Our club is a branch of Rotary International, which was started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. On 23 February 1905, Paul P. Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram E. Shorey gathered in Loehr’s office for what would become known as the first Rotary club meeting. Harris's desire for camaraderie among business associates brought together these four men and eventually led to an international organization of service and fellowship. Only 16 years after being founded, Rotary had clubs on six continents. Our members now span the globe for professionals with diverse backgrounds and have the opportunity to exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.

The St. Petersburg Midtown Rotary Club since its inception has been many things to many people over the years. The Club was chartered under Rotary International in 2011 under the leadership of one of its founding members Rev. Watson Haynes. Many have found friends, a sense of community, and a newfound sense of purpose. We have found business and personal connections. Many have advanced their careers to incredible heights while having experiences that they could not have had anywhere else without the assistance of Rotary.