Ian Mitchell King

Seed of Rotary International: The Guiding Stars In the winter of 1905, four men gathered in a modest Chicago office, planting the seeds of a global service movement , Rotary International. The men at this historic meeting—Paul P. Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram Shorey—have since been celebrated as the First Four Rotarians. Their vision for camaraderie and community service has continued to guide the organization over a century later. Paul P. Harris: Architect of Rotary's Vision Paul P. Harris, a lawyer in Chicago, sought to recreate the neighborly spirit of his small-town upbringing in his new city life. This longing for camaraderie led to the formation of Rotary, with its foundational mission to unite diverse professionals under community service. Harris's leadership as the first president set the direction for Rotary’s focus on fellowship and service. Gustavus Loehr: The Logical Mind Behind the Movement Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer, hosted the histor