleansrotaryclub@gmail.com

Propose/Become a Member

Download the application form (PDF). All prospective members must be proposed by a current member. Apply Online

The Rotary Club

In Chicago in 1905, Paul Harris and three acquaintances met to organize a small group of men to meet weekly for fellowship. They rotated the meeting sites and called it a Rotary Club. It soon became a luncheon-meeting club, with group singing, and the service idea was developed. A wagon-wheel became the Club symbol. In 1908, other clubs formed, and in 1910 a National Association of Rotary Clubs was formed, with Paul Harris as president. A convention was held and a national office was established. Rotary International:www.rotary.org

What is Rotary?

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary is some 1.2 million service-minded men and women belonging to more than 29,000 Rotary Clubs in virtually every nation in the world.

The Four Areas of Service

  • Club Service
  • Vocational Service
  • Community Service
  • International Service

    The Four-Way Test

  • Is it the truth?
  • Is it fair to all concerned?
  • Will it build goodwill and better friendship?
  • Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

    Motto

    Service Above Self