A Century of Growth and Expansion

Rotary began in the Midwestern city of Chicago, Illinois, USA, but it soon spread to both coasts and quickly crossed borders and oceans.

In 1911 through 1913, clubs were formed in Canada, Great Britain, and Ireland.

Rotary expanded in numbers as well as territory. By 1920, Rotary had 45,000 members and clubs in 12 countries.

And the number of languages spoken by Rotarians increased as well, reflecting Rotary’s growing popularity across Europe and Asia.

The Rotary Club of Cuba (1916) was the first Spanish-speaking club, and the number of Spanish-speaking Rotarians rose steadily as Rotary gained a presence in South America.

One man in particular helped spread the Rotary story around the world.

Between 1928 and 1931, “Big Jim” Davidson traveled 150,000 miles in Europe and Asia, establishing clubs in Greece, Egypt, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other countries. By the time he finished, membership figures topped 150,000. “Big Jim” Davidson

The economic depression in the early 1930s caused Rotary to experience its first dip in membership.

But the numbers began to rise again in 1935, and by the end of the decade, there were almost 210,000 Rotarians.

A second membership decline occurred during the Second World War when Rotary was banned in several countries and clubs were disbanded.

But the Rotary ideals survived and thrived in the postwar era when people were searching for ways to build international understanding, and many countries were readmitted to membership.

From the 1950s through the 1970s, Rotary spread throughout Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean region.

In 1986, Jean-Paul Moroval of France was recognized as the millionth member. Jean-Paul Moroval and his wife Danielle

Then world events took Rotary to a part of the world where it had not been welcome for many years.

Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, clubs were re-established in Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

The first Rotary clubs were formed in Russia, Croatia, Slovakia, Ukraine, and many other countries, as the Rotary movement took hold throughout this part of the world.

Extension throughout Central and Eastern Europe during the 1990s helped Rotary maintain a relatively stable membership at a time when other service clubs were experiencing declines.

Today, membership tops 1.2 million with clubs in 166 countries, including the newest Rotary countries of the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, and Timor-Leste.

Where will Rotary go next?

Wherever clubs can function freely as nonpolitical entities of an international organization,

Rotary will find new opportunities to expand its humanitarian service and build bridges of understanding.

To learn more about Rotary’s growth and expansion during its first 100 years, order a copy of A Century of Service: The Story of Rotary International. Click here to order