The first Rotary Club of the world was organized in Chicago, Illinois, USA, on 23rd February 1905, by Paul Persey Harris, a young lawyer, who gathered together in a spirit of friendship and understanding group of men, each of whom was engaged in a different form of service to the public. The basic for membership – one person from each business and profession in the community – still exists in Rotary. At first, the members of the new club met in rotation at their various places of business, and this suggested the name “Rotary”.
Since 1905, the ideas of Paul Harris and his friends have become ideals which have been accepted by people of practically all nationalities, and of many political and religious beliefs. Today there are Rotary clubs in Austria and American Somoa, in Brazil and Brunei, in India and Italy, Scotland and South Africa – In 211 countries and 34 geographical regions. The universal acceptance of Rotary principles has been so great that there are now more than 33,995 Rotary Clubs, which have a membership of about 1,213,605.
The general objectives of Rotary clubs in every country are the same – the development of fellowship and understanding among the business and professional leaders in the community, the promotion of the community – betterment endeavors and of high standards in business and professional practices, and the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace. Rotary clubs everywhere have the basic ideal – the “Ideal of Services”, which is thoughtfulness of and helpfulness to others.
世界上第一個扶輪社是由年輕 律師保羅•哈理斯以友誼與了 解的精神結合一群各自不同行 業服務大眾的男士，於1905 年 02月23日在美國伊利絡州芝加 哥組成立的。社員資格的基礎 – 即“社區中每一事業及專 業只限一人參加”，迄今仍然 為扶輪所遵行。最初，新創立 的扶輪社其社員集會係輪流在 彼此的事業處所舉行，此即扶 輪名稱之由來。
自1905年起，保羅•哈理斯及 其友人的看法已成幾近所有 國家，各種政策，宗教信仰的 人士所接受的理想。今日，在 211個國家及34個地理區域都 有扶輪社，扶輪的原則廣為 各方接受，如今全世界已有 33 ，995多個扶輪社，社員人數 超過1，213，608人。
每一國家的扶輪社，其一般宗 旨均為相同— “即增進社區 內事業領袖之間的聯誼與了 解，提高改善社區的努力及 提 高事業，專業的標準，促進國 際了解，親善和平”。全世界 各地扶輪社均有一個共同的基 本理想 — 即關懷他人幫助他 人的【扶輪之理想】。