History

History of Rotary

It started with the vision of one man - Paul Harris. The one-time Vermonter and Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas, form meaningful, lifelong friendships, and give back to their communities.  

 

Since the founding, Rotary has become much more of a service organization than a business organization.  In 1989 Rotary welcomed women as members.  There are now 1.2 million Rotarians in 35,000 clubs around the globe.  You can learn more about Rotary at Rotary.org

 

Waterbury Rotary History

The Waterbury Rotary club was chartered on December 7, 1936.   Many citizens of our towns (Waterbury, Duxbury, & Moretown) have been Rotarians.  The club has provided many kinds of service and events over the years including auctions, talent shows, holiday events, and our concerts in the park.

 

Some of the more visible impact of the Rotary club are the things we've built, including:

  • The Anderson Field Recreation Building in Waterbury
  • Many facilities at Rusty Parker Park including the gazebo, patio, playground, and other improvements
  • A pavilion in Moretown village
  • Trees planted at schools in Moretown, Duxbury, and Waterbury for more than 20 years
  • The train artwork on the trestle bridge in Waterbury
  • The lit up tree behind the elementary school each holiday season