Inner Wheel Club

Inner Wheel is an international women's organisation to create friendship, service and understanding. It has clubs in over 100 countries with over 100,000 members. It was founded in Manchester.

History

The organisation was officially founded in January 1924 by Margarette Golding, a nurse, business woman and the wife of a Manchester Rotarian.[1] who had met with 26 other wives in November 1923. The first meeting was held on 10 January 1924 when 27 ladies attended. This date is now known as "International Inner Wheel Day". This organisation was originally established for the wives and daughters of Rotarians although no Rotary connection is now required. Gradually other groups formed themselves into Inner Wheel Clubs and in 1934 the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland was formed.

An Inner Wheel in the Philippines

The number of clubs around the world grew and in 1967 the International Inner Wheel came into being. There are clubs in many countries around the world. Inner Wheel clubs are grouped into districts with twenty-nine districts within Great Britain and Ireland. Most clubs meet monthly, often with a speaker at the meeting but members meet socially on a regular basis. Clubs raise and donate money to a huge variety of charities.

Following the decision taken at an International Convention in 2012, membership was opened up to all women over the age of 18.

The International Inner Wheel objectives are (a) promoting true friendship, (b) encouraging the ideals of personal service, and (c) fostering international understanding.

In 2008, Inner Wheel had over 100,000 members in 102 countries and was one of the largest women's organisations with consultative status at the United Nations.[2]

References
  1. "The first ten years, from a club to the Association". International Inner Wheel. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  2. 2008 Proceedings: Ninety-Ninth Annual Convention of Rotary International. Rotary International. pp. 28–. GGKEY:2CN6BC8K16L.
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