What is Rotary?

Rotary is a global network of neighbors, friends, and problem-solvers who believe in one simple idea: when people unite around a shared purpose, they can create lasting change.

A Club, With a Global Family

The Marshfield Rotary Club is one of more than 45,000 Rotary clubs around the world, all part of Rotary International — a service organization founded in 1905 by Chicago attorney Paul Harris. He brought together a small group of professionals who wanted to combine friendship with community service, and the idea spread fast. Today, Rotary connects roughly 1.2 million members across nearly every country in the world.

Every Rotary club is autonomous — we set our own projects, priorities, and personality here in Marshfield — but we're united with clubs everywhere by a shared set of values: service above self, integrity, and a belief that business and community leaders have a responsibility to give back.

Local Roots, Global Reach

Being part of Rotary means our work in Marshfield is connected to a much bigger story. Rotarians around the world are tackling some of the toughest challenges we face — clean water, education, economic opportunity, disease prevention, and peace.

One of the clearest examples: since 1988, Rotary and its partners have helped immunize more than 3 billion children against polio, cutting cases by 99.9% worldwide. It's one of the largest private-sector contributions to global health in history — driven by ordinary club members raising funds and rolling up their sleeves.

That same spirit shows up here at home, too. When Marshfield Rotary supports a scholarship, a local project, or a community event, we're drawing on the same network, resources, and shared commitment that Rotarians everywhere bring to their own communities.