100 years in, Rotary’s mission feels more urgent than ever

When the Rotary Club of Waltham celebrates its centennial on May 14, many readers might think “How quaint!” and vaguely picture us as a social club for older folks. But look closer at what Rotary actually does, and you’ll find an organization tackling the most urgent challenges of our time. Our priorities are to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water and sanitation, improve maternal and child health, build schools, grow local economies, and protect the environment.

If this sounds relevant to you, check us out. Rotary is far from finished.

The Waltham Rotary Club is one of 45,000 clubs worldwide, part of a fellowship of business, professional and community leaders united by one mission: “to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace.” Founded in Chicago in 1905 by attorney Paul Harris as a place to exchange ideas and build meaningful friendships, Rotary gradually extended into humanitarian service. By 1926, when Waltham’s club formed, Rotary was active on six continents.

Nearly 50 years ago, Rotary launched a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines against polio. That effort became Rotary’s defining fight. Today, only two countries still have endemic polio, and the work continues.

But Rotary’s reach extends far beyond polio eradication. Projects include community health worker training, cervical cancer prevention, microloans, sustainable farming, aquaculture, ecosystem restoration and climate change mitigation.

In Waltham, the club delivers service projects, hosts events and fundraises to provide grants to local organizations. Over the past decade, the club has awarded more than $300,000 to dozens of Waltham nonprofits. We have provided scholarships for high school students and leadership training for young people. Maybe your third-grader received a dictionary from us. You may have seen Rotarians delivering flowers at assisted living facilities, building with Habitat for Humanity or packing supplies for the Salvation Army.

Equally important to us is to have fun! We want members to experience the joy that comes from helping others and working alongside people you like and who care about you. We have fun doing good — and we welcome others to join us.

The Rotary Club of Waltham marks its centennial with a gala May 14 at 6 p.m. at Gore Place. Tickets are $100, and proceeds support the club’s grant program. Donations are also welcome.

Better yet, join the club for lunch on the first or third Wednesday of every month at noon in the Gore Place Carriage House. Meet members and learn how “service above self” still matters — maybe now more than ever.

More information

Purchase tickets to the May 14 gala or donate in honor of a favorite Rotarian. 

Visit the Rotary Club of Waltham’s website.