HISTORY AND SYMBOLISM OF THE BELL AND THE ROTARY MEETINGS

The bell symbolizes order and discipline; it is the one that marks the time to work. The use of the bell in Rotary meetings started as follows:

In 1922 a big contest of Rotarians’ attendance to meetings was organized between the Rotary Clubs of the United States, with a condition that the loser clubs conceded a prize to the winner. The winner, the Rotary Club of New York was given as a prize a patrol vessel very popular of the New York zone, which was installed over a wooden base originally from the “Victory” ship, the head ship of Admiral Nelson’s squadron in the Trafalgar Battle.

From this time on, the bell used in Rotary meetings became, as on ships, the symbol of order discipline and helped manage the hour and a half of weekend Rotary meetings.