The Denver-Lake Norman Rotary Club has a rich and event-filled history. This narrative is intended to acquaint new members with this history, but first a brief background on Rotary's roots.  Rotary was founded in 1905 by Paul Harris, a lawyer who lived and worked in Chicago, Illinois.  He began organizing social meetings with several of his business acquaintances on a regular basis.  They decided to rotate their meeting locations to make their meetings more enjoyable, thus the name Rotary.

As the years passed, Rotary grew and eventually evolved to the international level.  Presently there are more than 31,000 Rotary clubs worldwide with 1.2 million members.

Rotary is a service-oriented organization whose function is to help mankind on a community, regional, national and worldwide scale.  One of the most impressive worldwide projects is Rotary International?s Polio Plus Program, initiated in 1986. The goal is to have every child in the world immunized against polio.  To date, there are only small pockets of the disease left in four countries, and when the children in these areas have been immunized Rotary will have achieved its goal of finally eradicating this disease.

The Denver-Lake Norman Rotary Club was formed in 1995 as a spin-off from the Lincolnton Noon Club.  Since its formation the Club has become involved in many projects that range from local to international in scope.  Projects are added, completed and replaced as the years roll by.  As of July 2008 the Club's projects for the 2008-09 Rotary year are:

?        Continued support of the Junior Achievement program that the Club initiated.

?        Providing a Day on the Lake for foster children from Lincoln and surrounding Counties.

?        Sponsoring a GSE team from another country.

?        The annual Rotary auction in which we, the Lincolnton Club, the Sunrise Club, have teamed to raise money for low interest student loans.  These loans are available to any high school student in Lincoln County who plans to attend college.

?        The Art Auction held in February which is the Club's chief fund raiser. 

?        Support of the Interact Club at East Lincoln High School.  Interact Clubs provide exposure of the principles of Rotary to high school students.

?        Providing readers for the kindergarten reading classes at Rock Springs Elementary school.

?        Social events, to include a Fall Fish Fry, Christmas Party and  Spring Outing.

 To highlight a few of the accomplishments of the club since being chartered in 1995 the list would include:

• Furnished money and labor for wiring additional TV's at East Lincoln High School.
• Raised money and spearheaded the project to build an outdoor playground at Rock Springs Elementary. 
• Purchased a building lot for a Habitat for Humanity home with money raised from a golf tournament and helped with the construction of the home.
• Raised money to send to Cambodia for disaster relief.
• Constructed a picnic shelter at the East Lincoln Community Center.
• Sponsored several inbound GSE teams.
• Furnished financial support for the Shelter Box program for displaced persons.
• Initiated a drive to raise funds to purchase defibrillator units to be carried in county deputy sheriff vehicles and on Lake Patrol boats.

Our five standing committees are: Club Administration, Foundation, Membership, Public Relations and Club Service Projects. New members will be assigned to one of these committees. The four avenues of service are: International Service, Vocational Service, Club Service and Community Service. 

Regular attendance in Rotary is important.  In accordance with Rotary International bylaws, members are expected to attend 60% of weekly meetings with no more than four consecutive absences.  Meetings can be made up, however, anywhere there is another Rotary club, worldwide or by going online to the Rotary International e-club website.  A member has two weeks before and after a missed meeting to "make up".

Quarterly dues consist of: club dues - $27.00, meals - $129.00, Rotary Foundation - $25.00 (voluntary) for a quarterly total of $181.00.  New members pay a one-time initiation fee of $60.00

It should be apparent that Rotary is more than a club with members - it is an experience with fellowship being an important part. The Club extends a hearty welcome to new members with a sincere offer to become a vital part of the community through the Rotary Club of DLN.

Updated August 2008