Rotary Club of Hyannis

Rotary was founded on the basis of exchanging information with people in diversified careers, fellowship, and community service, and encouraged friendship and mutual assistance. On February 23, 1905, Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer, formed the first club with three other businessmen: Silvester Schiele, a coal merchant; Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer; and Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor. 

As part of the growing and progressive national and worldwide development of Rotary Clubs, the Rotary Club of Hyannis was formed in the fall of 1925. Hyannis historians among us will recognize that the list of Charter Members as of December of 1925 reads like a "who's who" of the times, with names like Hinckley, Chase, Eldredge, Nickerson and Tobey among them.

The Hyannis Club was organized on October 1, 1925 with 23 members, and was officially admitted to membership in Rotary International on October 26, 1925. Hyannis Rotarians today continue to adhere to the principles of Community Service, Vocational Service, International Service and Club Service, as defined by Rotary International. The Hyannis club has a particularly long and impressive history of activism within the local community. There are 110 active members of the Rotary Club of Hyannis.

Funds for charitable donations are raised through a variety of special projects and events. Community participation in our fundraising efforts is our only means of raising money and goods to support worthwhile community efforts. Some projects over the years have been strictly money-raising events, such as our Home and Garden Show and Media Auction. In the past 15 years, we have raised well over $1 million dollars.