ࡱ> (*' @ bjbjʚʚ "2222222F****>F ^^^^^^^^^ ` ` ` ` ` ` q R :` 2&^^&&` 22^^u : : : &:2^2^^ : &^ : : 22: ^R qwZ *`: ^ 0 : v : FF2222 2: $^L6: , ^^^` ` FF*$ FF*Report of the History Committee for August, 2008 Chapter 11- Rotarians in their Clubs In the earliest days of the Chicago club members met for dinner at the Sherman Hotel, then held their meeting in one of its rooms. Members sat on beds, floors, radiators and window sills. The club created an informal atmosphere where leaders from business and industry could break bread, play practical jokes, share amiable fellowship, and even sing songs. Paul Harris wrote; Rotary was like an Oasis in the Desert. In the busy lives of those Chicagoans one hundred years ago, Rotary was a place where the trustworthy and friendly companionship characteristic of the small town with its city life could be found. One of Rotarys earliest traditions was to call members by their first names. This tradition continues in many clubs around the world. Its purpose, according to Rotarian Rufe Chapin, is to penetrate the shells of pity, ego, and pomposity and reveal the real person inside. Another early tradition was the assessment of fines for such infractions as addressing another Rotarian with the formal mister or failing to wear a Rotary pin. In the early years, most of the Chicago clubs income was derived from fines, and many clubs continue this practice. From the beginning Rotary has encouraged its members to attend regularly and to make up missed meetings at other clubs. Many clubs have a tradition of awarding pins for perfect attendance and all will give a friendly welcome to a visiting Rotarian. Originally there was only one category of Rotary membership, but in due course, clubs accepted honorary members such as heads of states, luminaries, and other notables. In addition, Rotary created new categories of membership over the years, such as senior active, additional active and past service. In 2003, the membership process was simplified to saying (in effect),You either is a Rotarian or you aint. That years classification rules were relaxed to further open membership. Ben Rudgers, August 21, 2008 01<Gqr}~ + , 5 ?    ) 6 7 L Q   % & R W Z a ! , - . Y Z pq :;TWxz|}hpThihh-d( h-d(5h-d(h-d(5[12WX   w x 12gd-d($a$gd-d(gd-d( h-d(hih 1h/ =!"#$%@@@ NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH DA@D Default Paragraph FontRi@R  Table Normal4 l4a (k@(No List12WXwx12@0@0@0@0x@0@0x@0@0x@0@0x@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0x@0@0@0@00@0@0 @0@0x@0@0@0x   cn]cn!cnZcncn4uu||8*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsdate8*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsCity9*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsplace 2008218DayMonthYeary}\d00++-.ZZccddGGKKpqrr //:;TWxz|}\d-d(pTih@P@UnknownGz Times New Roman5Symbol3& z Arial"qhȦȦ44Yr4  H)?-d(HESteeleOh+'0d   , 8DLT\ HESteeleNormal1Microsoft Word 10.0@@2 @z 4՜.+,0 hp|  HS   Title  !"#$%&)Root Entry F`Z +1TableWordDocument"SummaryInformation(DocumentSummaryInformation8CompObjj  FMicrosoft Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q