Overview
Introduction and Objectives of Inner Wheel
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.
The organisation was officially founded in January 1924 by Margarette Golding, a nurse, business woman and the wife of a Manchester Rotarian who had met with 26 other wives in November 1923. The first meeting was held on 10 January 1924 when 27 ladies attended. This day is known as “International Inner Wheel Day”, when members worldwide try to perform some act of service and friendship in memory of the founder of Inner Wheel, Margarette Golding, of the Manchester Club. 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.
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. 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. Personal Service is a top priority, and the number of ways members find, to give service to the local community, is quite amazing. They provide help in hospitals, hospices, care homes, schools, entertain the elderly and lonely and offer help to needy children and the disabled. It should be remembered that the Club Member is the most important part of International Inner Wheel.
Following the decision taken at an International Convention in 2012, membership was opened up to all women over the age of 18.
