Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris
Paul Harris gathered several business associates to discuss the idea of forming an organization for local professionals. He envisioned a place where professionals of diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.
On 23 February 1905, Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram Shorey gathered at Loehr’s office in Room 711 of the Unity Building in downtown Chicago. This was the first Rotary club meeting. Rotary President (19161917) Arch Klumph’s idea for an endowment fund dedicated to “doing good in the world” planted the seed of The Rotary Foundation in 1917. The first contribution to the Rotary Foundation was made in 1917 (US $26.50). In 1930, the Foundation awarded $500 to the International Society of Crippled Children.
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of US$1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. Financial contributions to The Foundation can be channeled to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus Fund, or approved global grants.
The recognition of Paul Harris Fellows was established in 1957 to show appreciation for and encourage substantial contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study. Rotarians have a tradition of honoring others and supporting the Foundation by awarding a Paul Harris Fellowship.
In Australia, Rotary clubs have used the Paul Harris Fellowship as a way of recognizing the contribution of individuals either to Rotary or to the community at large. The ability of individual Rotary clubs to make the award of Paul Harris Fellows is dependent on the contributions made by the Club to the Rotary Foundation. Each donation of US$1000 parcel creates a “credit” for the club toward a Paul Harris Fellow. At this point, the Grafton Midday
Rotary Club has about 20 “credits” available (to be confirmed). Each recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship receives a certificate, a dress pin and a medallion.) (The medallion is purchased separately by the club) Existing individual Paul Harris Fellow may receive further recognition, either by a club or by individual donation of additional US$1000 “packages”. In those situations, Rotary International issues new pins in recognition. Six individual Paul Harris Fellows from Grafton Midday have made additional contributions of between two and six individual US$1000 “packages”.
In Grafton Midday, it has been the past practice to award Paul Harris Fellows at the annual Changeover Dinner. The Changeover Dinner is an occasion where the Paul Harris Fellows can be publicly acknowledged with the appropriate dignity. Given most clubs award Paul Harris Fellowships at the club’s Changeover Dinner (typically at the end of June), there was always congestion at Rotary International to prepare the certificates, pins and medallion in time for those events. Given the timeframe the Grafton Midday Rotary Club should send the nominations for Paul Harris Fellows to Rotary International by no later than the end of April. This is to ensure that the various paraphernalia is ready for distribution at the Changeover Dinner. Club members are
invited to submit their suggestions of recipients for this year’s Paul Harris Fellows (with some outline of the achievements of that individual) to the club President by the end of April.
Today’s Trivia
If the recognition donation was set at US1000 in 1957, what is the current value of US1000 in 1957 dollars compared to 2020 dollars. (Hint : Exchange rate changes are miniscule compared to increases in CPI or average weekly earnings).
