Over A Century of Service
1905
Paul Harris and three of his friends create a club in Chicago that they call a “rotary” because the location of the meetings rotates.
1915
“The Lancaster Rotary Club” is founded by John Wickersham, Fred Pyfer, and Scott Baker.
1915
With 30 charter members after only a year in existence, the Rotary Club of Lancaster (RCL) affiliates with Rotary International.
1919
RCL creates a new model for the care and correction of juvenile delinquents. Over 2,000 are served through the Rotary Boys Home’s compassionate approach.
1925
RCL sponsors and develops what would become the Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development.
1929
The Student Loan Fund begins with a member’s donation of $1,000. This eventually became the Citizens Scholarship Fund.
1938
The Buddy Club is birthed by RCL for underprivileged boys and serves as a precursor to the Lancaster Boys Club. The Club supports Boys and Girls Club and Camp Hogan Summer Camp.
1943
RCL dental and medical members join the Crippled Children Committee in response to the community appeal, resulting in the RCL Cleft Palate Speech Clinic.
1960
The Leaders’ Camp is created by president Bob Haines. The event becomes a five-day conference and now, Youth Leadership Camp is offered by clubs worldwide.
1972
Club members endorse “RCL Public School Program of the North Museum,” which would later become F&M North Museum, a major educational experience.
1980
The Club creates a program to benefit at-risk youth through employment counseling and financial support. The Club and the Lancaster Boys Club receive the National Award of Excellence and Keystone Award.
1987
The Club is one of 10 to test polio fundraising and raised $260,000 (equivalent to $722,355 in 2025), which helps launch the worldwide PolioPlus program with UNICEF, WHO, and UNESCO.
1988
The first women join the Club! Six women join this year, including Joan Boben, the first woman member.
1993
The Club and F&M co-sponsor the tip-off tournament and raise over $700K over 26 years. Bill Marshall chaired the event until 2019, with $33K raised that year alone.
1998
Kat McElliott, CEO of Cleft Palate Clinic, becomes the first female Club president.
2001
Club members support the annual Red Kettle Campaign during the holidays as bell ringers, which has become a Club tradition.
2004
The Power Packs Project is launched! It’s the only program of its kind in the country. RCL donates funds and provides volunteers to accumulate meal supplies and distribute them to families living with food insecurity.
2005
Rotary Park is established by RCL as part of the Rotary’s International Centennial. The Club also begins to donate $10K/year to United Way, which is a matched gift and used toward summer programs for at-risk youth.
2015
The project for the RCL’s Club Centennial is the Refugee Center and Community School at Reynolds Middle School. The Club worked in cooperation with the U.S. State Department.
2017
RCL holds its first annual Wheels and Wings and 5K Festival at the Lancaster Airport. This becomes RCL’s major yearly fundraiser. District 7390 also introduces a business mixer – Rotary Means Business – which is hosted by area clubs for the purpose of networking.
2018
RCL partners with Central American Relief Efforts on a mission to provide medical care and eyecare on a mission trip to Honduras. Several Club members accompany the medical team.
2022
RCL facilitates Operation Braveheart in the Philippines and healthcare projects in Zambia. The Club also keeps the community informed of significant community issues through forums that discuss political and judicial candidates, the economy, and real estate.
2023
RCL dedicates 5th Wednesday meetings to service projects such as packing meals for the Food Hub, painting clubfoot bracelets for Hope Walks, and packing for Power Packs.
2024
The Club sends an exchange student to Turkey.
2025 and Beyond…
The Club continues to provide pathways for fellowship, learning, networking, and ultimately “Service Above Self”!