Despite its vast presence in our local and global communities, many are still unsure what Rotary is. So, what is Rotary anyway? The first Rotary Club was started in 1905, in Chicago, Illinois, by a small group of businessmen who wanted to do more for their community. They took as their motto “Service above Self” and adopted the cogwheel as their logo. The name Rotary comes from the fact that they would rotate the meetings among their homes. 
 
Despite its vast presence in our local and global communities, many are still unsure what Rotary is. So, what is Rotary anyway? The first Rotary Club was started in 1905, in Chicago, Illinois, by a small group of businessmen who wanted to do more for their community. They took as their motto “Service above Self” and adopted the cogwheel as their logo. The name Rotary comes from the fact that they would rotate the meetings among their homes.  Rotary became the foundation of personal interaction between members and the rest of the community, all of which evolved from those first meetings. Each member adhered to a “four way test” that became the ethical basis of the club.  In any dealing, the Rotarian would ask of the things they said and did: “Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? and Will it be beneficial to all concerned?” The club continues to be based on these principles even today.
 
In 1920, the Rotary Club of Welland was incorporated, having been sponsored by the Hamilton Rotary Club, and it continues to flourish today. It is open to all members of the community who wish to better their own community and those abroad by using the talents they bring to the club. The mandate of the club is to assist children and youth in need, and it does that through three main avenues: the International Committee, which assists children in need in foreign lands; the Community Service Committee, which supports children and youth in the disadvantaged areas of the community; and the Youth Committee, which fosters leadership and education, both here and abroad.
 
Rotarians partake in weekly meetings at 12:15 p.m. at Riverstone Event Centre every Tuesday, where the club welcomes members of the community to engage with Rotarians, to teach Rotarians, and to introduce their projects and initiatives.
 
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