Key Largo Rotary - A Message from the Club President

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

Rotary's popularity spread, and within a decade, clubs were chartered from San Francisco to New York to Winnipeg, Canada. By 1921, Rotary clubs had been formed on six continents. The organization adopted the Rotary International name a year later.

Rotary came to the Florida Keys with the formation of the Rotary Club of Key West in 1916. The Rotary Club of Key Largo was formed in 1990 and will be celebrating 20 years in 2010. Today there are seven Rotary Clubs serving the Florida Keys which is an amazing one club per 10,000 residents. The Conch Republic is truly Rotary Country.

Every Rotarian is challenged to live by our motto of “service above self” and our Four Way Test:

Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

I am honored to serve as the Rotary Club of Key Largo’s President for 2009/2010. The Rotary International theme for this year is “The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands”. This is Rotary International President John Kenny’s challenge to all Rotary Clubs to step up and continue the proud heritage of Rotary Service in the face of world wide challenges. The Rotary Club of Key Largo is ready to meet that challenge.

We have several service projects and fund raisers being planned. Our focus on scholarships and youth activities will continue along with supporting the Rotary Foundation and the Eradicate Polio Initiative.

If you would like to consider joining Rotary or helping out in other capacities please contact us.

John Stuart