Read about each of the first four Rotarians below, and about Harry L. Ruggles, who is often called the "fifth Rotarian."

Rotary’s founder, Harris, was born in Wisconsin, USA, on 19 April 1868. He was raised by his paternal grandparents in Vermont and attended the University of Vermont, Princeton, and the University of Iowa. He was Rotary president from 1910 to 1912 and a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago until his death on 27 January 1947. Learn more about the founder.

Loehr, a mining engineer, was born on 18 October 1864 in Carlinville, Illinois. He was a Rotarian for only a few years, never holding office at the club or international level. But that first Rotary meeting was held in his office, Room 711 of the Unity Building in downtown Chicago. He died in Chicago on 23 May 1918.

A Rotarian for only a few years, Shorey served as recording secretary during the club’s first year. He was born in Maine in August 1862 and died in March 1944.

Schiele, a coal dealer, served as the Chicago club’s first president in 1905 and Rotary International’s third treasurer in 1945. Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, in June 1870, Schiele attended Terre Haute Business College and served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War. He was president of the Schiele Coal Company from 1902 until his retirement in 1939. He and Harris became lifelong friends and lived near each other on the South Side of Chicago. Schiele died on 17 December 1945 and is buried near Harris at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Originally from Michigan, Ruggles was a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and joined Rotary at its second meeting. He was treasurer of the Chicago club during its first year, president from 1908 to 1910, and a Rotary director from 1912 to 1913. He is known for having introduced singing to Rotary club meetings. His printing company, H.L. Ruggles & Co., printed the first issue of The National Rotarian and the first Rotary songbook. He died on 23 October 1959, an honorary member of seven clubs in addition to his home club, the Rotary Club of Chicago.

By Terry Ziegler, Rotary Foundation chair for District 5890 (Texas, USA)

I can relate to the frustration of having a cluttered mailbox. Last year, I found one more way to cut out the clutter — Rotary Direct.

In December, I reached out to The Rotary Foundation, delighted by the simple year-end gift record I received in acknowledgement of my automatic monthly donations. You get one statement at the end of the year, rather than each time you mail a check. That’s in addition to the fact that it’s automatic and easy — no checks to mail, no stamp costs.

By utilizing your debit cards, Rotary Direct sets up a fixed automatic payment, aligning your philanthropic giving with your monthly budget.

Beyond how this helps me manage my inbox, I also like how Rotary Direct trims administrative costs tied to processing gifts. Fewer steps for Rotary staff means more of my donations go directly to service — and that’s the most important part.

I give to The Rotary Foundation at the Paul Harris Society level because I appreciate the way my donations help to multiply the size and number of service projects which are created by Rotarians in clubs all around the world.

Learn more about Rotary Direct online and sign up today using the enrollment form. You can select to give monthly, quarterly, or annually. Giving to support The Foundation has never been easier.