Written by Ann Luce
The world’s first Rotary service club was founded on February 23, 1905 when lawyer Paul Harris and three friends met in a small office in downtown Chicago. These men wanted to rekindle, in the turn-of-the-century city, the spirit of friendliness they had known in their home towns. In this way professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas, work for the common good and create friendships. Over time, Rotary’s reach and vision extended to humanitarian service. That commitment endures today through an organization that remains truly international. Only 16 years after being founded, Rotary had clubs on six continents. Our members now span the globe, working to solve some of our world’s most challenging problems. Rotary is not a political organization, but has a humanitarian focus. The two official mottos are “Service Above Self” and “One Profits Most Who Serves Best.”
Rotary organizations are best known for their work on Polio eradication. At one time, the campaigns had eliminated most of the world’s polio. Today, polio remains endemic in only two countries—down from 125 in 1988. You can see the positive effects of Rotary in many places you might travel. Many large cities and small towns have signs indicating structures and projects that Rotary has sponsored. Rotary clubs around the world support those who need support and create outdoor spaces where people can meet.
The Rotary Club of North Minneapolis was founded/chartered in 2012 with a group of people who believed in the beauty and promise of the Northside of Minneapolis. We started our club with many members, but we have always had a core group of about 12-18 dedicated members who work very hard to create positive outcomes. Our motto is “Inspired to action through service” and we have done a wide variety of activities to accomplish that. Our pillars of service are Education and Literacy, Peace and Justice, and Maternal and Child Wellness.
There are many things that set our club apart from others. From the beginning we have had more female members than male members. The majority of members have been African American, though all are welcome. At the beginning of each Tuesday morning meeting we spend a few minutes moving or dancing or stretching – we call this “Fit for Service.” The Rotary Club of North Minneapolis is committed to the well-being of North Minneapolis and to promoting great places, events and successes in our community.
If you would like to meet members of our club, you could come to a meeting on Tuesday mornings at 7:35 a.m. through Zoom or come visit some of us at our monthly Cheers and Chat. If you are interested in coming to a meeting, contact Jill at jikohler@aol.com and she will send you a link to our Tuesday meeting.
Join our friendly Rotary members at Cheers and Chat. Whether you’re curious about what we do, looking to network, or just want to have a good time, we’d love to see you there! Bring your friends, your good vibes, and let’s make this a night to remember. We meet on the third Thursday of each month, 5-6:30 p.m. at a North Minneapolis location. Get general info at northmplsrotary@gmail.com or rotarynorthmpls.org.