Rotary UK Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI)

Written By: GDRCMultiMedia On 30/07/2009 Time (15:19:04)

At the 1912 Convention in Duluth, the International Association of Rotary Clubs had been formed with the purpose of encompassing Rotary Clubs outside of the USA. The Rotary Club of London was the fiftieth Club to be formed.
For further details Read Blog Article below.

Rotary in the UK & Ireland

The world's first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA, was formed on 23 February 1905 by Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to recapture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. The name "Rotary" derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members' offices.

On 22 February 1911, the Rotary Club of Dublin became the first to form outside of the North American continent. The first meeting of the Rotary Club of London took place on 03 August 1911 although it was not formally chartered until 01 August 1912.

The extension of Rotary throughout the British Isles was hampered by the outbreak of the First World War.

Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI)

A meeting of the seven British Clubs took place in Liverpool on 30 October 1913 and was followed by a second meeting on 04 May 1914 in London. At this second meeting it was agreed that there would be a British Association of Rotary Clubs (BARC) with its own constitution. At the 1914 Convention in Houston, BARC was recognized by the International Association of Rotary Clubs (IARC) as a necessary and desirable institution for the extension of Rotary. BARC therefore became legitimate, with its own officers and constitution.

1915 saw the publication of the first issue of ‘The Rotary Wheel’, the magazine of BARC. In the same year, all the Rotary Clubs that then existed were formed into 19 Districts and the first District Governors were appointed. The British Isles was District 19.

BARC continued to extend Rotary throughout the British Isles and by 1921 over 50 Clubs were in existence. During 1921 there was much discussion about BARC and its constitution which eventually led to the creation of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) in 1922

Today there are some 58,000 Rotarians in Great Britain and Ireland in 1,845 clubs, helping those in need and working towards world understanding and peace. Its a fulfilling role, and Rotarians can get involved as much or as little as their time will allow.

The Structure of RI and RIBI

Rotary in Great Britain and all Ireland is administered under its own constitution and administrative unit known as RIBI. However the constitution of RIBI at all times operates within that of Rotary International. The RIBI headquarters are at Alcester Warwickshire with Rotary International operating out of its headquarters building in Evanston near Chicago, Illinois USA.

RIBI has a professional Secretariat and headquarters based at Alcester in Warwickshire which acts as a focal point and administrative centre for Rotary activities Today there are some 58,000 Rotarians in Great Britain and Ireland in 1,845 clubs, helping those in need and working towards world understanding and peace. Its a fulfilling role, and Rotarians can get involved as much or as little as their time will allow.

Find out more by visiting the Rotary Club of UK & Ireland Website at

Click Here For Link