A Detailed Account of our 100-year History
MARGARETE GOLDING
Founder of Inner Wheel
from humble beginnings
Mrs. Margarete Golding, a nurse, businesswoman and the wife of a Manchester Rotarian started the Inner Wheel movement in 1924. Prior to 1924, wives of Rotarians in many cities and towns, prompted by a concern for public welfare, had been voluntarily, in the background giving their time and energies to help in any service undertaken by their menfolk.
On the 15th of November 1923, twenty-seven Rotary wives, led by Mrs. Golding, met in a cooling room (because it was free of charge) at Herriot’s Turkish Baths, St. Mary’s Street, Deansgate, Manchester, where they discussed the possibility of forming an independent ladies’ group run on Rotary lines. The objects of the Club they explained, would be twofold, to foster friendship and to offer much more in the way of service. The next meeting, held at the Social Club in Lower Mosley Street, Manchester, which became their regular meeting place, was on 10th January 1924, and it marked the actual commencement of Inner Wheel with the formation of Manchester Club. Since 1970, January 10th has become universally recognized as WORLD INNER WHEEL DAY, when we celebrate the anniversary of the meeting.
Margarette Golding, the founder, was elected as the first president and Mrs. W. A. Nixon, the first secretary, thirty members were present, and six basic rules were agreed. The first rule was the name of the club shall be “The Inner Wheel” Thus ingenuously, they represented the wishes of Rotary, and the use of the word ‘Rotary’ was avoided, while the link with the men’s organization was symbolized by reference to their badge- the Rotary Wheel. This link is still nurtured today and we proudly share the same ethical values and objectives.
This was the beginning of a beautiful adventure, which is the heritage of the Inner Wheel organization, known and shared by every member. Looking back over the past 94 years, there are important dates and developments to remember which show the evolution of our Association and its diffusion, first in Great Britain, then worldwide.
The basic rules laid down that day, with slight variations, continued to be used until the formation of the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland in 1934. News of the formation of the Manchester Inner Wheel club of and its achievements, began to spread.
the association
Rotary wives, who had been meeting together, contacted Mrs. Golding and gradually the movement spread throughout G. B & I and by1927 another five new Clubs started their journey: Liverpool, Macclesfield, Nelson, St Helens, and Warrington.
In 1928 thanks to the collaboration of Rotarians of District No 5, the 1st Inner Wheel District was formed, “No 5 Inner Wheel District Committee” The administration of the Districts, which followed, was the same as Rotary District Procedure (officers were elected by ballot, two delegates from each Club had representation, three if the Club had sufficient membership, and decisions were agreed by vote).
As more Districts were formed, they took the area number corresponding to their Rotary District. In 1931, there were 56 Clubs and by the end of 1932, 4 new Districts had been formed, 3 more in 1933 and the need for a central organization were being suggested.
On the 6th of May, 1934 at the RIB I conference held in Douglas, Isle of Man, the delegates of the 79 Clubs from existing 8 Districts, aware that it was necessary to have a Governing Body capable of guiding the growing number of Clubs and Districts, approved and rectified the Constitution, and adopted the name “THE ASSOCIATION OF INNER WHEEL CLUBS IN GREAT BRITAIN A IRELAND”.
The first elected President of the Association was Mrs. Golding and the first secretary, Mrs. Nixon. During the meeting of the Council in September of 1934, the Treasurer, Mrs. Gladys Young (Canterbury) and Vice President Mrs. Shakerley (Clapham) were elected. The Association grew, and after 10 years had passed, there were 79 clubs (76 in England, 1 in Scotland, 1 in Wales and 1 in Ireland). These Clubs, which founded the Association, are still known today as “The 79 iers”.
towards global diffusion
Even before 1934, some Clubs were formed in other parts of the world, haying heard about the Inner Wheel Organization in Great Britain & Ireland – such as Ballarat (1931), North Sydney (1933) and Bendigo (1933) in Australia. In the following years, more Inner Wheel Clubs were formed. For example, the Napier Club (1936) in New Zealand, Port Elizabeth (1938) in South Africa, and Winnipeg (1943) in Canada. From 1945, Inner Wheel continued to expand globally, with the formation of at least 15 clubs in remote places. Equally Inner Wheel’s penetration into Europe extremely interesting.
The first European Club outside Great Britain and Ireland was formed at Bergen (Norway) in 1935, thanks once again to Margarette Golding, the second after 10 years was at Apeeldom, Holland.
The Association began to change from a National Organization to a worldwide Organization and it was felt that a closer connection was necessary. Thus in 1947, the words “In Great Britain and Ireland” were removed from the title and Inner Wheel became known as “ASSOCIATION OF INNER WHEEL CLUBS”. In 1948, the six clubs in Holland formed the first District outside of Great Britain and Ireland, District no 26.
In 1950, Club rules were translated into European Languages, and by July of that year, every member received a copy of Association magazine with the news of “Overseas” Clubs. ‘In the early Sixties the Association, mindful of the increasing number of clubs outside GB & I, and glad to have Districts formed in Europe, gave much thought about ways to make Inner Wheel more international in government and the need for personal contact to be made with some more remote Clubs. The first steps towards the creation of an International Governing Body were taken in 1962 during the Association Conference, held in Blackpool, England when a resolution was approved that from the 1 st of July 1967 all Clubs became Members of INTERNATIONAL INNER WHEEL and Mrs. Lavender Weight man became President.
There was then the opportunity for qualified members, from any country, to became president, Vice President and Treasurer. The Board meeting was held in Copenhagen on the 3rd- 4th October 1967. One of the important tasks was to approve National By Laws, so that all the countries, while remaining faithful to the Constitution, could interpret Inner Wheel with their culture and traditions.
In 1967, NATIONAL COUNCILS were recognized in Australia, Denmark, Great Britain and Ireland, India, The Netherlands, Norway, The Philippines and Sweden. In 1970, the first convention of the INTERNATIONAL INNER WHEEL was held at The Hague.
The International Inner Wheel was, and is, supported by a Governing Body, which up to 1933, included an elected Executive Committee with Officers-President, Vice President, Immediate Past President and Treasurer, and also Board Members – then representatives from every country, possessing the necessary qualification as laid down in the Constitution and Handbook. Each Board Member had a number of votes equivalent to the number of Districts of her Country.
In 1993, it was agreed to restructure the Governing Body with an elected Executive Committee (Consisting of the Officers), Plus 16 elected Board Directors: each of whom have the right to one vote, and also have the responsibility to be in contact with the Non- Districted Clubs. Finally, in 2006 the chairman of the Constitution Committee was admitted as a Member of the Governing Body of International Inner Wheel.
Today, International Inner Wheel is present in 103 Countries/Geographical areas, counting over 103,000 Members, and is structured in Clubs, Districts and National Governing Bodies. It connects together members of Clubs in various nations, from Europe to Africa, India, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America, Canada and many others, all working to uphold the objects of Inner Wheel.
To promote true friendship;
To encourage the ideals of personal service;
To foster International Understanding.