The Acorn and Oak of Rotary
by Jim Priest
As Autumn arrives we look amazed at the trees and the change in Fall foliage. Among those trees are oaks, each of which started as a tiny acorn.
Season, after season,
the growing tree stands tall.
A brand new life, from an acorn grew,
that mighty oak won’t fall.
The same is true of Rotary. The tiny acorn of Rotary’s first 1905 meeting in Chicago has grown into a grand tree with branches reaching across the world. Our Rotary International website tells us:
Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.
From that acorn grew a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers. Rotarians believe we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our 46,000+ clubs work together to: READ MORE
