What would it take to change the world? Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto 'Service Above Self'. Watch the video to learn what this motto really means.

The first club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, was formed in 1905 by Paul P. Harris, an attorney who 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. 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.

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, including in 1920 the Rotary Club of Hull . The organization adopted the Rotary International name a year later. A club in Beverley was promoted by the Hull club in 1927 and we were one of 36 British Clubs to emerge in in that year, the 20 founding members receiving their Charter 18 months later on the 29th October 1928. Since then over 80 Club Presidents have taken on the task of leading the club, many of whom will be familiar to residents of Beverley:

Our Club has always strived to support our local community as well as contribute to international causes. In recent years we have supported charities such as Dove House Hospice and Jacob's Well, helped primary schools with reading and other projects and established relationships with clubs abroad to promote joint projects as well as providing financial aid for world disasters.

 As you will have seen browsing our website, the Club is as active as ever but we are always keen to welcome new members to our ranks. If you are interested in joining us please click here to email our Club Secretary