The History of International Inner Wheel

Rotary International was founded in Chicago Illinois by Paul Harris in 1905, and within 10 years it had spread to the British Isles. Many kinds of community service were embarked on by Rotarians which often involved the cooperation of their wives. Usually a ladies committee was set up to help on a project and then disbanded. However some groups stayed together, enjoying the friendship they had made and often initiating further service on their own account. They organised social events and speakers were invited to entertain and inform. At that time in Britain there was still a marked divide between the comfortably off and downright poor and no social or welfare services existed at all and so there was plenty of scope for voluntary work.

And consequently the first Inner Wheel Club was born on 10 January 1924, almost two decades after Rotary, thanks to the vision of Mrs Margarette Golding, the wife of the Rotarian Oliver Golding. Her visions have become reality: for 84 years the wives of Rotarians, in their own capacity and “under their own banner” have been coming together and as the “inner wheel” bringing in a greater synergy of action together with the bigger Rotary wheel. The badge which was adopted is the Rotary wheel with a small cog inside it – the inner wheel which helps the big wheel turn.

10 January is now celebrated as Inner Wheel Day around the world.

Today we have clubs, Districts, Associations and National Councils with an International body Inner Wheel (IIW)(established in 1967) at the top of the administrative pyramid. IIW Conventions have been organised since then every 3 years.

At the eleventh Convention in Stockholm in 2000 it was decided that: “An Award be created in the Name of Margarette Golding (Margarette Golding Award) for highly commendable personal service through Inner Wheel or in the community”. The award has been available since September 2001 and over 200 people have now received an MGA.

About Inner Wheel Club Ljubljana

In Slovenia the first Inner Wheel club was founded in Ljubljana in 1998. It is the sister IWC of RC Ljubljana. Currently there are 34 active members, apart from RC Ljubljana, connected also to RC Emona, RC Grosuplje and RC Ljubljana-Center.

Presidents of IWC Ljubljana

In 2000 the Inner Wheel club Maribor was founded as the second IW club in Slovenia.

Both Slovene Inner Wheel clubs are active in a number of areas: care and assistance for young children, teenagers, families, the elderly, blind & low vision people, refugees and other people in need of help. We are assisting and helping with training, education, rebuilding mutual friendly relationships in troubled families, we are as well trying to extend a friendly helping hand, understanding and support to all in need. We are happy and delighted to share the great joy with the persons we have been helping when they reach their goals.