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RI 3230 - History:
It was James Wheeler Davidson, considered as the Marco Polo of Rotary in Asia, who started the Rotary Clubs of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras.
Sir Frederick E. James (he was knighted in 1941) was no stranger to Rotary. He had been president of the Rotary Club of Calcutta in 1924-25 and 1925-26. It was his job as Vice President of the United Planters Association of South India that brought him to Madras a fortunate move from the Rotary's point of view.
It must have been a great encouragement to Davidson to find another so devoted to the extension of Rotary in India. Sir F. E. James is described as having been 'a man of high character and pleasing personality, a good speaker and, most important of all, he possessed a comprehensive knowledge of Rotary.'
Davidson recommended that Rotary International appoint Sir James as Honorary Commissioner for Rotary International of the Middle Asia Region. In 1932, Sir James organized the first Convention of Rotary Clubs in India, Burma and Ceylon. The convention was held at Calcutta.
The first meeting of the Rotary Club of Madras, the first club in South India, was held on May 10,1929, at the Connemara Hotel. The 30 charter members included Sir James and represented the leaders of society and industry. All but three were present at that first meeting. The first President of the Club was Rtn. C.G. Armstrong, Chairman of the Madras Port Trust; the first Secretary was Morton Chance of the Hotel Chain. The Club was chartered on July 19,1929.
It is a matter of pride that the first Director of Rotary International from India was none other than Sir F. E. James of the Rotary Club of Madras. He served in this post during 1933-34. Sir James added another first to his credit when he became the first Governor of District 89 in 1936-37 and served a second term in 1938-39. The first district conference was also held during his tenure as Governor in 1937. It is interesting to note that Sir F.E. James became the first District Governor of our District after becoming the first R.I. Director from India.
The Rotary Club of Madras originally belonged to District 56 in 1929. District 56 became District 89 in 1937-38. In 1942, this was in District 91, and then 93. In 1959-60 District 320 was formed, comprising of the States of Kerala and Madras in South India and Ceylon.
In 1984, Rotary International took up the work of reorganizing the Districts and District 320 became District 323. Subsequently this became the current District 3230 and now comprises of the Revenue Districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai and North Arcot.
Our R.I. District 3230 is one of the 532 Districts spread out in 207 countries of the world, and as of 31st December 2007, the total number of clubs is 32912 with a membership of 1.21 million. As of May 2008, District 3230 consists of 103 clubs and total membership of over 4200.
Districts in India – History
The formation of the district relevant to the Rotary Clubs in India and its neighbouring countries was as follows :
1931-32 : Provisional District A
1936-37 : District 89
1939-40 : Two Districts 88,89
1942-43 : Four Districts 88,89,90,91
1946-47 : Seven Districts 88,89,90,91,92,93,94
1952-53 : Five Districts 51,52,53,54,55
1957-58 : Renumbered 305,310,315,317,320,325
1952-53 : Six Districts 305, 310, 315, 317, 320, 325
1968-69 : Seven Districts 305, 307
(Pakistan), 310, 315,317,320,325
1970-71 : Thirteen Districts – 305, 306, 307(Pakistan),
310,311,314,315,317,318,320,321,325,326
Note : In 1971-72 Bangladesh came into existence but the clubs remained with Pakistan in District 307. In 1973-74, the seven clubs in Bangladesh were transferred to District 325 in India in 1977-78. In a radical reshuffle, clubs in Delhi were divided between district 309 and 310. District 307 was renumbered 327 and District was renumbered 329.
In 1984-85, total redistricting took place throughout India where by clubs were grouped according to revenue districts.
During the year 1991-92, three digit numbering of districts was changed to four digits mostly by adding 0 at the end of existing district number.
Rotary world was divided into six regions. By the action of 1995 COL, regions have been replaced by 34 zones that are approximately equal in number of Rotarians (around 34000). The clubs in India are under Zones 5 and 6.