How to become a Paul Harris Fellow
Anyone who contributes US$1,000 or more to the Rotary Annual Programs Fund or has that amount contributed in their name may become a Paul Harris Fellow. This fellowship is named after Paul. P. Harris, founder of Rotary in 1905. Each new Paul Harris Fellow receives a commemorative certificate, a pin, and a medallion.
Rotary Founder was Former Jacksonville Businessman
The world's first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, was formed on 23 February 1905 by Paul P. Harris, a former Jacksonville resident.
After leaving North Florida he moved to Chicago and studied for the Illinois bar. Harris wished to capture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. The Rotary name derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members' offices.
Rotary's popularity spread, and within a decade, clubs were chartered from San Francisco to New York to Winnipeg, Canada. By 1921, Rotary clubs had been formed on six continents. The organization adopted the Rotary International name a year later.
As Rotary grew, its mission expanded beyond serving club members' professional and social interests. Rotarians began pooling their resources and contributing their talents to help serve communities in need. The organization's dedication to this ideal is best expressed in its motto: Service Above Self.
By 1925, Rotary had grown to 200 clubs with more than 20,000 members. The organization's distinguished reputation attracted presidents, prime ministers, and a host of other luminaries to its ranks - among them author Thomas Mann, diplomat Carlos P. Romulo, humanitarian Albert Schweitzer, and composer Jean Sibelius.