The first Rotary Club was organized in Chicago, Illinois  February 23, 1905 by attorney Paul Harris.  This club met in rotation at the offices of its members—hence the name Rotary.

Rotary's principle  “Service Above Self” is indeed a worthwhile concept and the movement rapidly spread worldwide. The San Pedro Rotary Club was chartered in 1922 and by 1926 the Club had 57 members.  In 1956 the Club had grown to an eighty- member organization and met at the old YMCA building on Beacon Street.  In the early sixtys the Club met at the newly built Hacienda Hotel on the site now occupied by the Laurel Tree Condos.  Growing to120 members the Club moved its meetings to the Elks Lodge.

Today, there are more than 32,000 Rotary Clubs with a total membership exceeding 1.2 million men and women located in more than 200 countries and geographic territories.

Weekly meetings are a part of Rotary life and the Rotary Club of San Pedro has held its meetings at many fine local restaurants.  San Pedro Rotary currently meets at the Ports O' Call Restaurant on Thursday mornings at 7:10am.