Rotary is a global network of more than 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.
Learn more about our structure and our foundation and our strategic vision.
What we do
Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our more than 45,000 clubs work together to:
- Promote peace
- Fight disease
- Provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
- Improve maternal and child health
- Support education
- Grow local economies
- Protect the environment
Our mission
We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
Vision statement
Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
Paul Harris Fellows
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation.
Rotary established the recognition in 1957 to encourage and show appreciation for substantial contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to Ambassadorial Scholarships.
The first Paul Harris Fellows included past RI Director Allison G. Brush, who served during the 1937-38 Rotary year, and longtime RI Treasurer Rufus F. Chapin, both for donations made in 1946. Mrs. Adan Vargas was the first woman to receive the recognition, for a gift made in 1953. Mrs. Harry L. Jones was the second, and one of only five people recognized for contributions actually made in that inaugural year.
Early Paul Harris Fellows received a certificate of recognition. In 1969, the Foundation unveiled the first Paul Harris Fellow medallion at the Rotary Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Japanese metal artist Fiju Tsuda created the piece under the direction of former Foundation Trustee Kyozo Yuasa. Today, Paul Harris Fellows receive a certificate and pin. They are also eligible to buy a Paul Harris Fellow medallion.
Many other notable figures have been named Paul Harris Fellows, including U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, U.S. astronaut James Lovell, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and polio vaccine developer Jonas Salk.
The number of Paul Harris Fellows reached the 1 million mark in 2006.
Paul Harris Fellows in Nashville Rotary
| Alan D. Valentine |
| Alfred Degrafinreid, II |
| Anna Roberts |
| Ben A. Burns |
| Berje K. Yacoubian |
| Bill Lee |
| Brian Haile |
| Byron Trauger |
| Carlene Lebous |
| Charles A. Sueing, Jr. |
| Charles G. Sell |
| Charles L. Hankla |
| Charles L. Starks |
| Charles W. Dunn |
| Christopher C. Sabis |
| Clark H. Tidwell |
| Clark Spoden |
| Clay T. Jackson |
| Collen Mayer |
| David B. Amiot |
| David E. Briggs |
| David E. Hornsby |
| David L. Condra |
| David W. Levy |
| Davis W. Turner |
| Deborah Varallo |
| Derek W Anderson |
| Diana Pelham |
| Doug Gold |
| Elizabeth B. Crook |
| Ernest A. Clevenger |
| Evette White |
| Falon Veit Scott |
| Frederick Lee Blank, III |
| Gary Everton |
| Genma Stringer Holmes |
| George S. Bryan, Jr. |
| Gerald W. Brase |
| Gil Fuqua |
| Grace Sutherland Smith |
| Graham Thomas |
| Hill McAlister |
| Hal B. Johnson |
| Harry L. Allen |
| Jack D. Fleischer |
| James W. Spradley, Jr. |
| Janet M. Miller |
| Jeffrey Fincher |
| Jeffrey Jowdy |
| Jerrall P. Crook, Sr. |
| Jo D. Federspiel |
| Joanne Pulles |
| Joel Sullivan |
| Joyce Searcy |
| Kelly O’Connor |
| Karen Johnson |
| Katherine M. Willey |
| Katherine Nicholson |
| Ken Youngstead |
| Kimberly K. Estep |
| Kristen Keely-Dinger |
| Lady Bird |
| Laquita R. Stribling |
| Larry L. Woods |
| Laurence M. Papel |
| Lucy Carter |
| Margaret L. Behm |
| Mark A. McNeely |
| Mark H. Lincoln |
| Marlene Eskind Moses |
| Meredith Libbey |
| Philip M. Pfeffer |
| Ralph J. Schulz |
| Renee D. Drake |
| Rhonda Nelson |
| Robert C. Fisher |
| Robert C. Ripley |
| Robert L. Stokes |
| Rodger Dinwiddie, Jr. |
| Rodrick B. Ballard |
| Ronald Q. Roberts |
| Jackson Faris |
| Sara J. Finley |
| Sarah Hardison Reisner |
| Scott Maylath |
| Stephanie M. Coleman |
| Stephen O. Hewlett |
| Stewart Bronaugh, Jr. |
| Susan A. Huggins |
| Suzanne J. Buchanan |
| Suzanne S. Iler |
| Tari P. Hughes |
| Theresa C. Carl |
| Thomas Harrington |
| Thomas P. Kanaday, Jr. |
| Tim Schoettle |
| Todd Smith |
| Tony Heard |
| Van G. Pond, Jr. |
| Vance P. Derryberry |
| Walker Mathews |
| William C. Koch, Jr. |
| William D. Morgan |
| William H. Hawkins |
| William L. Norton, III |
| William Polk Alexander, III |
