What is Rotary? Rotary started as the vision of one man in 1905. Paul Harris gathered with three of his business acquaintances in downtown Chicago for the first Rotary meeting. The idea was that professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas, form meaningful, lifelong relationships, grow their businesses, and most importantly, give back to their community. At Wilmington Central Rotary, we carry on that tradition.

If you were to ask a dozen different Rotarians what Rotary means to them, I imagine you’d get a dozen different answers. If you had asked me that when I first joined Rotary, I would have said Rotary is a great organization for meeting new people, growing my business and giving back to the community at the same time. But, if you were to ask me today, I would say that Rotary means the amazing difference I can make in the lives of people in our community – not by working alone, but working together as a team with my fellow Rotarians who also have become my good friends.

Over the years, our members have remained committed to the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self.” The results of this dedication are demonstrated each year as our members raise money to address community needs and devote personal time to other local service organizations. The Wilmington Central Rotary is special because of the relationships and special bonds our members have with each other. While we support each other professionally, the culture of our club is very much grounded in the relationships and support we offer each other on a personal level. We think this attribute is what makes our club special and sets us apart from other service organizations.

If you would like to experience the magic of Rotary, then I invite you to visit us and find out more about Rotary. I welcome you to Wilmington Central Rotary.

Fred Kumpel