International Rotary Day

23rd February is the 'birthday ' of Rotary International

Rotary International’s 116th Birthday on February 23rd

The first gathering, on Thursday evening, 23 February 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. was initiated by attorney Paul P. Harris. Young Harris, fresh from a wild five years as a reporter, actor, cowboy, seaman, granite salesman, fruit picker and hotel clerk and five years building a successful law practice, had an idea. It was regarding observations of success and respect which could come from organizing professional acquaintances.

He had given this much thought by the time he and Silvester Schiele (a coal merchant) walked over to Gus Loehr's (a mining engineer) office, in Room 711 in the Unity Building on Dearborn Street that cold winter night in 1905, almost nine years from his arrival in Chicago. In addition, a fourth man, Hiram E, Shorey (a tailor) attended this first meeting. Several weeks later, Schiele was elected the first president of Rotary when the meeting was held in his office.

The members chose the name Rotary because initially they rotated subsequent weekly club meetings to each other's offices, although within a year, the Chicago club became so large it became necessary to adopt the now-common practice of a regular meeting place.

The next four Rotary Clubs were organized in cities in the western United States, beginning with San Francisco, then Oakland, Seattle, and Los Angeles. The National Association of Rotary Clubs in America was formed in 1910.

On November 3, 1910, a Rotary club began meeting in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the beginning of the organization's internationality. On 22 February 1911, the first meeting of the Rotary Club Dublin was held in Dublin, Ireland. This was the first club established outside of North America. In April 1912, Rotary chartered the Winnipeg club marking the first establishment of an American-style service club outside the United States. To reflect the addition of a club outside of the United States, the name was changed to the International Association of Rotary Clubs.

In August 1912, the Rotary Club of London received its charter from the Association, marking the first acknowledged Rotary club outside North America. It later became known that the Dublin club in Ireland was organized before the London club, but the Dublin club did not receive its charter until after the London club was chartered. During World War I, Rotary in Britain increased from 9 to 22 clubs, and other early clubs in other nations included those in Cuba in 1916, Philippines in 1919 and India in 1920.

In 1922, the name was changed to Rotary International.

Rotary Clubs

The Rotary Club is the basic unit of Rotary activity, and each club determines its own membership. Clubs originally were limited to a single club per city, municipality, or town, but Rotary International has encouraged the formation of one or more additional clubs in the largest cities when practical.

Most clubs meet weekly, usually at a mealtime on a weekday in a regular location, when Rotarians can discuss club business and hear from guest speakers. Each club also conducts various service projects within its local community and participates in special projects involving other clubs in the local district, and occasionally a special project in a "sister club" in another nation.

'What We Do' Main Pages:

Youth Speaks for the Peter Peacock Shield

High School speaking competition

Local runners are thankful for help

The Wigan Club announces sad news

The Manchester Attack - helplines

The Rotary Club provides details of helplines for anyone affected

How we spent the money raised last year

The generous giving by the people of Wigan meant Rotary could help many groups of people

Images from Wigan Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations.

In a joint venture with Inspiring Healthy Lifestyle cyclists took to the track for Cancer Research

The Winning Team Standish St. Wilfred's Academy PS Kieran, Annika, Alex and Grace

This year's winners attend the Club's meeting

Rotary Club of Wigan–SANTA’S COMING DOWN YOUR WAY

If you feel you can contribute please follow the link to our JustGiving page. Any problems just search JustGiving.com and type Wigan Rotary Club Trust Fund. Thank you for your continued support

Many, many, thanks for the generosity of the people of Wigan in helping Rotary Club raise over Â£15000 for good causes. Wishing you a successful 2017

Another successful music Concert

Wigan Rotary Club and Golborne-Lightshaw Rotary Clubs jointly supported a group of young carers

The worldwide challenge for Rotary to End Polio

Rotary's biggest challenge

The 'soon to be' officially launched satellite group meet in the Park

23rd February is the 'birthday ' of Rotary International

Rtn John Coupe receives Honorary Membership of the Club

Once again the generous people of Wigan have supported the Rotary Christmas Collection

Three new Associate Members with President Mervyn Reeves

Three associate members join the Club

24th October 2019 is World Polio Day

Santa's extra time

Santa will be down Rectory Lane tonight

Wigan Rotary were represented in the parade to mark Remembrance Sunday

Rosemary Charles becomes the 96th President of the Club

Wigan Rotary President Gwyneth Millard along with distinguished guests

Celebrating 93 years of Rotary in Wigan

Action from January 2019

Another busy month

On each of the twelve days we are asking Where is Mother Christmas?

