Rotary Club

Starting as a small Chicago-based local organization in 1905, Rotary Club was originally designed to bring together professionals with diverse backgrounds for the exchange of ideas and the formation of meaningful, lifelong friendships. Since then, Rotary International has grown into a global network of 35,000+ local clubs that unite community leaders to tackle some of the world’s most persistent issues. The consistent goal of Rotary nowadays is lasting change, working to create that change in the following areas of focus: promoting peace, fighting disease, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies, and providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. On a large scale, these goals are within reach for the 1.3 million Rotarians across 172 countries, but to get there, the organization must be broken down into smaller scale clubs and goals.

            “Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.” Rotary’s vision statement even acknowledges the need to view their goals at different scales. Individual communities, or clusters of communities, come together to form their own local chapters of Rotary International. Peter, his wife Linda, and Phil are longtime members of the Park Ridge Rotary Club, continuing a family tradition that began with Peter’s parents.

            The Park Ridge Rotary club serves the communities of Park Ridge, Woodcliff Lake, and Montvale and works to build Rotary International’s goals in a variety of local ways. Externally, community service is the big one, addressing local community needs with service projects like Little Free Libraries. International service is equally important, helping Rotary promote international understanding and peace through goodwill projects like Gift of Life or Youth Exchange.

Internally, Rotary also promotes educational and informational programs that enhance fellowship opportunities throughout the club. After all, one of the original intentions of its founding was to create lifelong friendships and that remains important today. Rotary also promotes professional high standards of conduct and responsible leadership, allowing the leaders of the community to fine tune their skills. Both Peter and Phil have served in a variety of leadership positions in the Park Ridge Rotary Club over the years.

The last big goal of the Park Ridge Rotary Club is getting local youth involved through local programs called Interact (for middle and high school students) and Rotaract (for college students and young adults). Both Phil and his sister Jaclyn were involved in these programs growing up, learning the ideals of the club. These goals all allow the Park Ridge Rotary Club to build towards the better world that Rotary International has in mind.

For 3 generations the Wells family has been involved in Rotary.

Peter at a Habitat for Humanity building project.

Peter and Phil packaging meals.

Phil helping to paint Pascack Mental Health facility.