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The history of Inner Wheel movement unfolds a fascinating picture of its origin and development. It was 1905 that Rotary had been founded by Paul Haris in Chicago. From one club it soon became a moment and spread to many areas in the United States and other countries.
The wives of Rotarians in England prompted by concern for public welfare had been associated with the movement voluntarily and had been giving their times and energies to help in the projects undertaken by their husbands". Friendship brought them closer and they felt that if they organized their own club they could work better.
A meeting was called on the 15th November 1923, at the behest of Golding at Harriofs Turkish Baths in Deansgate, Manchester. This venue was selected because it was the only one available at no cost.
At this meeting the proposal to form a separate club for ladies was discussed and passed. Mrs. Golding was elected the Chairman and Mrs. Nixon was elected the Secretary. The new club met for the first time on 10 January 1924, with 27 members attending. After a great deal of discussion, it was decided to Call the new club "Inner Wheel Club" of Manchester. The name'Inner Wheel' was chosen to describe the connection between the club and the Rotary movement. The Rotary emblem is a wheel with 24 cogs. The Inner Wheel emblem is made up ofthe Rotary wheel with a small wheel within it.
The only qualification for membership then, and even now is that members should be women folk of Rotarians. The rules of membership have recently been changed. Now, it is possible for close relatives of Rotarians other than wives and even relatives of Inner Wheel members can become members. But all these changes foster the close link between Inner Wheel and Rotary.
From this modest beginning sprang a powerful movement. Many more clubs came into existence. In 1928, Mrs. Golding proposed that clubs should unite alongside the Rotary Clubs and to have uniformity in names. The first Inner Wheel District was formed in 1928, the Inner Wheel District No.5 in England. Inner Wheel Districts were given the same number and covered the same geographical area as the corresponding Rotary Districts.
By 1934, the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland was formed, with Mrs. Golding as the President and Mrs. Nixon as the Secretary. The Association was the outcome of their desire to bring the different Inner Wheel Districts together, for they had the wisdom to realise that unity gave strength.
In 1936, it was decided to mark the occasion a club's formation by granting a certificate of membership, and this certificate is now called a Charter.
Inner Wheel had, by then, spread to countries outside Britain. The first overseas club was formed in Ballaret, Australia in 1931. Clubs came into existence in many European countries. By 1947, the words 'Great Britain and Ireland' were removed and the Association now called 'Association of Inner Wheel Clubs'.
The first District outside Great Britain was formed in 1948, in the Netherlands.
For the first time members from countries outside Great Britain and Ireland were invited to sit on the governing body in 1962.
The first International conference was held in Blackpool in 1966. It was here that the decision to form International Inner Wheel was taken.
It was in 1967 that the International Inner Wheel came into existence formally at Brighton. Mrs. Lavender Weightman was the first President.
The Inner Wheel is today one of the largest women's organisation in the world today. Clubs are scattered all over the world. It has been accorded a consultative status at the United Nations and its specialised agencies like the UNICEF and UNESCO.
International Conventions are held at intervals of not less that three years. The Constitution of International Inner Wheel is binding on all members and clubs, and covers the emblem, aims and objects
of the movement, and also lay down the qualifications for membership and rules
for the formation of new clubs.
Inner Wheel is a non-sectarian and non-political organisation. It concentrates upon friendship and service. Each club selects its own service projects.
The strength of Inner Wheel depends upon the way each individual member serves her club. One of the greatest features of Inner Wheel is the opportunity given to members the world over to get to know one another. Members communicate with each other through correspondence, exchange visits and meet each other at-Conferences Assemblies and Conventions.
Friendship in Inner Wheel has broken all man-made barriers and brought together women from all walks of life and all corners of the world under the banner of Inner Wheel. Our unique fellowship has demonstrated that there are no foreigners amongst us. This has generated a new spirit of friendship goodwill and understanding atthe international level.
More than seventy-seven glorious years have passed. Inner Wheel marches on expanding its areas of service, building bridges of friendship and making the world a better place. All this has helped the Inner Wheel make an effective statement in the field of service.
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