THE R.I. HEADQUARTER

THE HUB OF THE WHEEL-R I Headquarter
ONE ROTARY CENTER-1560 Sherman Avenue,
Evanston,Illinois,60201-3698 USA.

Independent and autonomous, the first Rotary clubs were bound together by philosophy rather than bureaucracy. Each club decided who qualified for membership, how often it met and even designed its own Rotary club emblem. No central administration existed, nor was it required.

The formation of the National Association of Rotary Clubs at the first convention in 1910 did little to change that.

With Chesley R. Perry at the helm as the association's secretary, the organization began to evolve as an information resources and clearinghouse for Rotary clubs and their members.

At a borrowed desk in a borrowed Chicago office, Ches Perry became the sole-and unpaid-worker who started to build a behind-the-scenes Secretariat.

In those early years, the association frequently moved between rented offices within the Loop area of downtown Chicago until 1955.

In 1955, the organization built a 50,000-square-foot office building in Evanston. But 30 years later, the staff had grown too large for building's confines.

In 1987, Rotary purchased its current home-just few blocks east of the old building from American Hospital Supply Co. (Offered at the cost of $ 24 million-or even less if Rotary paid in cash)

So now Rotary's headquarter is located in a large, modern 18 story building at 1560, Sherman Avenue. It has its own cafeteria, auditorium, and attached parking garage.
Rotary offices are concentrated in the top eight floors of the 18 story, 400,000-square-feet building; with most of the remaining space is rented out.

To-day, 500 people work for Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation of R I at Evanston.

The RI World Headquarters in Evanston is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on the following holidays: New Year's Day or New Year's Eve, Memorial Day, U.S. Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

Each year approximately 2,000 Rotarians and their guests visit the office in Evanston, Illinois. All visitors are offered a 30-minute tour facilities.

While most visitors are interested in only a tour, a few wish to supplement their visit by conducting a club or district meeting at R.I. Before planning a meeting, one must get the written permission of the general secretary two months prior to the meeting.

The tour of ONE ROTARY CENTER includes The Polio plus statue (located outside the building, just north of the main door way), Historic Room 711 (Near the main reception area on the 16th floor stands a replica of Room where Rotary began).
The Arch C. Klumph Gallery (on 17th floor hang the portraits of Major Donors to The Rotary foundation), The 18th floor (Rotary's executive offices, including those of the president and the general secretary.

NO ROTARIAN'S visit to Chicago would be complete without a trip to One Rotary Center.
Are you going to R I Convention at Chicago? Don't miss the opportunity to visit The Hub Of The Wheel