Rotary Club of Wigan – Dr. Venk Mani Stroke Awareness Day

The annual competition for Primary Schools The winning Team -Aspull Our Lady’s RC Primary School

An invitation to speak to Wigan Rotary members at Community Day

One good deal deserves another

Saturday 1st February 2020

This is the second year the Rotary Clubs of Leigh and Wigan have combined to collect unwanted hospital equipment

Help line numbers

Wigan Rotary gives useful numbers in emergency

The winners of this year's competition join Rotary at their weekly meeting

Donate

If you feel you can donate please click on the link

Rotary's campaign against polio

The World remembers the horrors of the Holocaust and Genocide

Rotary Cares for Young Carers

Wigan Rotary Club and Golborne -Lightshaw Rotary Club combine to give a group of Young Carers a day out

The winners with the 'seated Dragons' Aukje Clegg. Peter Cheetham and the President Gwyneth Millard

Success in the 'The Den' for local groups

What has been happening at Wigan Rotary

Virtual tour of Victoria Hall in Bolton

Photograph shows Mervyn with his chain of office thanking retiring President John Wright

Wigan Rotary Club Presidential Handover

President John Wright presenting a cheque to Derian House

Money collected by Rotary is distributed to good causes

Winners of the 'Senior' section - St. Peter's RC High School with their Speech on the subject of 'A Work of Art'.

District heat of Youth Speaks held at St John Rigby College

The annual event just got bigger

Wigan Rotary gives a helping hand to playgroups

Long Service Recognised

Long service certificate presented

Rotary Club get an update

If you wish to donate please click on More detail to go to JustGiving page

Mayor and Mayoress with the two teams, girls making up the Intermediate team, boys the senior team.

Youth Speaks Regional Final

The winning teams pictured receiving their certificates from Peter McGhee, Principal of St John Rigby College

President Gwyneth presents Peter with his certificate

Peter Ratcliffe received his 50 years Long Service Certificate from President Gwyneth Millard

Wigan Rotary are able to help the small charities continue their valuable work

Jo Yates receiving the Wigan Friends of Rotary Certificate to acknowledge the work that Metro Rod do in supporting the work of Wigan Rotary Club in the Community.

Friends of Rotary Certificates presented to acknowledge the work that Metro Rod, Local Life and Westwood Motors do in supporting the work of Wigan Rotary Club in the Community.

The winners are announced

Images from the Day

Annual concert by invited local young musicians

Wigan Rotary continue their support for Young Carers

Wigan Rotary salutes the Fallen

Why the challenge was important

A look back at last year's successful competition and a look forward to this year's challenge

Left to right Rtn Phil Hirst, Cllr and Rtn Eunice Smethurst, Norman Woosey a member of the cricket and bowling club and Rtn Terry Hogan

Wigan Rotary meets RI President's tree planting challenge

Competition for local High Schools

Rtn Philip Sudworth received a lifetime achievement award for his voluntary work

The Club loses another stalwart

Rotarian join forces with Kraft Heinz workers to fill food bags

The annual event to raise awareness of prostate cancer

Christmas cheer for the shoppers

Again Rotary and the Soroptimists join forces to help

Dr Ananda Mukherjee clocks up 30 years in Rotary

How Rotary Spent your Money last year

The organisations that benefitted from your generosity

Long Service Recognised

Long service certificates

Help for Care Homes and Hospices in our area

Welcome Santa into your home.

Quiz winners and answers

Picture of Barbara Nettleton receiving a cheque from Wigan Rotary Club.

Wigan Rotary thanked Sunshine House for their support in helping to collect unwanted hospital equipment

A Community Circle is a way to support someone through bringing together friends, family and neighbours with a facilitator, supporting conversations that lead to action and help people to live better, happier lives.