THE HISTORY OF
DISTRICT 2440. Turkey
A Part of Our History of
Rotary in Europe
Prepared by the district and not verified by Rotary Global History
Rotary in Turkey was initiated half a century after the first Rotary opened its doors in Chicago in 1905.
In 1955, Ankara, Turkey's capital became the first Turkish city to be home to Rotary.
İstanbul Rotary Club was founded one year later, in 1956, followed by Izmir in 1962 and Bursa in 1963.
In 1980, 25 years after the foundation of the Rotary Club of Ankara, the number of clubs in our country reached 31
and District 243 was established as the first Rotary District in Turkey.
By 1988, due to the significant evolution of Rotary in Turkey, a second district, District 242, was established.
By 1993, total number of clubs within Turkey reached 136.
District 242 became district 2420, covering İstanbul and the Marmara Region and District 243 became District 2430,
covering Middle and Eastern Anatolia.
In 1994, Turkish Rotarians established a third district. District 2440 was established to cover the whole of
Western Anatolia.
As of end of 2002, Turkey has more than 7,400 Rotarians.
They form 82 clubs in District 2420, 83 clubs in District 2430, and 67 clubs in District 2440, comprising a total of
232 clubs.
Additionally, Turkish Rotary operates more than 100 Rotaract clubs and around 40 Interact clubs throughout the
country.
NOTE - these three district histories are repeated.
Their histories will diverge and alter in the future
(webmaster)
Awaiting Turkish translation
