Rotary is an association of professional and business people. It was founded in 1905 by Paul P. Harris of Chicago and is headquarted in Evanston, IL. An international organization, it has a total membership in excess of one million in about 25,000 clubs in nearly 175 countries. It is a service organization that sponsors community and international service projects and funds international student and professional exchange programs. The name "Rotary" comes from the early practice of rotating weekly meetings between members' offices.